The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said to the olive-tree, Reign thou over us.

But the olive-tree said to them, Should I leave my fatness, with which by me they honor God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?

And the trees said to the fig-tree, Come thou, and reign over us.

But the fig-tree said to them, Should I forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the trees?

Then said the trees to the vine, Come thou, and reign over us.

And the vine said to them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?

Then said all the trees to the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us.

And the bramble said to the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then come and put your trust in my shadow: and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon.

And Abimelech ascended mount Zalmon, he and all the people that were with him; and Abimelech took an ax in his hand, and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it, and laid it on his shoulder, and said to the people that were with him, What ye have seen me do, make haste, and do as I have done.

And he gathered to him the children of Ammon and Amalek, and went and smote Israel, and possessed the city of palm-trees.