Judges 9:8Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

No individual is so uneducated as to believe that the fables of Aesop, serving a similar purpose, ought to be categorized as falsehoods. The Holy Scriptures contain analogous narratives, such as in the Book of Judges where the trees seek a ruler to anoint and reign over them, appealing to the olive tree, the fig tree, the vine, and the thorns. These instances, while fictional, are crafted to convey deeper truths, allowing us to understand the core message intended by the account.

The vine, fig tree, and olive tree symbolize the presence of the Savior, God the Father, and the Holy Spirit; for a moment, I will set aside the pomegranate tree. This connection is more deeply explored in the book of Judges, where the barren trees gather to appoint a king and invite the vine, fig tree, and olive tree to govern them. However, the vine, fig tree, and olive tree reject this authority and do not consider it an honor to rule over the unfruitful trees.

It is clear that this reference does not pertain to trees that emerge from the ground. Trees, lacking souls and anchored to the soil, cannot come together to choose a ruler. Instead, this narrative clearly describes souls who, prior to the Incarnation of Christ, overwhelmed by their own transgressions, implored God to hear their laments and govern them with kindness and humility. This is symbolically represented in Scripture as an olive tree, as oil is beneficial to the body, alleviates pain and illness, and provides light. The brightness of every lamp is enhanced by the oil that is poured in; likewise, God’s mercies rescue from death and sin, assist humanity, and nourish the inner light.

We should also remember the ancient parable found in the book of Judges, recounting how all the trees, forests, orchards, and vineyards unified to select a king for themselves. When many of them declined, they chose to appoint a thorn as their ruler, saying to it, "Come and reign over us." What if someone had addressed the trees, asking, "Listen, trees! What are you doing? Who are you choosing? Are there not among you majestic cedars, lofty date palms, fruitful olive trees, and other magnificent and beneficial trees? What advantage do thorns provide you? The Gospel does not endorse this, stating, ‘Do they gather grapes from thornbushes?’ (Matthew 7:16). However, we should not dismiss the collective decision of the trees. I admire their good intentions and sound reasoning.