Who smote Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? did not a woman cast a piece of a millstone upon him from the wall, that he died in Thebez? why went ye nigh the wall? then say thou, Thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.
Who killed Abimelech, the son of Jerubbesheth? Didn't a woman throw a piece of a millstone down on him from the wall, killing him at Thebez? Why did you go so close to the wall? Then tell him, 'Your servant Uriah the Hittite is also dead.'
King David is coaching his messenger on how to deliver bad news about a military defeat, using it as cover to report that Uriah has been killed as planned.
📚 Historical Context
In the biblical narrative of 2 Samuel 11, King David had already committed adultery with Bathsheba and orchestrated the death of her husband Uriah by placing him in the front lines of battle. Joab, David's military commander, is relaying a message about the battle's outcome and uses the story of Abimelech's death from Judges 9, where a woman dropped a millstone on him from a city wall, as a subtle warning about the dangers of overconfidence in warfare. This event occurred during the height of David's reign over a united Israel, around 1000 BC, highlighting the consequences of poor leadership decisions.
Explore Similar Verses
Ask the AI Assistant
Have a question about this chapter or verse? Ask below for a clear explanation.