Judges 9:13

Wine. Heb. tirosh, the juice of the grape, either newly made or fermented.

Cheereth God. Or, “cheereth gods” (see on v. 9), as an accommodation of the parable to the customs familiar to the idolatrous Shechemites. They would be well acquainted with the frequent offerings of wine to heathen deities who were actually supposed to partake of it.

On the other hand, wine was also used in libations in the temple service (Ex. 29:40; Num. 15:7, 10; etc.).

To be promoted. Literally, “to wave.” The action represents a gesture of authority.

All three of the trees that yielded most abundant blessings for man, the olive, fig, and vine, consecutively refused the honor of becoming the king of trees. Their reasons were all the same: why leave the function whereby they were rendering a most valuable service to assume a function that they felt was not necessary?

The figure “wave over the trees” is an apt image of popular will — uncertain and affected by every wind. A position gained as a result of popular favor could be maintained only by bending to every breeze, or else, by losing true nobility in the effort to maintain the position by force of arms. Jotham’s words indicate that Gideon also realized the fickle nature of the Israelites. No man of real worth would leave a position of usefulness to assume kingship over a people whose desires and aims shifted as quickly as the wind.