Biblical References:
Thebez is mentioned in the Old Testament, specifically in the Book of Judges and 2 Samuel. The primary references to Thebez are found in Judges 9:50-55 and 2 Samuel 11:21.

Historical Context:
Thebez was a city in ancient Israel, located in the territory of the tribe of Ephraim. It is noted for its strategic significance and its fortified tower, which played a crucial role in the events described in the biblical narrative.

Judges 9:50-55 :
Thebez is most famously associated with the downfall of Abimelech, the son of Gideon (also known as Jerubbaal). After Abimelech had established himself as a ruler through violent means, he sought to consolidate his power by attacking various cities. Thebez was one of these cities. The inhabitants of Thebez retreated to a strong tower within the city for protection. As Abimelech approached to set the tower on fire, a woman dropped an upper millstone on his head, fatally wounding him. In his final moments, Abimelech called on his armor-bearer to kill him with a sword to avoid the disgrace of being killed by a woman. This event is recorded in Judges 9:53-54: "But a woman dropped an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head, crushing his skull. He quickly called his armor-bearer, saying, 'Draw your sword and kill me, lest they say of me, "A woman killed him."' So his armor-bearer ran him through, and he died."

2 Samuel 11:21 :
Thebez is also mentioned in the context of King David's military campaigns. In 2 Samuel 11:21, Joab, the commander of David's army, refers to the incident at Thebez when reprimanding a messenger for reporting a military setback. Joab uses the example of Abimelech's death at Thebez to illustrate the dangers of approaching too close to a city wall during a siege: "Who struck Abimelech son of Jerubbesheth? Was it not a woman who dropped an upper millstone on him from the wall, so that he died in Thebez? Why did you get so close to the wall?"

Archaeological and Geographical Insights:
The exact location of Thebez is not definitively known, but it is generally believed to have been situated in the central hill country of Ephraim, north of Shechem. Some scholars suggest that the modern site of Tubas, located in the West Bank, may correspond to ancient Thebez, although this identification is not universally accepted.

Theological Significance:
The account of Thebez highlights themes of divine justice and the consequences of pride and tyranny. Abimelech's death serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of seeking power through violence and treachery. The unexpected means of his demise—a woman dropping a millstone—emphasizes the biblical motif that God can use the weak and unexpected to bring about His purposes. This narrative also underscores the importance of humility and reliance on God's guidance rather than human strength and cunning.

Cultural and Literary Aspects:
The account of Thebez is a vivid example of the narrative style found in the Book of Judges, characterized by dramatic and often violent episodes that illustrate the cyclical nature of Israel's faithfulness and apostasy. The account of Abimelech and Thebez is a reminder of the chaotic period of the judges, where "everyone did what was right in his own eyes" (Judges 21:25), and the need for righteous leadership under God's covenant.Thebez

muddy; eggs; fine linen or silk

Thebez

(conspicuous), a place memorable for the death of the brave Abimelech, (Judges 9:50) was known to Eusebius and Jerome, in whose time it was situated "in the district of Neapolis," 13 Roman miles therefrom, on the road to Scythopolis. There it still is, its name --Tubas --hardly changed.

Thebez

An Ephraimite town near Sheshem, at the siege of which Abimelech was killed, Jud 9:50-55; 2 Samuel 11:21.

Brightness, a place some 11 miles north-east of Shechem, on the road to Scythopolis, the modern Tabas. Abimelech led his army against this place, because of its participation in the conspiracy of the men of Shechem; but as he drew near to the strong tower to which its inhabitants had fled for safety, and was about to set fire to it, a woman cast a fragment of millstone at him, and "all to brake his skull" i.e., "altogether brake," etc. His armourbearer thereupon "thrust him through, and he died" (Judges 9:50-55). THEBEZ

the'-bez (tebhets, "brightness"; Codex Vaticanus Thebes; Codex Alexandrinus Thaibais): A city in Mt. Ephraim which refused submission to Abimelech when he set up as king of Israel. After the reduction of Shechem he turned his arms against Thebez. There was a strong tower within the city-the citadel-into which all the inhabitants gathered for safety, climbing onto the roof of the tower. Abimelech incautiously venturing near the tower, a woman cast an upper millstone upon his head and broke his skull. Fearing the shame of perishing by the hand of a woman, he persuaded his armor-bearer to thrust him through (Judges 9:50). The incident is alluded to in 2 Samuel 11:21. Eusebius, Onomasticon places it 13 Roman miles from Neapolis (Nablus) on the road to Scythopolis (Beisan). There is no doubt that it is represented by Tubas. This is a village situated in a district of considerable fertility, about 10 miles from Nablus. There are many olive trees. The rain is captured and led to rockcut cisterns, whence the village draws its water-supply. According to the Samaritans the tomb of Neby Toba marks the grave of the patriarch Asher.

