They sought refuge in a tower as their last defense during Abimelech’s siege.
The account describes a dramatic scenario: “But there was a strong tower in the center of the city, and all the men and women with all the leaders of the city fled there and shut themselves in; and they went up on the roof of the tower.” (v.51) This city is identified as Thebez, located near Shechem in the northern region of ancient Israel. Thebez served as a strategic stronghold during the era of the Judges, which is generally dated to around the 12th or 11th century BC. In this moment of crisis, everyone in the city—leaders, men, and women—crowded into a central tower, seeking both physical and psychological refuge. Their flight to the tower suggests a last resort, an urgent attempt to protect themselves from the approaching threat.
This threat came from Abimelech, an important figure in the Book of Judges, who was the son of Gideon (also known as Jerubbaal). Gideon’s leadership preceded Abimelech in Israel’s timeline, and Gideon’s life is recorded around the same 12th or 11th century BC. Abimelech’s ambitions drove him to seize control violently, first in Shechem and then turning his sights on surrounding areas, including Thebez. His campaign of aggression forced the residents to take desperate measures—retreating to their fortified tower. The tower in Thebez served as a temporary bastion of protection, mirroring the biblical symbolism of towers as places of security, echoing the sentiment in Proverbs 18:10 that the name of the LORD is likened to a strong tower for protection.
Spiritually, the decision to gather in “the strong tower” (v.51) can be seen as a representation of humanity’s longing for safety in times of destruction and fear. In the broader biblical narrative, this sense of refuge foreshadows the ultimate protection found in God’s steadfast care (Psalm 46:1). While the people of Thebez relied on bricks and mortar to defend themselves against Abimelech’s onslaught, believers can reflect on the unshakeable refuge found in Jesus Christ, who offers security beyond any earthly fortress (Matthew 11:28). The tower here at Thebez stands as a historical reminder that even in the midst of a vicious assault, people will instinctively seek shelter, pointing us to a deeper truth that lasting security comes from the Lord.
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Judges 9:51 meaning
The account describes a dramatic scenario: “But there was a strong tower in the center of the city, and all the men and women with all the leaders of the city fled there and shut themselves in; and they went up on the roof of the tower.” (v.51) This city is identified as Thebez, located near Shechem in the northern region of ancient Israel. Thebez served as a strategic stronghold during the era of the Judges, which is generally dated to around the 12th or 11th century BC. In this moment of crisis, everyone in the city—leaders, men, and women—crowded into a central tower, seeking both physical and psychological refuge. Their flight to the tower suggests a last resort, an urgent attempt to protect themselves from the approaching threat.
This threat came from Abimelech, an important figure in the Book of Judges, who was the son of Gideon (also known as Jerubbaal). Gideon’s leadership preceded Abimelech in Israel’s timeline, and Gideon’s life is recorded around the same 12th or 11th century BC. Abimelech’s ambitions drove him to seize control violently, first in Shechem and then turning his sights on surrounding areas, including Thebez. His campaign of aggression forced the residents to take desperate measures—retreating to their fortified tower. The tower in Thebez served as a temporary bastion of protection, mirroring the biblical symbolism of towers as places of security, echoing the sentiment in Proverbs 18:10 that the name of the LORD is likened to a strong tower for protection.
Spiritually, the decision to gather in “the strong tower” (v.51) can be seen as a representation of humanity’s longing for safety in times of destruction and fear. In the broader biblical narrative, this sense of refuge foreshadows the ultimate protection found in God’s steadfast care (Psalm 46:1). While the people of Thebez relied on bricks and mortar to defend themselves against Abimelech’s onslaught, believers can reflect on the unshakeable refuge found in Jesus Christ, who offers security beyond any earthly fortress (Matthew 11:28). The tower here at Thebez stands as a historical reminder that even in the midst of a vicious assault, people will instinctively seek shelter, pointing us to a deeper truth that lasting security comes from the Lord.