14. ‘Finally all the trees said to the thorn-bush, “Come and be our king.”
15. ‘The thorn-bush said to the trees, “If you really want to anoint me king over you, come and take refuge in my shade; but if not, then let fire come out of the thorn-bush and consume the cedars of Lebanon!”
16. ‘Have you acted honourably and in good faith by making Abimelek king? Have you been fair to Jerub-Baal and his family? Have you treated him as he deserves?
17. Remember that my father fought for you and risked his life to rescue you from the hand of Midian.
18. But today you have revolted against my father’s family. You have murdered his seventy sons on a single stone and have made Abimelek, the son of his female slave, king over the citizens of Shechem because he is related to you.
19. So have you acted honourably and in good faith towards Jerub-Baal and his family today? If you have, may Abimelek be your joy, and may you be his, too!
20. But if you have not, let fire come out from Abimelek and consume you, the citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo, and let fire come out from you, the citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo, and consume Abimelek!’
21. Then Jotham fled, escaping to Beer, and he lived there because he was afraid of his brother Abimelek.
22. After Abimelek had governed Israel for three years,
23. God stirred up animosity between Abimelek and the citizens of Shechem so that they acted treacherously against Abimelek.