The parable of the trees recorded in Judges 9 relates
the 'trees' to a relationship between G-d and His people, Israel.
Yeshua used 'trees' not only to typify His relationship with Israel;
but also His relationship with His Body, the Churchfor
instance, in Matthew 3:10, 7:15-23; and 12:33.
Jude calls 'unbelievers':
"...late autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, pulled up by the roots." (Jude 12b)
The Hebrew writers of the Bible commonly used this type of literary device. The interpretation of Jotham's Parable Of The Trees was local and historical to Israel at the time it was written; but the application of its fulfillment is prophetic in that it painted a picture of the Israelites, the 'privileged' trees, looking for a king to rule over them.
The olive tree, fig tree, and vine are used to illustrate the religious, national and spiritual privileges afforded by G-d to the nation of Israel. They were a three-part people: Priests, Kings, and the Israelites over whom G-d desired Sovereignty. He, therefore, gave them the privilege to worship Him through prescribed religious rituals (The Olive Tree/Levites). He gave them the privilege of being a nation in His sight (The Fig Tree/ Judahites). And, finally, He gave them the privilege of having a personal relationship with Him (The Vine/Israelites). The Trees (privileged Israel) were meant to rule over the world under G-d's absolute authority (a true theocracy). But the Israelites wanted an earthly king like the rest of the world and refused to take their place of authority in any capacity afforded by G-d.
The olive tree being a symbol of peace (Genesis 8:11) and its oil a symbol of light (Exodus 25:6; 35:8, 28) is illustrative of G-d bringing peace between man and Himself through the sacrificial system taught only to the Israelites. They were cultivated to bring the 'Light', the Messiah, into the world who would fulfill the sacrificial system for all mankind. In the parable, the olive tree (the religious leaders) wanted only to produce oil rather than take the responsibility of its privileged place at the 'head' of the trees (the world).
Jeremiah records the L-rd's words to Israel in which He calls her an olive tree:
"The L-rd called your name, Green Olive Tree, Lovely and of Good Fruit....For the L-rd of hosts, has planted you....(From Jeremiah 11:16, 17)
Hosea also records the L-rd's words concerning Israel, the olive tree:
"I will be like the dew to Israel; he shall grow like the lily, and lengthen his roots like Lebanon. His branches shall spread; his beauty shall be like an olive tree, and his fragrance like Lebanon." (Hosea 14:5, 6)
The physical attributes of the olive tree mirror many characteristics the Israelites have displayed throughout the ages. Their history in the Diaspora (all the nations of the world outside Israel) testifies of their enduring nature in hostile, foreign lands (symbolized by wild olive trees): Its branches are gnarled and twisted and will grow where other trees cannot survive. It clings to life and is enduring. Some olive trees live as long as 3000 years. Only one flower in 100 bears fruitthe others fall off . Cultivated olive tree branches can be grafted into wild olive trees to improve the wild olive tree; but rarely are the branches of the wild olive ever grafted into a cultivated olive tree.
While it was rare, the apostle Paul uses just this analogy to demonstrate that G-d was bringing Gentiles (wild branches) into His cultivated olive tree (Israel's religious privilege and favor) through the Messiah, Yeshua. He makes it clear that while Israel is not cast aside (Romans 11:1) only a remnant (11:5) believed, in order to bring the richness of salvation to the Gentiles of the world, and the rest fell. Verse 17 and 24 illustrate that Israel is the olive tree:
"And if some of the branches be broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree (i.e. became a partner in the religious privileges of Israel), do not boast against the branches (Israel). But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, (the Jewish religion established by G-d) but the root supports you."
"For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree (privileged Israel) how much more will these, who are natural branches be grafted into their own olive tree (be returned to G-d's privilege and favor)? (Romans 9:24)
In the parable of the trees, the fig tree 'said' it was more important to bear fruit than to rule as king. Again, the nation shunned its responsibility of authority over the trees (nations).
