Lexical Summary Tebets: Tebez Original Word: תֵּבֵץ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Taberah From the same as buwts; whiteness; Tebets, a place in Palestine -- Thebez. see HEBREW buwts NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof uncertain derivation Definition a city near Shechem NASB Translation Thebez (3). Brown-Driver-Briggs תֵּבֵץ proper name, of a location near Shechem: Judges 9:50 (twice in verse) (תֵּבֵ֑ץ; also Judges 8:18 Bu for תָּבוֺר q. v.), 2 Samuel 11:21; modern ˆûbâs, 4 hours north of Shechem RobBR. iii. 305 GuérinSam. i. 357 ff. BuhlG 204; Θηβης, Θαιβαις (in Judges), Θαμας(ε)ι, ᵐ5L Θαμεσσει (in Samuel). Topical Lexicon Geographical Setting Thebez was a fortified town in the central hill country of Israel, most likely within the tribal territory of Ephraim or Manasseh, lying roughly ten to thirteen miles northeast of Shechem. Its surrounding topography—high limestone ridges, terraced fields, and defensible walls—made it a logical refuge in turbulent periods and explains why it appears only in military contexts. Several scholars associate the site with modern‐day Tubas, whose Arabic name preserves the ancient consonants and whose location fits the biblical data. Biblical Narrative and Usage 1. Judges 9:50-54 recounts Abimelech’s final campaign: “Then Abimelech went to Thebez, encamped against it, and captured it. But there was a strong tower inside the city… A woman dropped an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head and crushed his skull”. Thebez becomes the scene of poetic justice. Abimelech, having murdered his brothers and earlier burned the tower of Shechem (Judges 9:45-49), meets his own end beneath the hand of an anonymous woman. The episode fulfills Jotham’s prophetic curse (Judges 9:19-20) and underscores that the Lord can use the humble to fell the mighty. 2. 2 Samuel 11:21 preserves Thebez in Israel’s collective memory. Joab anticipates David’s displeasure over Uriah’s death and reminds the messenger of Abimelech: “Who killed Abimelech son of Jerubbesheth? Did not a woman drop an upper millstone on him from the wall, so that he died in Thebez? Why did you go so close to the wall?”. The reference proves that, generations later, Thebez still served as a cautionary tale for Israelite commanders who might recklessly approach fortified walls. Historical and Archaeological Considerations The strength of Thebez’s tower in Judges suggests a multi-story, stone‐built structure typical of Late Bronze or early Iron Age fortifications. Excavations at candidate sites (notably Tubas) reveal occupation layers from the twelfth to tenth centuries B.C., aligning with the period of the Judges and early monarchy. Pottery assemblages and defensive walls corroborate a settlement of some stature, though no epigraphic evidence bearing the name has surfaced to date. Strategic Importance • Centrally located on trade and military routes linking the Jordan Rift with the coastal plains. Theological Themes Divine Justice: Abimelech’s demise at Thebez testifies that violence begets judgment. The anonymous woman’s act mirrors Jael’s deed against Sisera (Judges 4:21), another reminder that God’s deliverance can arise from unexpected agents. Covenant Memory: Joab’s recollection of Thebez illustrates how Israel transmitted theological lessons through historical events. Military strategy and moral instruction were intertwined: commanders who forgot God’s precedents invited disaster. Ministry Reflections • Pride and tyranny are ultimately self-destructive; leaders must cultivate humility and accountability. Typological and Christological Hints While Thebez itself is not presented as a direct type of Christ, its narrative foreshadows the principle that apparent weakness overturns worldly power—anticipating the cross, where seeming defeat wrought ultimate victory (1 Corinthians 1:27-29). Key References Judges 9:50-54; 2 Samuel 11:21. Related Topics Abimelech son of Gideon (Jerubbaal); Towers in biblical warfare; Women as instruments of deliverance (Jael, the Wise Woman of Abel Beth Maacah); Millstones in Scripture. Forms and Transliterations בְּתֵבֵ֔ץ בְּתֵבֵ֖ץ בתבץ תֵּבֵ֑ץ תבץ bə·ṯê·ḇêṣ bəṯêḇêṣ beteVetz tê·ḇêṣ têḇêṣ teVetzLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Judges 9:50 HEB: אֲבִימֶ֖לֶךְ אֶל־ תֵּבֵ֑ץ וַיִּ֥חַן בְּתֵבֵ֖ץ NAS: went to Thebez, and he camped KJV: Abimelech to Thebez, and encamped INT: Abimelech to Thebez camped Thebez Judges 9:50 2 Samuel 11:21 3 Occurrences |
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