Judges 9:10
ESV
And the trees said to the fig tree, ‘You come and reign over us.’
NIV
"Next, the trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come and be our king.’
NASB
Then the trees said to the fig tree, ‘You, come, reign over us!’
CSB
Then the trees said to the fig tree, "Come and reign over us."
NLT
'Then they said to the fig tree, ‘You be our king!’
KJV
And the trees said to the fig tree, Come thou, and reign over us.
NKJV
“Then the trees said to the fig tree, ‘You come and reign over us!’
What does Judges 9:10 mean?
This verse comes early in a fable, delivered by Jotham, son of Gideon (Judges 9:1–9). He is shouting these words to the leaders of Shechem as they crown his murderous brother, Abimelech, as their king. The greater point of the story is not yet clear—though the reference to choosing a king means it will certainly relate to Shechem's choice of Abimelech. When the moral of the story finally appears, all who hear it will be troubled (Judges 9:19–20).As told in the parable so far, the trees attempted to recruit a king. The olive tree refused, preferring a productive, honorable life to ruling over other trees. Now, other trees come to the fig tree and make the same offer: be our ruler. Fig trees were also prized for their fruit, used for a variety of different purposes. As did the olive tree, the fig will decline (Judges 9:11).
Judges 9:6–21 contains a parable and prophecy spoken by the sole surviving son of Gideon. Jotham was the only one missed in a massacre orchestrated by his half-brother, Abimelech (Judges 9:1–6). During the coronation ceremony making Abimelech a local ruler, Jotham shouts out a curse against Abimelech and Shechem's leaders. This takes the form of a fable about trees making a bramble bush their king. The prediction intended by Jotham's declaration is that Shechem's leaders did not act in integrity, so they and Abimelech will destroy each other. Jotham then flees the area.
Shechem's leaders conspire with a concubine's son to kill Gideon's other seventy sons. They make this man, Abimelech, their ruler. Gideon's youngest son survives, however, and delivers a curse. Using a fable, he says Abimelech and Shechem's leaders will destroy each other. God causes a division between Shechem's leaders and Abimelech. The noblemen attempt to kill Abimelech and unite behind a new leader. Abimelech discovers the plot and kills everyone in Shechem, destroying the city. When attacking a tower in a nearby town, however, Abimelech's skull is crushed by a thrown millstone. The curse is fulfilled.
