The fig tree replied, "I volunteer, for it is from my fruits that Israel offers the first-fruit bikkurim." Moreover the verse compares Israel to me: As ripe figs at the beginning of their season have I seen your forefathers (Hosea 9:10)

The grape vine replied, "I volunteer, for Israel is compared to me: The vine You caused to journey forth from Egypt." (Psalms 80:9)

The pomegranate replied, "I volunteer, for Israel is compared to me: Your temples are like a piece of pomegranate (Song of Songs 4:3)

The etrog tree replied, "I volunteer for Israel uses me for a mitzvah..." The shittim and beroshim trees replied, "We volunteer, for the Tabernacle and Temple were built with us."

The date-palm and the cedar replied, "We volunteer, for we are compared to the righteous: A righteous man will flourish like a date-palm, and grow mighty like a cedar in Lebanon (Psalms 92:13)

On and on, each of the trees in God's world volunteered for the task.

Finally, the thorn appeared before God and said, "Master of the Universe, although I have nothing on which to base my claim, I volunteer to have this contaminated person hang on me. My name is "thorn" and he is a painful thorn; it is appropriate that the thorn hang from the thorn."

Thus, when Haman's henchmen sought wood for a gallows, all they were able to find was a thorn tree. When the tree was brought before Haman, he set it up at the doorway of his palace. Then he measured himself against it, to show his servants how Mordechai would hang from it.

A Divine Voice (Bat Kol) called out, "This tree is appropriate for you. It has been prepared for you since the six days of Creation.

From the ArtScroll Mesorah Series - Purim. Based on Esther Rabbah.