Where was the biblical city of Thebez located?

Thebez was an ancient city in the region of Samaria, located in the central hill country of what is now modern-day Israel. It is identified with the modern Palestinian city of Tubas.

What happened at Thebez in the Bible?

In the Book of Judges, the rebel leader Abimelech attacked Thebez and was killed when a woman dropped a millstone on his head from the city's tower (Judges 9:50-54). This event fulfilled a prophecy of judgment against him.

Why is Thebez significant in the Bible?

Thebez is significant as the site of Abimelech's humiliating death, which demonstrated that God's judgment can come through unexpected means. It serves as a narrative example of pride coming before a fall.

Thebez

cityOld TestamentSamaria

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Modern Name

Tubas

Country

Israel

Region

Samaria

Coordinates

32.3222, 35.3686

Thebez is an ancient city mentioned in the Old Testament, located in the region of Samaria in modern-day Israel. Known today as Tubas. It appears across 2 verses in Scripture.

Biblical History

Thebez is the site of the dramatic death of Abimelech, one of the most vivid and morally charged episodes in the book of Judges. After Abimelech had murdered his seventy brothers and established himself as king over Shechem through treachery and violence (Judges 9), his reign collapsed in a campaign against Thebez. As he advanced to burn the city's tower, a woman dropped an upper millstone on his head and cracked his skull. Realizing he was mortally wounded, Abimelech urgently commanded his armor-bearer to thrust him through with a sword, 'so that they cannot say, "A woman killed him"' (Judges 9:54). This death is described in 2 Samuel 11:21 as a proverbial example of military recklessness when Joab explains a tactical setback to David. The incident is theologically presented as divine retribution for Abimelech's slaughter of his brothers (Judges 9:56-57), illustrating the book of Judges' recurring theme that violence begets violence and that God ultimately vindicates the innocent.

Archaeological & Historical Notes

Thebez is identified with the modern Arab town of Tubas, located in the northern West Bank approximately 13 kilometers northeast of Nablus (ancient Shechem). The identification is based primarily on the similarity of the ancient name to the modern toponym, a common method of place-name preservation in the region. Tubas sits in a fertile valley that has been continuously inhabited since antiquity. No large-scale archaeological excavations have been conducted within the modern town, which overlays any ancient remains. Surface surveys in the region have documented Iron Age pottery, consistent with the period of the Judges. The site's proximity to Shechem supports the biblical narrative, which links Thebez to Abimelech's Shechemite power base.

Verse Appearances (2)

Judg

Judg 9:50

2Sam

2Sam 11:21

Sources: ISBE Encyclopedia · OpenBible Geocoding (CC BY) · Pleiades Gazetteer View all →

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