Jotham’s Fable Series

[15](Judges 8:22; NKJV) “Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, "Rule over us, both you and your son, and your grandson also; for you have delivered us from the hand of Midian."

[16](2 Kings 14:9; NKJV) “And Jehoash king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, "The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, 'Give your daughter to my son as wife'; and a wild beast that was in Lebanon passed by and trampled the thistle” Jehoash—sent to Amaziah—saying—The meaning of this parable is plain. The thistle that was in Lebanon—Amaziah, king of Judah, sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon—Jehoash, king of Israel, saying, Give thy daughter—a part of thy kingdom, to my son to wife—to be united to, and possessed by the kings of Judah. And there passed by a wild beast—Jehoash and his enraged army, and trode down the thistle—utterly discomfited Amaziah and his troops, pillaged the temple, and broke down the walls of Jerusalem: see 2 Kings 14:12-14. Probably Amaziah had required certain cities of Israel to be given up to Judah; if so, this accounts for that part of the parable, Give thy daughter to my son to wife.—Adam Clarke's Commentary

[16](Judges 9:2; NLT) “Ask the leading citizens of Shechem whether they want to be ruled by all seventy of Gideon’s sons or by one man. And remember that I am your own flesh and blood!” Whether is better for you, either that all the sons of Jerubbaal, . . . or that one reign over you -- a false insinuation, artfully contrived to stir up jealousy and alarm. Gideon had rejected, with abhorrence, the proposal to make himself or any of his family king, and there is no evidence that any of his other sons coveted the title.—Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

[17](Ecclesiastes 10:5, 6, 7; NLT) “There is another evil I have seen under the sun. Kings and rulers make a grave mistake when they give great authority to foolish people and low positions to people of proven worth. I have even seen servants riding horseback like princes—and princes walking like servants!” An error which proceedeth from the ruler—What is this evil: it is simply this—an injudicious distribution of offices, and raising people to places of trust and confidence, who are destitute of merit, are neither of name nor family to excite public confidence, and are without property; so that they have no stake in the country, and their only solicitude must naturally be to enrich themselves, and provide for their poor relatives. This is frequent in the governments of the world; and favouritism has often brought prosperous nations to the brink of ruin. Folly was set in dignity; the man of property, sense, and name, in a low place. Servants—menial men, rode upon horses—carried every thing with a high and proud hand; and princes,—the nobles of the people, were obliged to walk by their sides,—Adam Clarke's Commentary

[18](Psalms 12:8; KJV) “The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted.” The wicked roam undisturbed doing evil, when vileness and vile men are exalted.—Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary