Judges 9:52

Verse

When Abimelech came to attack the tower, he approached its entrance to set it on fire.

American Standard Version (1901)

And Abimelech came unto the tower, and fought against it, and drew near unto the door of the tower to burn it with fire.

Bible in Basic English

And Abimelech came to the tower and made an attack on it, and got near to the door of the tower for the purpose of firing it.

Free Bible Version

Abimelech went up to the tower to attack it. But as he came close to the tower's entrance to set it on fire,

Geneva Bible 1599

And Abimelech came vnto the towre and fought against it, and went hard vnto the doore of the towre to set it on fire.

King James (Authorized) Version

And Abimelech came unto the tower, and fought against it, and went hard unto the door of the tower to burn it with fire.

Translation for Translators

Abimelech and his men came to the tower and tried to get in the door, but they could not. Then Abimelech prepared to light a fire to burn down the door.

Unlocked Literal Bible

Abimelech came to the tower and fought against it, and he came up near to the door of the tower to burn it.

Noah Webster Bible

And Abimelech came to the tower, and fought against it, and came near to the door of the tower to burn it with fire.

World English Bible

Abimelech came to the tower and fought against it, and came near to the door of the tower to burn it with fire.

Young's Literal Translation

And Abimelech cometh unto the tower, and fighteth against it, and draweth nigh unto the opening of the tower to burn it with fire,

Context

Abimelech’s Punishment

⁵¹But there was a strong tower inside the city, and all the men, women, and leaders of the city fled there. They locked themselves in and went up to the roof of the tower.⁵²When Abimelech came to attack the tower, he approached its entrance to set it on fire.⁵³But a woman dropped an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head, crushing his skull.

Summary

This verse describes the downfall of Abimelek, the wicked king who had killed his brothers to seize power. As he attempted to conquer the city of Thebez, a woman dropped a millstone on his head, mortally wounding him. Rather than be killed by a man, Abimelek asked his armor-bearer to end his life to avoid the shame of being defeated by a woman. This event serves as a reminder of God's justice and the consequences of seeking power through deceit and violence.

Commentary

John Gill

John Gill Bible Commentary

And a certain woman cast a piece of a millstone,.... Of the upper millstone, as the word signifies, which is observed by Jarchi and other Jewish commentators; this with other stones being carried up to the top of the tower, to do what execution they could with them: and a woman observing Abimelech making up to the door of the tower, took up this piece of millstone, and threw it down upon Abimelech's head, and all to break his skull; she did it with that view, though it may as well be rendered, or "she", or "it broke his skull" (r); it made a fracture in it, which was mortal. Abendana observes, and so others, that that was measure for measure, a righteous retaliation, that as he had slain seventy of his brethren on one stone, he should die by means of a stone. (r) "et confregit cranium ejus", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator; so Tigurine version.