Judges 9

Hook

Have you ever noticed how people in power often seem to be the ones who least deserve it? It’s a tale as old as time: the loud, ambitious person bullies their way to the top, while the thoughtful, capable people stay in the background doing the actual work. Today, we’re looking at a wild story from the Book of Judges where the trees try to pick a king. Spoiler alert: the best candidates are too busy doing good to bother with power, and the result is a complete disaster. If you’ve ever wondered why leadership matters or why we should be careful about who we follow, this ancient drama is going to feel surprisingly relevant to our modern lives. Let’s dive into a story that proves sometimes, the "best" option is the one that refuses to play the game of power at all.

Context

• Who/When: This story takes place in the land of Israel long before there were kings. The people were living in tribes, and leaders (called "Judges") would rise up to help when trouble hit.
• The Conflict: After the hero Gideon (also called Jerubbaal) dies, his son Abimelech decides he wants to be the boss. He convinces his mother’s family to back him, leading to a bloody power grab.
• Key Term: Jerubbaal is just another name for Gideon, a famous leader who saved his people from invaders but refused to become a king, believing God should lead instead.
• The Connection: Since today is Tzom Tammuz, a day of fasting that remembers the breaching of Jerusalem’s walls and the start of national catastrophe, reading about civil war and broken leadership in Judges 9 feels particularly poignant. It serves as a reminder of how quickly society can crumble when "discord" takes root.

Text Snapshot

“Once the trees went to anoint a king over themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’ But the olive tree replied, ‘Have I, through whom God and humans are honored, stopped yielding my rich oil, that I should go and wave above the trees?’ So the trees said to the fig tree, ‘You come and reign over us.’ But the fig tree replied, ‘Have I stopped yielding my sweetness, my delicious fruit, that I should go and wave above the trees?’” — Judges 9:8-11

Close Reading

Insight 1: The Best Leaders are Busy Doing Good

The most striking part of this story is the "fable of the trees." Notice that the olive tree, the fig tree, and the vine are all invited to be king, and they all say "no." Why? Because they are already fulfilling their purpose! The olive tree provides oil, the fig tree provides fruit, and the vine provides wine. These roles honor both God and humanity.

In our own lives, we often see the same pattern. The people who are truly the most helpful, the most talented, and the most "fruitful" are often the ones who are too busy actually doing the work to worry about having the title of "boss." They understand that their value comes from their contribution, not their status. The "thornbush," on the other hand—which eventually becomes the king—has no fruit to offer, no shade to provide, and nothing useful to give. Its only option is to demand respect and threaten fire. It’s a harsh but necessary reminder: be wary of leaders who are more interested in the title than they are in the actual work of sustaining their community.

Insight 2: The Danger of "Shortcuts"

Abimelech didn't succeed because he was talented or wise; he succeeded because he was a master of manipulation. He played on his "flesh and blood" connection to the people of Shechem, and he hired "worthless and reckless men" to do his dirty work Judges 9:4.

When we look for leaders, or even when we choose who to follow in our daily lives, it is tempting to go for the "shortcut"—the person who tells us what we want to hear or who promises to get rid of our enemies. But as the story shows, building a foundation on violence and selfishness doesn't last. Three years later, "God sent a spirit of discord" between Abimelech and his followers Judges 9:23. Once you start a project based on anger and ambition, the very same people who helped you rise will eventually turn on you. It’s a cycle of destruction that only ends in tragedy.

Insight 3: The Weight of Silence

Jotham, the only brother who survives the massacre, stands on a mountain and shouts this parable at the people. He doesn't bring an army; he brings a story. He forces the people to look at their choice. By choosing a "thornbush" to lead them, they have essentially invited fire into their own homes.

On this day of Tzom Tammuz, we are reminded that silence in the face of bad leadership is a choice. Jotham couldn't stop the violence, but he could speak the truth. Sometimes, the most important thing we can do—especially when things feel like they are falling apart—is to name the reality of the situation. We don't always have the power to fix the "kings" of the world, but we do have the power to define our own values and refuse to "take shelter in the shade" of something that is ultimately destructive.

Apply It

This week, pick one "fruitful" activity you do that makes your life or community better—something that feels like "bearing fruit" (like helping a neighbor, doing your job with integrity, or listening to a friend). Before you start, take 30 seconds to pause and say to yourself: "I am doing this because it is good, not because I need a title or recognition for it." Remind yourself that you don't need to be a "king" to have a meaningful impact. Just be the olive tree or the fig tree in your own corner of the world.

Chevruta Mini

1. If the olive tree, the fig tree, and the vine represent the "best" people who are too busy doing good to lead, who do you think the "thornbush" represents in our modern world?
2. Jotham spoke the truth even though he was in danger. When is it hard for you to speak the truth, and what helps you find the courage to do it anyway?

Takeaway

True leadership is found in the work that sustains life, not in the power used to dominate it.

https://www.sefaria.org/Judges_9