International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Thebez

Online Resource Library

Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | Download

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Thebez


Subjects in this Topic:

thē´bez (תּבץ, tēbhēc, “'brightness”; Codex Vaticanus Θηβής, Thēbḗs; Codex Alexandrinus Θαιβαίς, Thaibaı́s): 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 ( ff). The incident is alluded to in . Eusebius, Onomasticon places it 13 Roman miles from Neapolis (Nāblus) on the road to Scythopolis (Beisān). 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 Nāblus. 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 Ṭoba marks the grave of the patriarch Asher.