What is the meaning of Judges 9:51? But there was a strong tower inside the city The narrator pauses to spotlight the one structure that could withstand Abimelech’s assault. Scripture often pictures a “tower” as a place of firm protection—think of Psalm 61:3, “For You have been my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy,” or Proverbs 18:10, “The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” Here, however, the safety is physical, not spiritual. The writer wants us to see both the literal stone tower inside Thebez and the contrast between trusting masonry and trusting the LORD (compare Isaiah 31:1). and all the men, women, and leaders of the city fled there Everyone—civilians and officials alike—recognizes the same danger and races to the same refuge. Their unity under threat recalls the way Noah’s family entered the ark together in Genesis 7:7 and the way the Israelites gathered behind fortified walls during siege in 2 Chronicles 32:2–5. The text underscores that no one believes they can survive outside the tower; all worldly status evaporates when judgment approaches (see James 2:1–4). They locked themselves in Shutting the door seems prudent, yet it also signals self-reliance. Like the residents of Jericho who “shut up” their city against Israel (Joshua 6:1), the people of Thebez depend on bolts and bars. Scripture repeatedly exposes the futility of trusting mere gates—Psalm 127:1 warns, “Unless the LORD guards the city, the watchman keeps awake in vain,” and Revelation 3:7 reminds believers that only Christ opens and shuts with final authority. and went up to the roof of the tower Ascending higher gives a tactical advantage and, ironically, sets the stage for their unexpected victory. From that rooftop a single woman will drop an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head (Judges 9:53), fulfilling the principle that “the LORD saves, not with sword and spear” (1 Samuel 17:47). Like Rahab’s household on Jericho’s roof (Joshua 2:6) or David on a rooftop observing the city (2 Samuel 11:2), the elevated place becomes the pivot of God’s providence. summary Judges 9:51 captures a desperate population retreating to the strongest human refuge they possess—a literal stone tower. The verse highlights: • God’s sovereign ability to use ordinary means (a fortified tower, a woman with a millstone) to overturn tyrants. • The contrast between man-made security and the ultimate safety found only in the LORD. • The leveling effect of crisis, driving all ranks of society to the same shelter and exposing where they truly place their trust. The narrative invites readers to recognize that while strongholds may fail, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1). |
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