SEV Biblia, Chapter 9:16
Ahora pues, si con verdad y con integridad habéis procedido en hacer rey a Abimelec, y si lo habéis hecho bien con Jerobaal y con su casa, y si le habéis pagado conforme a la obra de sus manos;
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 16. Now therefore, if ye have done truly and sincerely, in that ye have made Abimelech king , etc.] If they had done this conscientiously, and in the uprightness of their hearts, to take such a base man, and a murderer, and make him their king, which Jotham doubted, and put it in this manner to them, that they might consider of it themselves: if ye have dealt well with Jerubbaal, and his house ; if they could think so, which surely they could not, when they reflected upon the murder of his family they had consented to: and have done unto him according to the deserving of his hands ; to his memory, and to his family, according to the merit of his works which he had performed on their account, next mentioned.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 7-21 - There was no occasion for the trees to choose a king, they are all the trees of the Lord which he has planted. Nor was there any occasion for Israel to set a king over them, for the Lord was their King. Those wh bear fruit for the public good, are justly respected and honoured by all that are wise, more than those who merely make a figure. All thes fruit-trees gave much the same reason for their refusal to be promote over the trees; or, as the margin reads it, to go up and down for the trees. To rule, involves a man in a great deal both of toil and care Those who are preferred to public trust and power, must forego all private interests and advantages, for the good of others. And thos advanced to honour and dignity, are in great danger of losing their fruitfulness. For which reason, they that desire to do good, are afrai of being too great. Jotham compares Abimelech to the bramble of thistle, a worthless plant, whose end is to be burned. Such a one wa Abimelech.
Original Hebrew
ועתה 6258 אם 518 באמת 571 ובתמים 8549 עשׂיתם 6213 ותמליכו 4427 את 853 אבימלך 40 ואם 518 טובה 2895 עשׂיתם 6213 עם 5973 ירבעל 3378 ועם 5973 ביתו 1004 ואם 518 כגמול 1576 ידיו 3027 עשׂיתם׃ 6213
