12 So the trees then said to the grapevine, ‘You come and be our king.’
13 But the vine answered, ‘In order to govern you, I would have to stop producing my wine, that makes gods and human beings happy.’
14 So then all the trees said to the thorn bush, ‘You come and be our king.’
15 The thorn bush answered, ‘If you really want to make me your king, then come and take shelter in my shade. If you don't, fire will blaze out of my thorny branches and burn up the cedars of Lebanon.’
16 “Now then,” Jotham continued, “were you really honest and sincere when you made Abimelech king? Did you respect Gideon's memory and treat his family properly, as his actions deserved?
17 Remember that my father fought for you. He risked his life to save you from the Midianites.
18 But today you turned against my father's family. You killed his sons — seventy men on a single stone — and just because Abimelech, his son by his servant woman, is your relative, you have made him king of Shechem.