The Daily RootedHome StoriesGradesChurchesWhat's NewAbout
Bible:
Answer key (separate)‹ Back to chapter 9

Every grade prints starting on a new page. No answers are included.

Judges 9 · Preschool

The Trees Choose a King

Name Date

Color the olive tree, the fig tree, and the vine! Jotham told a story about trees.

Can you find these in the picture? Circle each one!

Bible Verse

“The trees set out to anoint a king over themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’”

Judges 9:8 (WEB)

Prayer

Thank You, God, for making me!

Take It Home

Read the verse aloud. Say: In Jotham's story, the good trees would not be king. God wants good leaders who follow Him.

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org. © 2026 The Daily Rooted. Free to print and copy for church and home use; not for resale. Original line art.

Judges 9 · Kindergarten

The Trees Talk

Name Date

Trace the Words

Trace each word with your pencil.

TREE
KING
FIG
VINE
The trees set out to anoint a king over themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’

Judges 9:8 (WEB)

Match the Pictures

Draw a line from each word to its picture.

TREE
VINE
BRAMBLE
MOUNTAIN

Mini Maze

Help find the way through the maze.

Draw It

Draw the olive tree, the fig tree, and the vine.

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for seeing what is right and wrong. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

  • What is your favorite tree?
  • What good work can you do for God?

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org. © 2026 The Daily Rooted. Free to print and copy for church and home use; not for resale. Original line art.

Judges 9 · Grade 1

Jotham's Story

Name Date

Trace the Words

Trace the words and the verse.

OLIVE
FIG
VINE
KING
The trees set out to anoint a king over themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’

Judges 9:8 (WEB)

Match the Pictures

Draw a line from each sentence to its picture.

Jotham stood on a mountain.
The olive tree would not be king.
The fig tree would not be king.
The vine would not be king.
The bramble said, Be in my shade.

Jotham's Story

Write the number 1 to 4 in each circle to show the right order.

God repays wickedness

The trees ask the bramble

Shechem makes Abimelech king

Jotham speaks from Mount Gerizim

Draw the olive tree, the fig tree, and the vine.

Memory Verse

“The trees set out to anoint a king over themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’”

Judges 9:8 (WEB)

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for seeing what is right and wrong. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

  • Why did the good trees not want to be king?
  • What was wrong with the bramble being king?
  • What would you like to say to God about this chapter?

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org. © 2026 The Daily Rooted. Free to print and copy for church and home use; not for resale. Original line art.

Judges 9 · Grade 2

A Story About Trees

Name Date

Read the Story

Gideon had a son named Abimelech. Abimelech wanted to be king. He did a very bad thing to his brothers. Only the youngest, Jotham, hid and was safe.

Jotham stood on a mountain. He told a story. The trees wanted a king. The olive tree said no. The fig tree said no. The vine said no. They all had good work to do. Then a thorn bush said it would be king. It told the trees to come rest in its shade.

Abimelech ruled for three years. Then God sent trouble between him and the town. Abimelech fought many people. At last Abimelech died. God paid him back for the wrong he did.

Memory Verse

“The trees set out to anoint a king over themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’”

Judges 9:8 (WEB)

Show What You Know

Circle the right answer, or write it on the lines.

  1. Who wanted to be king?

    NoAbimelechJotham

  2. Who hid and was safe?

    Come rest in my shadeJothamNo

  3. What did the olive tree say?

    Come rest in my shadeJothamNo

  4. What did the thorn bush say?

  5. How long did Abimelech rule?

    Three yearsCome rest in my shadeNo

Word Search

Find and circle each word. Words go across and down.

SALJOTHAMIBRAMBLEPSTOWERFKFKHGERIZIMOGEDWMCULWLACNVFIVRKINHSITJFIGVREONNVBYGEHMRE
  • BRAMBLE
  • SHECHEM
  • GERIZIM
  • JOTHAM
  • OLIVE
  • TOWER
  • VINE
  • FIG

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for seeing what is right and wrong. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

  • Why was what Abimelech did so wrong?
  • How did God show He saw what Abimelech did?

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org. © 2026 The Daily Rooted. Free to print and copy for church and home use; not for resale. Original line art.

Judges 9 · Grade 3

The Bramble King

Name Date

Read the Story

Abimelech, a son of Gideon, asked the men of Shechem to make him king. They gave him silver, and he hired worthless men. He did a terrible wrong to his brothers, but Jotham the youngest hid himself.

Jotham stood on Mount Gerizim and told a story. The trees went to anoint a king. The olive tree, the fig tree, and the vine all said no. They would not leave their oil, sweet fruit, and wine. Then the bramble told the trees to take refuge in its shade, or fire would come out of it.

After three years, God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and Shechem. They turned against each other, and Abimelech destroyed the city. At Thebez, Abimelech died. Thus God repaid Abimelech's wickedness.