W. Ewing

8405. Tebets -- a city near Shechem
... 8404, 8405. Tebets. 8406 . a city near Shechem. Transliteration: Tebets
Phonetic Spelling: (tay-bates') Short Definition: Thebez. ...
/hebrew/8405.htm - 6k

8406. tebar -- to break
... Thebez. (Aramaic) corresponding to shabar; to be fragile (figuratively) -- broken.
see HEBREW shabar. 8405, 8406. tebar. 8407 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/8406.htm - 6k

The Crowning of Abimelech
... about a thousand men and women. Then went Abimelech to Thebez, and encamped
against Thebez, and took it. But there was a strong ...
/.../select masterpieces of biblical literature/iii the crowning of abimelech.htm

A Rich Man who was a Thief
... Who struck down Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal? Did not a woman cast an upper
millstone upon him from the wall, so that he died at Thebez? ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/a rich man who was.htm

Of Eusebius Bishop of Samosata.
... 21. We compare the fate of Abimelech at Thebez (Judges 9:53, and 2 Samuel
11:21) and Pyrrhus, King of Epirus, at Argos, bc 272. ...
/.../the ecclesiastical history of theodoret/chapter iv of eusebius bishop of.htm

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
... Thebez imitated Shechem, and came nigh suffering the same penalty.* The king besieged
the city and took it, and was about to burn with fire the tower in which ...
/.../chapter iiithe hebrews and the.htm

Thebez (3 Occurrences)
... 55). Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. THEBEZ. the ... Israel. After the reduction
of Shechem he turned his arms against Thebez. There ...
/t/thebez.htm - 9k

Encampeth (13 Occurrences)
... against it; (YLT). Judges 9:50 And Abimelech goeth unto Thebez, and encampeth
against Thebez, and captureth it, (YLT). 1 Samuel 11 ...
/e/encampeth.htm - 10k

Besieged (34 Occurrences)
... you? (WEB JPS ASV DBY NAS RSV). Judges 9:50 Then went Abimelech to Thebez,
and encamped against Thebez, and took it. (See NIV). 1 ...
/b/besieged.htm - 16k

Captureth (24 Occurrences)
... with' salt. (YLT). Judges 9:50 And Abimelech goeth unto Thebez, and encampeth
against Thebez, and captureth it, (YLT). Judges 12:5 ...
/c/captureth.htm - 13k

Jerubbaal (15 Occurrences)
... 2 Samuel 11:21 Who put Abimelech, the son of Jerubbaal, to death? did not a woman
send a great stone down on him from the wall, putting him to death at Thebez? ...
/j/jerubbaal.htm - 12k

Abim'elech (58 Occurrences)
... men and women. (DBY RSV). Judges 9:50 Then Abim'elech went to Thebez, and
encamped against Thebez, and took it. (DBY RSV). Judges 9 ...
/a/abim'elech.htm - 22k

Abimelech (63 Occurrences)
... When engaged in reducing the town of Thebez, which had revolted, he was struck mortally
on his head by a mill-stone, thrown by the hand of a woman from the ...
/a/abimelech.htm - 36k

Captured (143 Occurrences)
... (See NAS NIV). Judges 9:50 And Abimelech goeth unto Thebez, and encampeth
against Thebez, and captureth it, (See NAS NIV). Judges ...
/c/captured.htm - 36k

Encamped (115 Occurrences)
... (WEB ASV DBY WBS RSV). Judges 9:50 Then went Abimelech to Thebez, and encamped
against Thebez, and took it. (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS RSV). ...
/e/encamped.htm - 34k

Camped (100 Occurrences)
... (Root in WEB ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV). Judges 9:50 Then went Abimelech
to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez, and took it. (Root ...
/c/camped.htm - 33k

Who was Abimelech in the Book of Judges? | GotQuestions.org

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus