A Watermelon Named Abimelech

Then Abimelech went to Thebez … Within the city was a strong tower and all the people of the city fled to it, all the men and women, and shut themselves in; and they went to the roof of the tower. And Abimelech came to the tower and fought against it, and drew near to the door of the tower to burn it with fire. And a certain woman threw an upper millstone upon Abimelech’s head and crushed his skull. Then he called hastily to the young man his armor-bearer, and said to him, “Draw your sword and kill me, lest men say of me, ‘A woman has killed him.’”

(Judges 9:50–54)

The woman hefted the black basalt grinding stone. She squinted into the sunshine and made out the rotund form of Abimelech on the ramparts. She took aim and hurled the stone straight at him. Red gore splattered as it found its mark. A shout went up from the watchers on the city walls and the rooftop. Victory was theirs!