Many of us remember the story of Gideon, the unlikely biblical hero whom God used to defeat the menacing Midianites. Gideon went on to judge the Israelites for 40 years.

But Gideon’s death ushered in an ugly chapter for the people of Israel.

And the people of Israel did not remember the Lord their God, who had delivered them from the hand of all their enemies on every side, and they did not show steadfast love to the family of Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon) in return for all the good that he had done to Israel.—Judges 8:34-35 (ESV)

This became the origin story for Israel’s own dark knight. Unfortunately, Israel wasn’t the only one to forget the Lord or the good done by Gideon. His own son Abimelech would forget as well. 

Little did he know that his evil deeds would eventually return on his own head at the hands of a woman.

Wicked Is as Wicked Does

Abimelech became like an out-of-control mob boss, bullying his clan to gain physical and financial support, and then slaughtering 70 of his brothers.

But Jotham, the youngest, somehow survived. And he spoke a curse over his power-hungry brother and the people who propped him up.

“If you have then acted in good faith and integrity with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice with you. But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech and devour the leaders of Schechem and Beth-millo; and let fire come out from the leaders of Schechem and from Beth-millo and devour Abimelech.”—Judges 9:19-20 (ESV)

His curse gestated three years. Abimelech’s end wouldn’t come from a literal fire but from one that burned in the belly of woman who refused to allow her people to become his victims.

Tower of Deliverance

Literal fire did come to the people of Schechem as Abimelech burned its tower, killing 1,000 men and women trapped inside. But he wasn’t done. He then captured Thebez, where its residents also sought shelter in a tower.

By now, Abimelech must have felt untouchable. He prepared to do to that tower what he had done to Schechem’s. But he was stopped short of setting fire to its wooden door.

And a certain woman threw an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head and crushed his skull.—Judges 9:53 (ESV)

Abimelech refused to let this be the end of his story. He couldn’t let a woman get the credit for his defeat.

Then he called quickly to the young man, his armor bearer, and said to him, “Draw your sword and kill me, lest they say of me, ‘A woman killed him.'” And his young man thrust him through, and he died.—Judges 9:54 (ESV)

Scripture doesn’t share her name. She is simply known as the woman of Thebez.

What We Can Learn from Her

We don’t know if the woman of Thebez was merely one of many people hurling things at the soldiers below. We can’t say with certainty that she was aiming directly for Abimelech’s head.

But what we know is that God allowed a woman to hurl a rock that weighed at least 25 pounds—though possibly many times heavier—onto the head of a man bent on evil gain. God used this woman to deliver her people from oppression.

Her story demonstrates the Lord’s sovereignty, mercy and power in the fact of impending defeat. It proves God can do exceedingly abundantly more than we can ask or think (Ephesians 3:20), and that He can use anyone to accomplish His will. 

Just as He empowered the woman of Thebez at a critical moment, He gives us what we need when we need it. He may be equipping you right now for trials you have yet to face. 

Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.—Hebrews 13:20-21 (ESV)

The woman of Thebez was God’s chosen instrument of blessing for her community. And she did not shrink back from the challenge facing her. 

In the end, she showed far more integrity and courage than her enemy. She may be called the woman of Thebez. But no doubt she was, and still is, called a hero.

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This is Part 9 in a series about biblical women—some named, some not, some honorable, some less so. But all have earned a place in scripture, and all have important lessons to teach us.