Judg 9:8-15 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Judg 9:8-13: 9:8-13 Olives, figs, and grapes were fundamental to the agriculture of Canaan, yielding important produce and adding to the beauty of the landscape. • To wave back and forth over the trees implied being visible and active while accomplishing nothing.

a9:8-13►

b9:14-15►

c1 Sam 8:18-19►

‏ Judges 9:8-15

Summary for Judg 9:8-13: 9:8-13 ^a Olives, figs, and grapes were fundamental to the agriculture of Canaan, yielding important produce and adding to the beauty of the landscape.

• To wave back and forth over the trees implied being visible and active while accomplishing nothing.
Summary for Judg 9:14-15: 9:14-15 ^b The trees, preferring an evil king to none at all (cp. 1 Sam 8:18-19 ^c), called on the thornbush, who, though neither useful nor pleasing to the eye, accepted the job. The person who had agreed to be king did not have more profitable work to do.

• Shade from the burning Middle Eastern sun was precisely what the thornbush could not produce. Accepting such an offer was both futile and foolish.