Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 9:9
But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honor God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?
9. my fatness ] i.e. the oil from the crushed berry, almost a necessity of life in Palestine, where it takes the place of butter.
wherewith by me they honour ] For by me read by it (LXX. cod. B, Vulgate, Targ.) i.e. whereby they honour gods and men, parallel to cheereth gods and men in Jdg 9:13; they honour has the force of a passive, are honoured. Probably to avoid this sense the text was altered to mean ‘which God and man honour in me,’ RVm., LXX. cod. A, Peshitto A staple article of man’s daily food, oil was offered as sacrificial food to the gods, and among the Hebrews to Jehovah. But oil was not an article of food by itself; accordingly in Hebr. ritual it was not poured out as a libation, but used to moisten and enrich a cereal offering (Mic 6:7; Lev 2:1 ff.; Exo 29:23; Exo 29:40) 1 [40] Further, a guest was anointed as a sign of honour and festivity (Psa 23:5; Psa 45:7; Psa 141:5; cf. the anointing of a king and priest); on this analogy we may explain the ancient custom of pouring oil upon sacred stones (Gen 28:18 E, Gen 35:14 J; cf. the smearing of sacred furniture Exo 30:24 ff. P). See Robertson Smith, Rel. of Sem., pp. 203 f., 214 f.
[40] Cf. a similar usage among the Phoenicians, NSI., p. 120 f.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 9. Wherewith – they honour God and man] I believe the word elohim here should be translated gods, for the parable seems to be accommodated to the idolatrous state of the Shechemites. Thus it was understood by the Vulgate, Arabic, and others. It is true that olive oil was often used in the service of God: the priests were anointed with it; the lamps in the tabernacle lighted with it; almost all the offerings of fine flour, cakes prepared in the pan, c., had oil mingled with them therefore Jotham might say that with it they honour God; and as priests, prophets, and kings were anointed, and their office was the most honourable, he might with propriety say, therewith they honour man. But I am persuaded he used the term in the first sense. See on Jdg 9:13.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
In the worship and service of God oil was used for divers things; as, about the lamps, Exo 35:14, and offerings, Lev 2:6,7, and for the anointing of sacred persons and things. Oil was also used in the constitution of kings, and priests, and prophets, and for a present to great persons, and to anoint the head and face, &c.
To be promoted, Heb. to move hither and thither, to wander to and fro, to exchange my sweet tranquillity for incessant cares and travels for the good of others, as a king ought to do.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
But the olive tree said unto them,…. In reply to the request of the trees:
should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honour God and man; by “fatness” oil is meant, pressed out of the fruit of the olive tree, and which was much made use of both in the burning of the lamps in the tabernacle, and in many sacrifices, as the meat offerings and others, whereby God was honoured; and it was also made use of in the investiture of the greatest personages with the highest offices among men, as kings, priests, and prophets, as well as eaten with pleasure and delight by all sorts of men, and even by the greatest, and so men are honoured by it:
and go to be promoted over the trees; desert so useful a station, in which it was planted and fixed, to move to and fro, as the word signifies, and reign over trees; suggesting that it was unreasonable, at least not eligible to a good man to desert a private station in life, to which he was called of God, and in which he acted with honour and usefulness to others, and take upon him a public office, attended with much care and trouble, and with neglect of private affairs, and with the loss of much personal peace and comfort.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(9) Wherewith by me they honour God and man.The words may also mean, which gods and men honour in me (Vulg., qu et dii utuntur et homines; Luther, meine Fettigheit, die beide Gtter und menschen an mir preisen; and so some MSS. of the LXX.). In either case the mention of gods or God (Elohim) refers to the use of oil in sacrifices, offerings, consecrations, &c. (Gen. 28:18; Exo. 30:24; Lev. 3:1-16). Oil is used in the East as one of the greatest luxuries, and also as possessing valuable medicinal properties (Jas. 5:15; Luk. 10:34).
Go to be promoted over the trees.The English Version here follows the Vulg. (ut inter ligna promovear); but the verb in the original is much finer and more picturesque, for it expresses the utter scorn of the olive for the proffered honour. The margin renders it, go up and down for other trees, but it means rather float about (LXX., kineisthai; Vulg., agitari); as Luther admirably renders it, dass ich uber den Bamen Schwebe. (Comp. Isa. 19:1 (be moved), Isa. 29:9 (stagger); Lam. 4:14 (wander), &c.) When, in 1868, the crown of Spain was offered to Ferdinand of Portugal, he is reported to have answered, Pour moi pas si imbcile.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
9. My fatness A reference to the olive oil, which was manufactured and used in great quantities among the ancients. The fatness of the olive, and its chief value, was its oil.
Honour God and man God was honoured by the fatness of the olive in its use for light in his sanctuary, (Exo 27:20,) and for the holy offerings and rites of his house. Exo 29:23; Exo 29:40. Man was honoured by it in its various domestic uses, and especially by its use in anointing prophets, priests, and kings.
To be promoted over the trees Better, to wave over the trees. The Hebrew verb , to wave, to reel, is often used of the staggering motion of a drunken man, and also of a wandering person, going up and down, as the margin has it, and might aptly characterize a king like Abimelech, who reels and wanders to and fro among the people, and is no benefit to any one. Jotham may have meant, in the use of this word, to throw a contemptuous gibe at Abimelech. But the word is here in keeping with the imagery of trees; and the waving of one tree over another is a beautiful image of royal supremacy and power.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Jdg 9:9 But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honour God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?
Ver. 9. But the olive-tree said unto them. ] The bramble thought it a great matter to reign over the rest; not so the olive. Animo mayno nihil magnum. The violent obtain heaven; but for earth, they look upon it as a magnum nihil.
Should I leave my fatness?
And go to be promoted?
“ Nolo ego Caesar esse,
Ambulare per Britannos,
Rigidas pati pruinas. ” – Carion. Chron.
This made Rodolphus Rufus, the Emperor, thus bespeak his crown:
“ Nobilis es fateor, rutilisque onerata lapillis:
Innumeris curis sed comitata venis.
Quod bene si nossent omnes expendere, nemo,
Nemo foret qui te tollere vellet humo. ” – Par. Medul.
a Jun.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
honour. Compare Exo 27:20, Exo 27:21. Lev 2:1. The interpretation of these three “honour”, &c. is clear from the context. An application may be made as to what should be seen in Israel and in ourselves.
go = march about, instead of fulfilling my mission.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
wherewith: Exo 29:2, Exo 29:7, Exo 35:14, Lev 2:1, 1Ki 19:15, 1Ki 19:16, Psa 89:20, Psa 104:15, Act 4:27, Act 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 other trees, Job 1:7, Job 2:2
Reciprocal: Exo 27:20 – pure oil olive beaten Num 15:4 – the fourth Pro 27:9 – Ointment Zec 4:3 – General Rom 11:17 – and with
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jdg 9:9. My fatness, wherewith they honour God Oil being used in Gods worship for divers things, as in sacrifices, in the dedication of persons and things to holy offices and uses, and for the lamps in the sanctuary; and man For oil was used in constituting kings, and priests, and prophets, and for a present to great men, and to anoint the head and face; and go to be promoted Hebrew, , lanuang, to shake and move hither and thither, to wander to and fro, to exchange my sweet tranquillity and peace for incessant cares and travels. To undertake the government of others, says Henry, involves a man in a great deal of both toil and care. He that is promoted over the trees must go up and down for them, and make himself a perfect drudge to business. Those that are preferred to places of public trust and power, must resolve to forego all their private interests and advantages, and sacrifice them to the good of the community.