Judges 9:53

Translations

Modern

But a woman dropped an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head, crushing his skull.

Traditional

And a certain woman cast a piece of a millstone upon Abimelech’s head, and all to brake his skull.

Literal

And one woman dropped an upper millstone on the head of Abimelech, and it crushed his skull.

Latin

…et ecce una mulier fragmen molæ desuper jaciens, illisit capiti Abimelech, et confregit cerebrum ejus.

Original

Hebrew

English

But a woman dropped an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head, crushing his skull.

Notes

Judges 9:53

Women often ground grain using a stationary lower millstone. They turned a lighter upper millstone by hand. This method is mentioned in the story of David's murder of Uriah (2 Samuel 11:21).

Judges 9:22–57

Theological statements in Judges 9:23–24 and 9:56–57 frame the story of the civil conflict that caused the destruction of Abimelech and Shechem. This event fulfilled the curse that Jotham declared (Judges 9:19–20).

Judges 9:1–57

Abimelech's reign marked a shift from the relative peace of the early judges (Judges 3:7–8:35) to the decline of the later years (10:1–16:31).

Theme notes and profiles

Gideon Shechem

Events

Usurpation by Abimelechc. 1218 BC

Related verses

2 Samuel 11:21
Who struck Abimelech son of Jerubbesheth? Was it not a woman who dropped an upper millstone on him from the wall, so that he died in Thebez? Why did you get so close to the wall?’ If he asks you this, then you are to say, ‘Your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead as well.’”
Job 31:3
Does not disaster come to the unjust and calamity to the workers of iniquity?
Judges 9:20
But if not, may fire come from Abimelech and consume the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo, and may fire come from the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo and consume Abimelech.”
Jeremiah 50:45
Therefore hear the plans that the LORD has drawn up against Babylon and the strategies He has devised against the land of the Chaldeans: Surely the little ones of the flock will be dragged away; certainly their pasture will be made desolate because of them.
Jeremiah 49:20
Therefore hear the plans that the LORD has drawn up against Edom and the strategies He has devised against the people of Teman: Surely the little ones of the flock will be dragged away; certainly their pasture will be made desolate because of them.
2 Samuel 20:21
That is not the case. But a man named Sheba son of Bichri, from the hill country of Ephraim, has lifted up his hand against the king, against David. Deliver him alone, and I will depart from the city.” “Look,” the woman replied, “his head will be thrown to you over the wall.”
Judges 9:15
But the thornbush replied, ‘If you really are anointing me as king over you, come and find refuge in my shade. But if not, may fire come out of the thornbush and consume the cedars of Lebanon.’

People

Abimelech: Son of Gideon, self-proclaimed king of Shechem

Glossary

Abimelech Citadel Curse, Cursed Judges, Book of Mill Shechem (Place) Thebez Warfare

Topics

Judge: Abimelech Judgments: Upon Abimelech Mills: Stones Used in Often Thrown Down on Enemies During Sieges Millstone: Abimelech Killed by One Being of Hurled Upon Him The Power of a Woman Thebez: A City, at Which Abimelech Was Killed While Besieging Women: Help in Defensive Operations

Judges 9:53

Translations?

Original?

Notes?

Events?

Related verses?

People

Glossary?

Topics?

Translations

Original

Notes

Events

Related verses

Glossary

Topics