Judges 9:48-51 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Bible Comments

Zalmon A place so called from its shadiness. Thebez Another town near Shechem; and, as it seems, within its territory. Thither fled all the men and women All that were not slain in the taking of the town. And gat them up to the top of the tower Which was flat and plain, after their manner of building.

Judges 9:48-51

48 And Abimelech gat him up to mount Zalmon, he and all the people that were with him; and Abimelech took an axe in his hand, and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it, and laid it on his shoulder, and said unto the people that were with him, What ye have seen me do,l make haste, and do as I have done.

49 And all the people likewise cut down every man his bough, and followed Abimelech, and put them to the hold, and set the hold on fire upon them; so that all the men of the tower of Shechem died also, about a thousand men and women.

50 Then went Abimelech to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez, and took it.

51 But there was a strong tower within the city, and thither fled all the men and women, and all they of the city, and shut it to them, and gat them up to the top of the tower.