8. One day the trees went out to anoint a king for themselves. They said to an olive tree, 'Be our king.'
9. "But the olive tree answered, 'Should I give up my olive oil? It's used to honor gods and people alike. Should I give that up just to rule over the trees?'
10. "Next, the trees spoke to a fig tree. They said, 'Come and be our king.'
11. "But the fig tree replied, 'Should I give up my fruit? It's so good and sweet. Should I give that up just to rule over the trees?'
12. "Then the trees spoke to a vine. They said, 'Come and be our king.'
13. "But the vine answered, 'Should I give up my wine? It cheers up gods and people alike. Should I give that up just to rule over the trees?'
14. "Finally, all of the trees spoke to a bush that had thorns. They said, 'Come and be our king.'
15. "The bush spoke to the trees. It said, 'Do you really want to anoint me as king over you? If you do, come and rest in my shade. But if you don't, I will destroy you! Fire will come out of me and burn up the cedar trees of Lebanon!'
16. "Did you act in an honest way when you made Abimelech your king? Did you really do the right thing? Have you been fair to Jerub-Baal and his family? Have you given him the honor he's worthy of?
17. "Remember that my father fought for you. He put his life in danger for you. He saved you from the power of Midian.
18. But today you have turned against my father's family. You have murdered his 70 sons on a big rock. Abimelech is only the son of my father's female slave. But you have made him king over the citizens of Shechem. You have done that because he's related to you.
19. "Have you citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo acted in an honest way toward Jerub-Baal? Have you done the right thing to his family today? If you have, may you be happy with Abimelech! And may he be happy with you!
20. But if you haven't, let fire come out from Abimelech and burn you up! And let fire come out from you and burn Abimelech up!"
21. Then Jotham ran away. He escaped to Beer. He lived there because he was afraid of his brother Abimelech.
22. Abimelech ruled over Israel for three years.
23. Then God sent an evil spirit to cause trouble between Abimelech and the citizens of Shechem. They turned against Abimelech. They decided not to follow him anymore.
24. God made that happen because of what Abimelech had done to Jerub-Baal's 70 sons. He had spilled their blood. God wanted to pay back their brother Abimelech for doing that. He also wanted to pay back the citizens of Shechem. They had helped Abimelech murder his brothers.
25. The citizens of Shechem opposed Abimelech. So they hid some men on top of the hills. They wanted them to attack and rob everyone who passed by. Abimelech was told about it.