Jotham's Fable and Curse

7

This being told to Joatham, he went, and stood on the top of Mount Garizim: and lifting up his voice, he cried, and said: Hear me, ye men of Sichem, so may God hear you.

8

The trees went to anoint a king over them: and they said to the olive tree: Reign thou over us.

9

And it answered: Can I leave my fatness, which both gods and men make use of, to come to be promoted among the trees?

10

And the trees said to the fig tree: Come thou and reign over us.

11

And it answered them: Can I leave my sweetness, and my delicious fruits, and go to be promoted among the other trees?

12

And the trees said to the vine: Come thou and reign over us.

13

And it answered them: Can I forsake my wine, that cheereth God and men, and be promoted among the other trees?

14

And all the trees said to the bramble: Come thou and reign over us.

15

And it answered them: If, indeed, you mean to make me king, come ye, and rest under my shadow: but if you mean it not, let fire come out from the bramble, and devour the cedars of Libanus.

16

Now, therefore, if you have done well, and without sin, in appointing Abimelech king over you, and have dealt well with Jerobaal, and with his house, and have made a suitable return for the benefits of him who fought for you,

17

And exposed his life to dangers, to deliver you from the hand of Madian,

18

And you are now risen up against my father's house, and have killed his sons, seventy men, upon one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his handmaid, king over the inhabitants of Sichem, because he is your brother:

19

If therefore you have dealt well, and without fault, with Jerobaal and his house, rejoice ye, this day, in Abimelech, and may he rejoice in you.

20

But if unjustly: let fire come out from him, and consume the inhabitants of Sichem, and the town of Mello: and let fire come out from the men of Sichem and from the town of Mello, and devour Abimelech.

21

And when he had said thus, he fled, and went into Bera: and dwelt there for fear of Abimelech, his brother.

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