2 Samuel 11:21
New International Version
Who killed Abimelek son of Jerub-Besheth? Didn’t a woman drop 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 say to him, ‘Moreover, your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead.’”

New Living Translation
Wasn’t Abimelech son of Gideon killed at Thebez by a woman who threw a millstone down on him from the wall? Why would you get so close to the wall?’ Then tell him, ‘Uriah the Hittite was killed, too.’”

English Standard Version
Who killed Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? Did not a woman cast an upper millstone on him from the wall, so that he died at Thebez? Why did you go so near the wall?’ then you shall say, ‘Your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.’”

Berean Standard Bible
Who was the one to strike 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 so, then you are to say, ‘Your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead as well.’ ”

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
Who struck Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? Was it not a woman who cast a piece of a millstone on him from the wall, so that he died in Thebez? Why did you go near the wall?’—then you shall say, ‘Your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.’ ”

New American Standard Bible
Who struck Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? Did a woman not throw an upper millstone on him from the wall so that he died at Thebez? Why did you move against the wall?’—then you shall say, ‘Your servant Uriah the Hittite also died.’”

NASB 1995
‘Who struck down Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? Did not a woman throw an upper millstone on him from the wall so that he died at Thebez? Why did you go so near the wall?’— then you shall say, ‘Your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.’”

NASB 1977
‘Who struck down Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? Did not a woman throw an upper millstone on him from the wall so that he died at Thebez? Why did you go so near the wall?’—then you shall say, ‘Your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.’”

Legacy Standard Bible
Who struck down Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? Did not a woman cast an upper millstone on him from the wall so he died at Thebez? Why did you approach the wall?’—then you shall say, ‘Your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.’”

Amplified Bible
Who killed Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth (Gideon)? Was it not a woman who threw an upper millstone on him from the wall so that he died at Thebez? Why did you go so near the wall?’ Then you shall say, ‘Your servant Uriah the Hittite is also dead.’”

Christian Standard Bible
At Thebez, who struck Abimelech son of Jerubbesheth? Didn’t a woman drop an upper millstone on him from the top of the wall so that he died? Why did you get so close to the wall? ’—then say, ‘Your servant Uriah the Hethite is dead also.’ ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
At Thebez, who struck Abimelech son of Jerubbesheth? Didn’t a woman drop an upper millstone on him from the top of the wall so that he died? Why did you get so close to the wall?’—then say, ‘Your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.’”

American Standard Version
who smote Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? did not a woman cast an upper millstone upon him from the wall, so that he died at Thebez? why went ye so nigh the wall? then shalt thou say, Thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Who killed Abimelek son of NeduBaal? Was it not a woman who cast on him a fragment of upper millstone of the millstone from the wall, and he died? Why did you come near to the wall?” If he says these things to you, say to him: “Also your Servant Uriah the Khitite is dead”

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Who smote Abimelech the son of Jerobaal son of Ner? did not a woman cast a piece of a millstone upon him from above the wall, and he died in Thamasi? why did ye draw near to the wall? then thou shalt say, Thy servant Urias the Chettite is also dead.

Contemporary English Version
Don't you know how Abimelech the son of Gideon was killed at Thebez? Didn't a woman kill him by dropping a large rock from the top of the city wall? Why did you go so close to the city walls?" Then tell him, "One of your soldiers who was killed was Uriah the Hittite."

Douay-Rheims Bible
Who killed Abimelech the son of Jerobaal? did not a woman cast a piece of a millstone upon him from the wall, and slew him in Thebes? Why did you go near the wall? Thou shalt say: Thy servant Urias the Hethite is also slain.

English Revised Version
who smote Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? did not a woman cast an upper millstone upon him from the wall, that he died at Thebez? why went ye so nigh the wall? then shalt thou say, Thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Who killed Jerubbesheth's son Abimelech? Didn't a woman on the wall of Thebez throw a small millstone at him and kill him? Why did you go so close to the wall?' If the king asks this, then say, 'Your man Uriah the Hittite is also dead.' "

Good News Translation
Don't you remember how Abimelech son of Gideon was killed? It was at Thebez, where a woman threw a millstone down from the wall and killed him. Why, then, did you go so near the wall?' If the king asks you this, tell him, 'Your officer Uriah was also killed.'"

