Judges 9:8 - Forerunner Commentary

Judges 9:8

6 And all the men of Shechem gathered together, all of Beth Millo, and they went and made Abimelech king beside the terebinth tree at the pillar that was in Shechem.

The Parable of the Trees

7 Now when they told Jotham, he went and stood on top of ^aMount Gerizim, and lifted his voice and cried out. And he said to them:
“Listen to me, you men of Shechem,
That God may listen to you!

8 “The^a trees once went forth to anoint a king over them.
And they said to the olive tree,
^b‘Reign over us!’

9 But the olive tree said to them,
‘Should I cease giving my oil,
^aWith which they honor God and men,
And go to sway over trees?’

10 “Then the trees said to the fig tree,
‘You come and reign over us!’

11 But the fig tree said to them,
‘Should I cease my sweetness and my good fruit,
And go to sway over trees?’

Verse Comparison: Judges 9:8

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American Standard Version
The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive-tree, Reign thou over us.

Amplified® Bible
One time the trees went forth to anoint a king over them, and they said to the olive tree, Reign over us.

Contemporary English Version
Once the trees searched for someone to be king; they asked the olive tree, "Will you be our king?"

Darby English Version
The trees once went forth to anoint a king over them; and they said to the olive tree, 'Reign over us.'

Good News Bible
Once upon a time the trees went out to choose a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree, 'Be our king.'

King James Version
The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us.

New American Standard Bible
"Once the trees went forth to anoint a king over them, and they said to the olive tree, `Reign over us!'

New International Version
One day the trees went out to anoint a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree, 'Be our king.'

New King James Version
'The trees once went forth to anoint a king over them.
And they said to the olive tree,
'Reign over us!'

N.A.S.B. in E-Prime
"Once the trees went forth to anoint a king over them, and they said to the olive tree, 'Reign over us!'

Revised Standard Version
The trees once went forth to anoint a king over them; and they said to the olive tree, 'Reign over us.'

Young's Literal Translation
`The trees have diligently gone to anoint over them a king, and they say to the olive, Reign thou over us.

New English Translation
“The trees were determined to go out¹ and choose a king for themselves.² They said to the olive tree, ‘Be our king!’³

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