2 Samuel 11:21

2Sa 11:21 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.

Ver. 21. Who smote Abimelech.] See Jdg 9:53. {See Trapp on "Jdg 9:53"} A commander-in-chief had need be a good historian, ne fiat historia. Tamerlane read much at spare times, in a certain book, wherein was contained the lives of his ancestors and other valiant worthies; not therewith vainly to deceive the time, but to make use thereof by the imitation of that which was by them worthily done, and declining of such dangers, as they, by their rashness or oversight, fell into. {a}

{a} Turk. Hist, 218.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

11:21 Wasn’t Abimelech . . . killed . . . by a woman: Cp. Judg 9:54.

Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Meaning, Gideon, Judg. 9:52, 53.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

(21) Who smote Abimelech?—See Jdg_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.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

21. Who smote Abimelech] See Jdg_9:50-54. This reference is interesting, as shewing a familiarity with the history of the time of the Judges; but whether it was preserved by written annals or by oral tradition, is uncertain. It is not likely that our Book of Judges was in existence in its present form.

Jerubbesheth] Jerubbaal or Gideon (Jdg_6:32). The form Jerubbesheth occurs here only. The Sept. reads Jerubbaal, and this was perhaps the original reading, altered for the reasons stated in the note to ch. 2Sa_2:8.

in Thebez] Only mentioned here and in Judges, but its site and name are both preserved by the village of Tubâs, about ten miles N. E. of Shechem.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Who smote Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth?.... The same with Jerubbaal, who was Gideon, Jdg 6:32; Baal, one part of his name, was the name of an idol, and sometimes called Bosheth or Besheth, which signifies shame, being a shameful idol; Gideon had a son called Abimelech, who was smitten, and it is here asked, by whom?

did not a woman cast a millstone upon him from the wall, that he died in Thebez? which should have been a warning not to go too near the wall of an enemy; the history is recorded in Jdg 9:52,

why went ye nigh the wall? exposing your lives to so much danger, and by which so many lives were lost:

then say thou, thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also; the whole has not been told, the worst of all is, as the messenger was to represent it, that brave gallant soldier Uriah is dead; this Joab ordered to be told last, as knowing very well it would pacify the king's wrath, and was the agreeable news he wanted to hear.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Who smote Abimelech ... - This reference indicates the existence in David’s time of the national annals of that period in an accessible form, and the king’s habit of reading, or having read to him, the history of his country. (Compare Est 6:1.)

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Jerobaal? Hebrews write Jeroboseth, to avoid the mention of Baal, as they also do with respect to the name of Isboseth, who was probably called Isbaal. (Calmet) See Judges, ix. 57. --- Joab supposed that David might probably adduce this instance, to shew the danger of approaching too near the wall, as it had proved destructive to part of his army, and had been fatal to Abimelech. But it seems the messenger did not allow him time to express any resentment, before he told him the agreeable news, which he desired so much to hear, ver. 24. (Haydock)

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

Jerubbesheth, called also Jerubbaal, Jdg 9:1. See Poole "2Sa 2:8". Thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also; which he knew would be acceptable news to the king, and therefore allay his wrath. This indeed might make the messenger suspect that David had a hand in Uriah’s death; and possibly Joab might say so for that very reason, that these matters by degrees being known, David might be hardened in sin, and so Joab might have the greater interest in him.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

21. Son of Jerubbesheth — Rather, of Jerubbaal. See Judges 9.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Jerubbesheth; in Jud_1:6:32 called Jerubbaal, that is, Gideon. (On the substitution of Besheth, or more correctly Bosheth, for Baal, see notes on (2Sa_2:8 2Sa_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.

Ver. 21. (JERUSALEM, RABBAH.)

Warnings from history.

smote Abimelech," etc.? "History is philosophy teaching by example." It is full of doctrines, principles, examples, warnings. (1Sa_12:8-12) This event, which had taken place two hundred and thirty years before, was familiar to Joab and others; and, viewed as a warning, likely to be recalled by the king to point his reproof. (Jud_1:9:53) Of such warnings observe that they

I ARE OF IMMENSE SERVICE; in making general lessons concerning danger and duty:

1. More distinct.

2. More impressive.

3. More beneficial.

They are beacon lights, danger signals, startling voices; and leach that in the way of inconsideration, rashness, and presumption, there is imminent peril; that destruction may come unexpectedly, suddenly, and by a feeble hand woman slew him;" and that; (although neither Joab nor David laid it to heart) every violation of God"s Law is surely followed by retribution. (Jud_1:9:56, 57) They are "written for our admonition". (1Co_10:11)

II SHOULD BE DULY HEEDED.

1. Intelligently studied.

2. Constantly remembered.

3. Practically observed.

They are "written for our learning". (Rom_15:4) "The world exists for the education of each man. There is no age or state of society or mode of action in history to which there is not something corresponding in his life. Everything tends in a most wonderful manner to abbreviate itself and yield its whole nature to him" (Emerson).

III MAY BE DELIBERATELY SLIGHTED.

1. For some immediate personal advantage.

2. From the persuasion of immunity, though others perish (ver. 17).

3. With a plausible excuse, when remonstrated with.

servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also." "Joab quoted God"s Word, but was not careful to keep it" (Wordsworth).

IV WILL BE ASSUREDLY VINDICATED.

1. By the occurrence of similar events. (1Ki_2:34) "The history of the past is a prophecy of the future.

2. In the bitter experience of the obdurate.

3. With ever-increasing clearness and force to successive Generations."remember the days of old," etc.. D. (Deu_32:7)

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Who killed Abimelech son of Jerub-Besheth?

Joab says that David may rebuke him by asking these rhetorical questions. This can be written as a statement. AT: "Remember how Abimelech son of Jerub-Besheth was killed!" (See: Rhetorical Question)

Abimelech son of Jerub-Besheth

This is the name of a man. His father is also know by the name Gideon. (See: How to Translate Names)

Did not a woman cast an upper millstone on him from the wall, so that he died at Thebez?

Joab says that David may rebuke him by asking these rhetorical questions. This can be written as a statement. AT: "Remember he died at Thebez when a woman cast an upper millstone on him from the top of the wall." (See: Rhetorical Question)

millstone

a heavy stone that would roll, used to crush grain for making bread

from the wall

"from the top of the city wall"

Thebez

This is the name of a city. (See: How to Translate Names)

Why did you go so near the wall?

Joab says that David may rebuke him by asking these rhetorical questions. This can be written as a statement. AT: "You should not have gone so near the wall!" (See: Rhetorical Question)

translationWords

Abimelech

Uriah

Hittite

die

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.

The son of Yerubeshes. This is Gidon who fought with Boshes, which is the Baal.

Rashi on the Tanakh — English translations: “The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg” (CC BY 4.0); “Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934” (public domain); “The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J” (CC BY 4.0); and “The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.