International Standard Version
Who killed Jerubbesheth's son Abimelech? Didn't a woman kill him by throwing an upper millstone on him from the wall at Thebez? Why did you go so close to the wall?' then tell him, 'Your servant Uriah the Hittite also died.'"

JPS Tanakh 1917
who smote Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? did not a woman cast an upper millstone upon him from the wall, that he died at Thebez? why went ye so nigh the wall? then shalt thou say: Thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.'

Literal Standard Version
Who struck Abimelech son of Jerubbesheth? Did a woman not cast a piece of a rider from the wall on him, and he dies in Thebez? Why did you draw near to the wall? That you have said, Also—your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead.”

Majority Standard Bible
Who was the one to strike 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 so, then you are to say, ‘Your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead as well.’”

New American Bible
Who killed Abimelech, son of Jerubbaal? Was it not a woman who threw a millstone down on him from the wall above, so that he died in Thebez? Why did you go near the wall?’ Then you in turn are to say, ‘Your servant Uriah the Hittite is also dead.’ ”

NET Bible
Who struck down Abimelech the son of Jerub-Besheth? Didn't a woman throw an upper millstone down on him from the wall so that he died in Thebez? Why did you go so close to the wall?' just say to him, 'Your servant Uriah the Hittite is also dead.'"

New Revised Standard Version
Who killed Abimelech son of Jerubbaal? Did not a woman throw an upper millstone on him from the wall, so that he died at Thebez? Why did you go so near the wall?’ then you shall say, ‘Your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead too.’”

New Heart English Bible
Who struck Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal? Did a woman not cast an upper millstone on him from the wall, so that he died at Thebez? Why did you go so near the wall?' Then you shall say, 'Your servant Uriah the Hethite is dead also.'"

Webster's Bible Translation
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.

World English Bible
Who struck Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? Didn’t a woman cast an upper millstone on him from the wall, so that he died at Thebez? Why did you go so near the wall?’ then you shall say, ‘Your servant Uriah the Hittite is also dead.’”

Young's Literal Translation
Who smote Abimelech son of Jerubbesheth? did not a woman cast on him a piece of a rider from the wall, and he dieth in Thebez? why drew ye nigh unto the wall? that thou hast said, Also thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead.'

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
David Arranges Uriah's Death
20if the king’s anger flares, he may ask you, ‘Why did you get so close to the city to fight? Did you not realize they would shoot from atop the wall? 21Who was the one to strike 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 so, then you are to say, ‘Your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead as well.’” 22So the messenger set out and reported to David all that Joab had sent him to say.…

Cross References
Judges 9:50
Then Abimelech went to Thebez, encamped against it, and captured it.

Judges 9:53
But a woman dropped an upper millstone on Abimelech's head, crushing his skull.

2 Samuel 11:17
And when the men of the city came out and fought against Joab, some of David's servants fell, and Uriah the Hittite also died.

2 Samuel 11:20
if the king's anger flares, he may ask you, 'Why did you get so close to the city to fight? Did you not realize they would shoot from atop the wall?

2 Samuel 11:22
So the messenger set out and reported to David all that Joab had sent him to say.


Treasury of Scripture

Who smote Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? did not a woman cast a piece of a millstone on him from the wall, that he died in Thebez? why went you near the wall? then say you, Your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.

Abimelech

Judges 9:53
And a certain woman cast a piece of a millstone upon Abimelech's head, and all to brake his skull.

Jerubbesheth

Judges 6:32
Therefore on that day he called him Jerubbaal, saying, Let Baal plead against him, because he hath thrown down his altar.

Judges 7:1
Then Jerubbaal, who is Gideon, and all the people that were with him, rose up early, and pitched beside the well of Harod: so that the host of the Midianites were on the north side of them, by the hill of Moreh, in the valley.

Jerubbaal

2 Samuel 3:27,34
And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him quietly, and smote him there under the fifth rib, that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother…

Psalm 39:8
Deliver me from all my transgressions: make me not the reproach of the foolish.

Isaiah 14:10
All they shall speak and say unto thee, Art thou also become weak as we? art thou become like unto us?

