Judges 9:50

*Then Abimelech went to Thebez, and he camped against Thebez and captured it.* (v.50) Abimelech was a son of Gideon (also called Jerubbaal), who served as one of Israel’s judges roughly around the 12th century BC. In this verse, we see him continuing his campaign of dominance after quelling unrest at Shechem (Judges 9). Abimelech’s ambition led him to Thebez, a town located near Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, a strategic area for controlling trade routes. By forcing his way into this city, he sought to strengthen his grasp on the region in his effort to maintain power over the people he considered subjects.

The verse tells us he “camped against Thebez and captured it,” illustrating not only his clear military tactics but also his relentless drive. Camping against the city suggests he laid siege or surrounded Thebez in preparation for an assault. Although Thebez initially appears to have been taken, later verses in the same chapter describe a dramatic twist, as a woman drops a millstone on Abimelech’s head while he attempts to root out resistance within a tower (Judges 9:52–53, NASB-95). The events in Thebez ultimately underscore how his tyrannical methods would lead to his downfall, reflecting the biblical theme that God often uses unexpected means to bring justice (Psalm 75:7, NASB-95).

From a broader spiritual perspective, this account reveals the destructive consequences of pride and brutality. Abimelech’s pursuit of self-exaltation contrasts with the humility that the New Testament repeatedly lauds in followers of Christ (Matthew 23:12, NASB-95). His life is a sobering reminder that worldly ambition, unchecked by a reverence for God, can blind a leader to the ultimate judgment that awaits.

Abimelech’s march to Thebez exemplifies how tyranny may seize victories for a time, but pride invites its own demise.