Memory Verse

“The trees set out to anoint a king over themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’”

Judges 9:8 (WEB)

Answer the Questions

  1. Who gave Abimelech silver?

  2. Where did Jotham tell his story?

  3. Which trees said no?

  4. What did the bramble say would come out of it?

  5. Who repaid Abimelech's wickedness?

Jotham's Story

Write what happened in each box.

1
2
3
4

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for seeing what is right and wrong. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

  • Why is it wrong to hurt others to get what you want?
  • What makes a good leader?

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org. © 2026 The Daily Rooted. Free to print and copy for church and home use; not for resale. Original line art.

Judges 9 · Grade 4

A King Who Took Power

Name Date

Read and Think

Gideon had refused to be king, but his son Abimelech wanted the throne. He reminded the men of Shechem that he was their own flesh and bone. They gave him seventy pieces of silver from the house of Baal Berith, and he killed his seventy brothers on one stone. Only Jotham escaped.

From Mount Gerizim, Jotham told a parable. The trees asked the olive, the fig, and the vine to reign, but each refused to leave its useful work. The bramble accepted, inviting the trees into its shade and threatening fire. Jotham said if Shechem had acted in truth, let them rejoice; if not, let fire destroy both Abimelech and Shechem.

Three years later, God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and Shechem. Gaal stirred up a revolt, and Abimelech destroyed Shechem and burned its tower. At Thebez, a woman threw an upper millstone on his head, and he died. God repaid Abimelech and the men of Shechem, and Jotham's curse came true.

Show What You Know

  1. Where did the silver for Abimelech come from?

  2. Why did the good trees refuse to reign?

  3. What did Jotham say would happen if Shechem had not acted in truth?

  4. How did Abimelech die?

Word Bank Fill-In

Use the word bank to fill in each blank.

JothambrambleShechemGerizimolive
  1. He reminded the men of that he was their own flesh and bone.
  2. Only escaped.
  3. From Mount , Jotham told a parable.
  4. The trees asked the , the fig, and the vine to reign, but each refused to leave its useful work.
  5. The accepted, inviting the trees into its shade and threatening fire.

Think About It

  1. The bramble offered shade it could not really give. Why should we be careful about leaders who promise big things?

  2. Abimelech grabbed power by hurting others. What is the difference between leading and grabbing power?

Memory Verse

“The trees set out to anoint a king over themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’”

Judges 9:8 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for seeing what is right and wrong. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

  • Why did the men of Shechem follow Abimelech?
  • What does this chapter teach about using money and power?

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org. © 2026 The Daily Rooted. Free to print and copy for church and home use; not for resale. Original line art.

Judges 9 · Grade 5

God Repays Wickedness

Name Date

Read and Think

Judges 9 shows what happens when someone seizes power without God. Abimelech, son of Gideon's concubine at Shechem, persuaded his mother's relatives to back him. With money from the temple of Baal Berith, he hired reckless men and murdered his seventy brothers on one stone at Ophrah. Jotham, the youngest, hid and survived. Then the men of Shechem made Abimelech king by the oak of the pillar.

Standing on Mount Gerizim, Jotham told a parable. The olive tree, the fig tree, and the vine each refused the crown, because they would have to leave the good things they produced for God and people. Only the useless bramble agreed, offering shade it could not give and threatening fire. Jotham's point was clear: Abimelech was a bramble king, and if Shechem had not dealt in good faith with Gideon's house, fire would come out of each to devour the other.

After three years God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem, so that the violence done to Gideon's sons would come back on them. Gaal led a revolt; Abimelech crushed it, sowed Shechem with salt, and burned its stronghold. At Thebez, a certain woman threw an upper millstone on his head. Thus God repaid the wickedness of Abimelech, and the curse of Jotham came on the men of Shechem.

Show What You Know

  1. Who backed Abimelech at first?

  2. Why did the olive, fig, and vine refuse the crown?

  3. What was Jotham's point?

  4. Why did God send an evil spirit between them?

  5. Whose curse came true?

Word Bank Fill-In

Use the word bank to fill in each blank.

JothamGodGerizimShechemolive
  1. Judges 9 shows what happens when someone seizes power without .
  2. , the youngest, hid and survived.
  3. Then the men of made Abimelech king by the oak of the pillar.
  4. Standing on Mount , Jotham told a parable.
  5. The tree, the fig tree, and the vine each refused the crown, because they would have to leave the good things they produced for God and people.

Think About It

  1. Jotham spoke the truth even though he was alone and in danger. When might God want you to speak up for what is right?

  2. God repaid Abimelech, even though it took three years. How does it help to know God sees injustice even when it seems to win for a while?

Memory Verse

“The trees set out to anoint a king over themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’”

Judges 9:8 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for seeing what is right and wrong. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

  • How does God's justice give hope to people who are treated badly?
  • What kind of person would you want to follow?
  • What is one way you could live out this chapter this week?

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org. © 2026 The Daily Rooted. Free to print and copy for church and home use; not for resale. Original line art.