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2 Samuel 11:21

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does 2 Samuel 11:21 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “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.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

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.
2 Samuel 11:21 — American Standard Version

Context — 2 Samuel 11

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
18Then Joab sent and told David all the things concerning the war;
19and he charged the messenger, saying, When thou hast made an end of telling all the things concerning the war unto the king,
20it shall be that, if the king`s wrath arise, and he say unto thee, Wherefore went ye so nigh unto the city to fight? knew ye not that they would shoot from the wall?
21who 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.
22So the messenger went, and came and showed David all that Joab had sent him for.
23And the messenger said unto David, The men prevailed against us, and came out unto us into the field, and we were upon them even unto the entrance of the gate.
24And the shooters shot at thy servants from off the wall; and some of the king`s servants are dead, and thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.
← 2 Samuel 11:202 Samuel 11:22 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Who smote Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? etc.] The same with Jerubbaal, who was Gideon, (<070632>Judges 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 (<070952>Judges 9:52,53); 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…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“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 Esther 6:1.) return to 'Top of Page'”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“11:21 Wasn’t Abimelech . . . killed . . . by a woman: Cp. Judg 9:54.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Abimelech: Jdg 9:53 Jerubbesheth: Jdg 6:32, Jdg 7:1, Jerubbaal Thy servant: Sa2 3:27, Sa2 3:34; Psa 39:8; Isa 14:10; Eze 16:51, Eze 16:52 2 Kings (2 Samuel) 11:25”
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Related study paths

Read 2 Samuel 11 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification