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Judges 9:52

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does Judges 9:52 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And Abimelech came unto the tower, and fought against it, and drew near unto the door of the tower to burn it with fire.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And Abimelech came unto the tower, and fought against it, and drew near unto the door of the tower to burn it with fire.
Judges 9:52 — American Standard Version

Context — Judges 9

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
49And all the people likewise cut down every man his bough, and followed Abimelech, and put them to the stronghold, and set the stronghold on fire upon them; so that all the men of the tower of Shechem died also, about a thousand men and women.
50Then went Abimelech to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez, and took it.
51But there was a strong tower within the city, and thither fled all the men and women, and all they of the city, and shut themselves in, and gat them up to the roof of the tower.
52And Abimelech came unto the tower, and fought against it, and drew near unto the door of the tower to burn it with fire.
53And a certain woman cast an upper millstone upon Abimelech`s head, and brake his skull.
54Then 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.
55And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they departed every man unto his place.
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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
“And Abimelech came unto the tower, etc.] With his army to besiege it: and fought against it; using all the methods he could to oblige those in it to surrender: and went hard unto the door of the tower to burn it with fire; in order to get entrance into it; and perhaps the tower was built of stone, so that no other part could be set fire to; and to do this he drew near to the door himself, for nothing more is meant by the phrase, “went hard”, than drawing near in his own person to the door; hazarding his life in the enterprise, being so bent upon it, thinking to do by this tower what he had done to the hold of the temple of Baalberith.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Went hard unto the door ... - i. e. went close to the door. An act of manifest danger, seeing the roof was covered with persons who would be likely to throw down missiles of all sorts on the heads of their assailants. But the hatred of Abimelech, and his thirst for revenge, made him despise danger. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Jdg 9:48, Jdg 9:49; Kg2 14:10, Kg2 15:16 Judges 9:53”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification