JOTHAM'S SPEECH AND FABLE AS PROPHETIC COMMENT ON ABIMELECH'S STORY

Abstract

The story of Abimelech is an exception to the rule considering the narratives about charismatic deliverers that make up the core of the book of Judges. It will be seen how the episode of Abimelech came to be connected with its immediate context. We find the earliest narrative about Abimelech in Judg 9, 26-54. The next stage of the chapter's development is the inclusion of vv 9, l-5a, 6 and 22-24, 56. These verses make Abimelech both a murderer and a usurper, and the Shekemites become his accomplices. It is especially noteworthy that Abimelech is called “king” only within these lines. After that Jotham entered the stage. V 5b was added to introduce him (v 21 giving his “exit”). He comes into the story only to deliver a speech. His original speech would be the prosaic one (vv 16-20), reproaching the Shekemites directly of their misbehaviour with regard to Jotham's father. Jotham's prose speech is similar to a prophetic oracle of doom. His prophet-like function becomes obvious in the end when the narrator says that Jotham's curse has come true (v 57b). The so-called fable (vv 8-15) seems to be the latest addition to the chapter. It was inserted in order to reinforce Jotham's prophetic function. Probably the metaphorical narrative about the trees was composed for the present context.