Then he called hastily unto the young man his armourbearer, and said unto him, Draw thy sword, and slay me, that men say not of me, A woman slew him. And his young man thrust him through, and he died. Draw thy sword, and slay me - It was a disgrace to be killed by a woman; on this account, Seneca the tragedian deplores the death of Hercules: -
O turpe fatum! femina Herculeae necis
Autor feritur.
Herc. Oetaeus, ver. 1177.
"O dishonorable fate! a woman is reported to
have been author of the death of Hercules."
Abimelech was also afraid that if he fell thus mortally wounded into the hands of his enemies they might treat him with cruelty and insult.