This chapter focuses on Abimelech, son of Gideon, who, driven by a thirst for power, murders his seventy brothers (1-6). Confronted with Abimelech’s cunning and evil motives, Jotham appears—the sole survivor of Abimelech’s massacre—and, with a strong voice, condemns the violence and political naivety of Israel. To emphasize this tragic story, the narrator includes a fable (7-15), which sharply criticizes the destructive nature of kings.
Jotham introduces us to three trees, all valuable and essential in an agricultural community: the olive tree, the fig tree, and the vine. These trees refuse to stop producing their fruit, which brings joy to human life, rather than being controlled, manipulated, and ruled by others. The bramble, on the other hand, gives up. The first three trees give life, bear fruit, and bring joy to humanity, while the bramble only brings death. It has nothing to lose by agreeing to be king because it has nothing to offer. If the bramble agrees to rule—and it will—it will only bring destruction and death to all the trees that find shelter under its shade.
Jotham tries to point out the main mistake made by the residents of Shechem in choosing a bloodthirsty king like Abimelech. In his interpretation (16-20), Jotham condemns the injustice and cruelty of both Abimelech and the Shechemites. By accepting injustice, they will face the consequences from Abimelech: “Let fire come out from Abimelech and devour those of Shechem and those of Beth-Millo; and let fire come out from those of Shechem and Beth-Millo and devour Abimelech!” (20). The Shechemites will find it hard to live peacefully with Abimelech because God, who always condemns injustice, will send a spirit of discord among them.
The lesson of the trees teaches us that violence inevitably leads to a cycle of destruction that ultimately consumes those who perpetrate it.