(For my father fought for you, and adventured his life far, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian:
The word for life in the reminder that his father risked his life far while fighting for the people and delivering them from Midian is the Hebrew nephesh. The setting is a figurative parable in which trees hold a council and speak, an imagined scene that teaches a lesson rather than reporting a literal event. It forms part of Jotham's eloquent, satirical speech delivered on Mount Gerizim, a strong example of Old Testament oratory.
The verse recalls Gideon fighting for the people, risking his life far, and delivering them out of the hand of Midian. It belongs to the history in which Abimelech, Gideon's son by his maid, had Gideon's sons slain in order to become ruler and later utterly destroyed Shechem. Jotham used it to reprove the folly, injustice, and ingratitude of the Shechemites in murdering Gideon's house and choosing Abimelech as king.
The verse stands in the fearfully checkered history of Israel in the time of the judges, within the broader record of backsliding, suffering and oppression, and God's forgiveness and deliverance. In that history the family of Gideon degenerated by trusting in things which are seen instead of the unseen power, in contrast with the wonderful triumph God had wrought through Gideon with few against many. The verse displays Gideon's unselfish, unambitious service and teaches that those doing valuable work for the Lord do not seek to rule over fellow workers, so that ambition to be exalted over others shows lack of fitness to rule.
The word for life in the reminder that his father risked his life far while fighting for the people and delivering them from Midian is the Hebrew nephesh. The setting is a figurative parable in which trees hold a council and speak, an imagined scene that teaches a lesson rather than reporting a literal event. It forms part of Jotham's eloquent, satirical speech delivered on Mount Gerizim, a strong example of Old Testament oratory.
The verse recalls Gideon fighting for the people, risking his life far, and delivering them out of the hand of Midian. It belongs to the history in which Abimelech, Gideon's son by his maid, had Gideon's sons slain in order to become ruler and later utterly destroyed Shechem. Jotham used it to reprove the folly, injustice, and ingratitude of the Shechemites in murdering Gideon's house and choosing Abimelech as king.
The verse stands in the fearfully checkered history of Israel in the time of the judges, within the broader record of backsliding, suffering and oppression, and God's forgiveness and deliverance. In that history the family of Gideon degenerated by trusting in things which are seen instead of the unseen power, in contrast with the wonderful triumph God had wrought through Gideon with few against many. The verse displays Gideon's unselfish, unambitious service and teaches that those doing valuable work for the Lord do not seek to rule over fellow workers, so that ambition to be exalted over others shows lack of fitness to rule.