Judges 9:54
52 When Abimelech came to attack the tower, he approached its entrance to set it on fire.
53 But a woman dropped an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head, crushing his skull.
He quickly called his armor-bearer, saying, “Draw your sword and kill me, lest they say of me, ‘A woman killed him.’” So Abimelech’s armor-bearer ran his sword through him, and he died.
55 And when the Israelites saw that Abimelech was dead, they all went home.
56 In this way God repaid the wickedness that Abimelech had done to his father in murdering his seventy brothers.
Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- He quickly called his armor-bearer, saying, “Draw your sword and kill me, lest they say of me, ‘A woman killed him.’” So Abimelech’s armor-bearer ran his sword through him, and he died.
- KJV
- Then he called hastily unto the young man his armourbearer, and said unto him, Draw thy sword, and slay me, that men say not of me, A woman slew him. And his young man thrust him through, and he died.
- WEB
- Then he called hastily to the young man, his armor bearer, and said to him, “Draw your sword and kill me, that men not say of me, ‘A woman killed him.’ His young man thrust him through, and he died.”
- ASV
- Then he called hastily unto the young man his armorbearer, and said unto him, Draw thy sword, and kill me, that men say not of me, A woman slew him. And his young man thrust him through, and he died.
- DARBY
- Then he called hastily to the young man that carried his armour, and said to him, Draw thy sword, and slay me, that they say not of me, A woman killed him. And his young man thrust him through, and he died.
- BLB
- And he called quickly to the young man bearing his armor and said to him, “Draw your sword and kill me, lest they say of me, ‘A woman killed him.’” And his young man thrust him through, and he died.
- ÅB
- Abimelek ropte i hast på svennen som bar hans våpen, og sa til ham: Dra ditt sverd og drep meg, så de ikke skal si om meg: En kvinne slo ham ihjel! Så stakk svennen sverdet igjennom ham og han døde.
- OTB
- Hastig ropte han til sin unge våpenbærer og sa: "Trekk sverdet ditt og drep meg, så de ikke kan si, 'En kvinne drepte ham.'" Så stakk den unge mannen ham, og han døde.
- B1930
- Abimelek ropte i hast på svennen som bar hans våben, og sa til ham: Dra ditt sverd og drep mig, så de ikke skal si om mig: En kvinne slo ham ihjel! Så stakk svennen sverdet igjennem ham og han døde.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
1 Samuel 31:4–5
Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword and run it through me, or these uncircumcised men will come and run me through and torture me!” But his armor-bearer was terrified and refused to do it. So Saul took his own sword and fell on it.
Read in context