Discovery BoxJudges 9:51 
Context9:51 There was a fortified 1 tower 2 in the center of the city, so all the men and women, as well as the city’s leaders, ran into it and locked the entrance. Then they went up to the roof of the tower.
Judges 9:53
Context9:53 a woman threw an upper millstone 3 down on his 4 head and shattered his skull.
1 tn Or “strong.”
2 tn Or “fortress.” The same Hebrew term occurs once more in this verse and twice in v. 52.
3 sn A hand mill consisted of an upper stone and larger lower stone. One would turn the upper stone with a handle to grind the grain, which was placed between the stones. An upper millstone, which was typically about two inches thick and a foot or so in diameter, probably weighed 25-30 pounds (11.4-13.6 kg). See G. F. Moore, Judges (ICC), 268; C. F. Burney, Judges, 288.
4 tn Heb “Abimelech’s.” The proper name has been replaced by the pronoun “his” in the translation in keeping with conventions of English narrative style.
