Then he called hastily to the young man, his armor bearer, and said to him, “Draw your sword and kill me, that men not say of me, ‘A woman killed him.’ His young man thrust him through, and he died.”
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 54. Slew him. The ancient heroes were always attended by their armour-bearers. Calmet.—Marius ordered his servant to run him through, that he might not be exposed to the insults of his enemies; and V. Maximus (6:8,) greatly commends the servant for doing so. Nihil eorum pietati cedit, a quibus salus Dominorum protecta est. David was not of the same opinion, since he punished the Amalecite who pretended that he had rendered this service to Saul, 2 Kennicott. 1:16. The Christian religion condemns both those who engage others to take away their life, and those who comply with the impious request. Hercules was affected in the same manner as Abimelech, when he found that he was to die by the malice of a woman. O turpe fatum! femina Herculeæ necis—Auctor feratur. Seneca.—The Lacedemonians were not eager to besiege Argos, when they saw that the women were engaged in its defence. Pausan. ii. Calmet.—Notwithstanding the wicked precaution of Abimelech, what he so much feared took place; for Joab said, Did not a woman cast a piece of a millstone upon him from the wall, and slay him in Thebes? 2 Kennicott. 11:21. His skull was so much fractured, that he had received a mortal wound: the sword only hastened his death. Thus was he justly punished with a stone, who had slaughtered 68 or 69 of his brethren upon one stone. Bible.—He can only be considered as an usurper or tyrant, since he was neither chosen by God nor by the Israelites in general. Hence he is only said to have reigned at Sichem. A. Lapide.—He was going to extend his conquests over other cities and tribes, when he was slain at Thebes. Josephus. Bible.