The fig tree, symbolizing Israel's national privilege, bears two crops annuallywinter figs and summer figs. Figuratively, it speaks of the first and Second Advent of the Messiah to the nation of Israel. At the first advent, the Nation as a whole rejected Him. At the Second Advent, the Nation will receive Him.
The fruit of the fig appears firstbefore the flower. The fig is symbolic of the Nation of Israel and the flower is illustrative of the land of Israel. G-d acknowledged the Israelites as a nation before He gave them a land to inhabit (Exodus 4:22).
The New Testament records several parables about 'the fig tree'; but the passage in Luke, clearly identifies the two advents of the Messiah:
"A certain man (Yeshua/G-d) had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none (His first advent). Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, 'Look, for three years (the length of Yeshua's reign on earth) I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?' But he answered and said to him, 'Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down'" (in speaking of His Second Advent). (Luke 13:6-9)
Probably the most quoted parable about the fig tree appears in Matthew in the midst of Yeshua's Olivet DiscourseHis teaching about the end-of-the-age:
"Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see all these things, know that it (the coming of the L-rd to 'harvest' the earth) is nearat the doors." (Matt. 24:32, 33)
This parable connects the 'blossoming' of the fig tree with the coming of the L-rd. The blossoming of the fig tree refers to Israel becoming a nation again after having not existed for almost 2000 years. Yeshua said the generation that would see the fig tree blossom would be the generation that would see His return (Matthew 24:34).
In the Judges 9 parable, the vine also abrogates its responsibility of leadership among 'the trees'. Psalm 80 describes Israel as the vine that the L-rd brought out of Egypt, which G-d's right hand planted. In Jeremiah 2:21 G-d says he planted Israel as a noble vine, a seed of highest quality.
The fruit of the vine produces wine which is spiritually symbolic of joy. The grapevine, representing Israel's spiritual privilege with G-d, has branches that wrap themselves around another, branches that depend upon the nourishment and strength of the vine. Yeshua described Himself as the Vine and His followers as the branches:
"Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine. You are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." (John 15:4, 5)
The bramble bears no fruit, only thornsthe result of the curse pronounced by G-d on mankind in Eden after the fall. It is such a low bush that one would have to stoop down low to get in its shadow as is suggested should be done by the Israelites in Judges 9:15.
The bramble (Abimelech) in the parable foreshadows the antichrist, the one whom Israel will 'stoop low' to accept as their Sovereign; He is the one who will eventually attempt to devour that nation as described in verse 20. Abimelech ruled for three years and was then killed by a woman (a type of the nation of Israel), indicating Israel will be victorious in the end.
Because Israel did not use her G-d-given authority, G-d allowed her to have kingskings that abused her and rejected G-d. Eventually, Israel's rejection of G-d as her Sovereign resulted in her expulsion from the land.
As the Second Advent of our L-rd draws near, Israel is once again a nation (The Fig Tree) preparing to rebuild the Temple of G-d and resume the sacrificial system (The Olive Tree). As she prepares for the coming of the Messiah, Israel will again be tested to see if she has born fruit (The Vine). Each will have to give an account of what he/she has done with the measure of faith given him/her by G-d. This is reflected in the parable of the talents:
"For the kingdom of heaven is like a man (G-d) traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them....After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them...." (From Matthew 25:14-30)
The parable of the trees expresses Israel's desire to be independent of G-d like other nations. But G-d said:
"'What you have in your mind shall never be, when you say, 'We will be like the Gentiles, like the families in other countries, serving wood and stone.' 'As I live,' says the L-rd G-d, 'surely with a mighty hand, with an outstretched arm, and with fury poured out, I will rule over you. I will bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries where you are scattered, with a mighty hand, with an outstretched arm, and with fury poured out.'" (Ezekiel 20:32-34)
G-d will allow The Bramble to rule for a time (Rev. 13:5) as He did Abimelech; but then He will come and burn The Bramble along with all the trees that have not borne fruit.