Judg 9:8-15, 2Ki 14:9 | TSK | STEP | The trees.This is the most ancient fable or apologue extant; and is extremely beautiful, apposite, and intelligible. olive tree.The {zayith,} or olive tree, in the Linnean system, is a genus of the {diandra monogynia} class of plants. It is of a moderate height, and grows best in sunny places. Its trunk is knotty; bark smooth, of an ash colour: wood solid and yellowish; leaves oblong, almost like those of the willow, of a dark green colour on the upper side, and whitish below. In June it puts forth white flowers, growing in bunches, each of one piece, widening towards the top, and dividing into four parts. After this succeeds the fruit, which is oblong and plump; first green, then pale, and when quite ripe, black. Within it is enclosed a hard stone, filled with oblong seeds. It was the most useful of all trees in the forest; as the bramble was the meanest and most worthless. Reign.

Judges 9:8-15

The trees.This is the most ancient fable or apologue extant; and is extremely beautiful, apposite, and intelligible.

olive tree.The {zayith,} or olive tree, in the Linnean system, is a genus of the {diandra monogynia} class of plants. It is of a moderate height, and grows best in sunny places. Its trunk is knotty; bark smooth, of an ash colour: wood solid and yellowish; leaves oblong, almost like those of the willow, of a dark green colour on the upper side, and whitish below. In June it puts forth white flowers, growing in bunches, each of one piece, widening towards the top, and dividing into four parts. After this succeeds the fruit, which is oblong and plump; first green, then pale, and when quite ripe, black. Within it is enclosed a hard stone, filled with oblong seeds. It was the most useful of all trees in the forest; as the bramble was the meanest and most worthless.

Reign.

8:22,23

wherewith.

Ex 29:2,7; 35:14; Le 2:1; 1Ki 19:15,16; Ps 89:20; 104:15; Ac 4:27

Ac 10:38; 1Jo 2:20

God.{Elohim,} rather gods; the parable being adapted to the idolatrous Shechemites.

to be promoted over the trees. Heb. up and down for othertrees.

Job 1:7; 2:2

Lu 13:6,7

cheereth.

Nu 15:5,7,10; Ps 104:15; Pr 31:6; Ec 10:19

bramble. or, thistle.

2Ki 14:9

shadow.

Isa 30:2; Da 4:12; Ho 14:7; Mt 13:32

let fire.

20,49; Nu 21:28; Isa 1:31; Eze 19:14

the cedars.

2Ki 14:9; Ps 104:16; Isa 2:13; 37:24; Eze 31:3

2 Kings 14:9

The thistle.

Jud 9:8-15; 2Sa 12:1-4; 1Ki 4:33; Eze 20:49The word {choach,} which is rendered here, and in 2 Ch 25:18; Job 31:18, thistle, in 1 Sa 13:6, thicket in Isa 34:13, bramble, and in 2 Ch 33:11; Pr 26:9; So 2:2; Ho 9:6 thorn, is probably the black thorn, or sloe tree, the {prunus spinosa} of Linnæus, as the same word signifies in Arabic. There is a vast deal of insolent dignity in this remonstrance of Jehoash; but it has nothing conciliatory; no proposal of making amends for the injury his army had done to the unoffending inhabitants of Judah. (2 Ch 25:10-13.) The comparatively useless thorn, which may by chance lacerate the incautious passenger, is made the emblem of the house of Judah and David, while the house of Jehu is represented by the stately cedar.