And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then come and put your trust in my shadow: and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon.
And the thornbush said to the trees, 'If you truly want to make me your king, then come and find safety in my shade. But if you don't mean it, let fire burst out from me and destroy even the mighty cedar trees of Lebanon.'
The writer is showing how a worthless thornbush threatens the noble trees, warning that choosing bad leadership will bring destruction even to the greatest among them.
📚 Historical Context
This is part of Jotham's parable criticizing his half-brother Abimelech's violent rise to power in Shechem. After Abimelech killed 69 of his brothers to become king, Jotham told this story from Mount Gerizim to warn the people about their foolish choice. The bramble represents Abimelech - worthless and dangerous - while the cedars of Lebanon represent the noble people who would suffer under his rule.
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