And the vine said to them, Should I leave my wine, which cheers God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?
And the vine said to them, Should I leave my wine, which cheers God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?
And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my new wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to wave to and fro over the trees?
But the vine said to them, Am I to give up my wine, which makes glad God and men, to go waving over the trees?
And the vine said to them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?
"The vine said to them, 'Should I leave my new wine, which cheers God and man, and go to wave back and forth over the trees?'
And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to wave to and fro over the trees?
Which cheereth God and man - I believe אלהים elohim here is to be taken in the same sense proposed on Judges 9:9. Vast libations of wine, as well as much oil, were used in heathenish sacrifices and offerings; and it was their opinion that the gods actually partook of, and were delighted with, both the wine and oil. The pagan mythology furnishes the most exquisite wines to its gods in heaven, and hence the nectar and ambrosia so much talked of and praised by the ancients. It is not reasonable to suppose that Jotham makes any reference here to the sacrifices, oblations, and perfumes offered to the true God. This language the idolatrous Shechemites could scarcely understand. What could the worshippers of Baal-berith know of the worship of the God who gave his law to Moses? And it is not very likely that Jotham himself was well acquainted with the sacred rites of the Mosaic religion, as they had been little preached in his time.
9:13 Cheareth God - Wherewith God is well pleased, because it was offered to God.