תֵּבֵץ
Tebets, a place in Palestine
Definition
Tebets (Thebez in the KJV) is a proper noun referring to a fortified town in ancient Palestine, likely located in the territory of Manasseh. It is most famously known as the site where Abimelech, the son of Gideon, was mortally wounded by a millstone dropped by a woman from the city wall (Judges 9:50-54). The name also appears in 2 Samuel 11:21, where Joab references this event while instructing a messenger to report to King David about the death of Uriah the Hittite, drawing a parallel to Abimelech's ignoble death. The town's primary significance in the biblical narrative is tied to this specific military episode and its subsequent use as a proverbial reference.
Biblical Usage
The word תֵּבֵץ is used only twice in the Old Testament, both times as a geographical location. In Judges 9:50-54, it is the setting for the story of Abimelech's siege and death. In 2 Samuel 11:21, it is referenced not for its location but for the historical precedent of Abimelech's death, used as a cautionary tale about the dangers of a leader dying at the hands of a woman. Both usages are in narrative contexts within the historical books.
Etymology
The name Tebets is derived from the same root as H948 (בּוּץ, *bûts*), meaning 'white' or 'fine linen.' It likely relates to 'whiteness,' possibly describing the appearance of the town's limestone buildings or a local geological feature. This connection to brightness or purity is a common feature in Semitic place names.
Semantic Range
The story of Tebets in Judges 9 illustrates the theme of divine retribution and the consequences of ungodly ambition. Abimelech, who murdered his brothers to gain power, meets his end in a seemingly minor siege, fulfilling Jotham's curse (Judges 9:56-57). Its mention in 2 Samuel 11:21 reinforces how biblical history serves as a moral and strategic reference point, showing that past judgments inform present actions. Understanding the name highlights how God's justice operates even in the details of military campaigns.
As a fortified town, Tebets represents a typical Canaanite/Israelite settlement with defensive walls and towers, crucial for regional security. The act of a woman dropping a millstone—a common household grinding tool—as a weapon underscores the total involvement of a besieged population in its own defense. The town's name, meaning 'whiteness,' may have held positive connotations of prominence or purity in the ancient Near Eastern context.
No direct synonyms as a proper place name. Related conceptually to other besieged cities: יְרִיחוֹ (Yericho, H3405) — a famously walled city; גִּבְעָה (Gibeah, H1390) — another fortified location central to narrative events.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
Full methodology & sources →