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Abimelech Cast Dead Died Hittite Millstone Nigh Piece Servant Smote Struck Thebez Upper Uriah Wall
2 Samuel 11
1. While Joab besieges Rabbah, David commits adultery with Bathsheba
6. Uriah, sent for by David to cover the adultery, would not go home.
14. He carries to Joab the letter of his death
18. Joab sends the news thereof to David
26. David takes Bathsheba as his wife














(21) Who smote Abimelech?--See Judges 9:53. Joab anticipated David's anger at his apparent rashness, and charged the messenger, when he should observe it, to mention's Uriah's death. This was not likely to awaken any suspicion in the messenger, as it would appear to him rather as an effort on Joab's part to throw the blame from himself upon Uriah as the leader of the assaulting party. The messenger appears to have told all in one breath, so that there was no opportunity for David to express displeasure. The reference to the case of Abimelech shows how familiar the Israelites were with the past history of their people.

Verse 21. - Jerubbesheth; in Judges 6:32 called Jerubbaal, that is, Gideon. (On the substitution of Besheth, or more correctly Bosheth, for Baal, see notes on 2 Samuel 2:8; 9:6.) It is remarkable that the LXX., Vulgate, and Syriac all read here Jerubbaal, though, like the Hebrew, they have Ishbosheth and Mephibosheth. Probably the change, which was not made until after the days of Jezebel, was only gradually carried out by the scribes.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Who [was the one]
מִֽי־ (mî-)
Interrogative
Strong's 4310: Who?, whoever, in oblique construction with prefix, suffix

to strike
הִכָּ֞ה (hik·kāh)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5221: To strike

Abimelech
אֲבִימֶ֣לֶךְ (’ă·ḇî·me·leḵ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 40: Abimelech -- 'father is king', a Philistine name, also an Israelite name

son
בֶּן־ (ben-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1121: A son

of Jerubbesheth?
יְרֻבֶּ֗שֶׁת (yə·rub·be·šeṯ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3380: Jerubbesheth -- 'shame will contend', a name of Gideon

Was it not
הֲלֽוֹא־ (hă·lō·w-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

a woman
אִשָּׁ֡ה (’iš·šāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 802: Woman, wife, female

who dropped
הִשְׁלִ֣יכָה (hiš·lî·ḵāh)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 7993: To throw out, down, away

an upper millstone
פֶּ֨לַח (pe·laḥ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6400: Cleavage, a millstone

on him
עָלָיו֩ (‘ā·lāw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

from
מֵעַ֤ל (mê·‘al)
Preposition-m
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the wall,
הַֽחוֹמָה֙ (ha·ḥō·w·māh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 2346: A wall of protection

so that he died
וַיָּ֣מָת (way·yā·māṯ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 4191: To die, to kill

in Thebez?
בְּתֵבֵ֔ץ (bə·ṯê·ḇêṣ)
Preposition-b | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 8405: Thebez -- a city near Shechem

Why
לָ֥מָּה (lām·māh)
Interrogative
Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what

did you get so close
נִגַּשְׁתֶּ֖ם (nig·gaš·tem)
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 5066: To draw near, approach

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the wall?’
הַֽחוֹמָ֑ה (ha·ḥō·w·māh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 2346: A wall of protection

If so, then you are to say,
וְאָ֣מַרְתָּ֔ (wə·’ā·mar·tā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

‘Your servant
עַבְדְּךָ֛ (‘aḇ·də·ḵā)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 5650: Slave, servant

Uriah
אוּרִיָּ֥ה (’ū·rî·yāh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 223: Uriah -- 'flame of Yah', the name of a Hittite and of two Israelites

the Hittite
הַחִתִּ֖י (ha·ḥit·tî)
Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 2850: Hittite -- a Chittite

is dead
מֵֽת׃ (mêṯ)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 4191: To die, to kill

as well.’�
גַּ֗ם (gam)
Conjunction
Strong's 1571: Assemblage, also, even, yea, though, both, and


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OT History: 2 Samuel 11:21 Who struck Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? (2Sa iiSam 2 Sam ii sam)
2 Samuel 11:20
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