Judges 9:48

48 So Abimelech went up to Mount Zalmon, he and all the troops that were with him. Abimelech took an ax in his hand, cut down a bundle of brushwood, and took it up and laid it on his shoulder. Then he said to the troops with him, "What you have seen me do, do quickly, as I have done."

Judges 9:48 Meaning and Commentary

Judges 9:48

And Abimelech got him up to Mount Zalmon
A mountain near Shechem, and thought to be the same with Salmon in ( Psalms 68:14 ) which seems to have had its name from the shade of the trees which grew upon it:

he and all the people that were with him;
his whole army:

and Abimelech took an axe in his hand, and cut down a bough from the
trees;
which grew upon Mount Zalmon:

and took it, and laid it on his shoulders;
and carried it along with him:

and said unto the people that were with him, what ye have seen me do,
make haste, and do as I have done;
take an axe, and every man cut down a bough with all possible haste, and lay it on his shoulder.

Judges 9:48 In-Context

46 When all the lords of the Tower of Shechem heard of it, they entered the stronghold of the temple of El-berith.

47 Abimelech was told that all the lords of the Tower of Shechem were gathered together.

48 So Abimelech went up to Mount Zalmon, he and all the troops that were with him. Abimelech took an ax in his hand, cut down a bundle of brushwood, and took it up and laid it on his shoulder. Then he said to the troops with him, "What you have seen me do, do quickly, as I have done."

49 So every one of the troops cut down a bundle and following Abimelech put it against the stronghold, and they set the stronghold on fire over them, so that all the people of the Tower of Shechem also died, about a thousand men and women.

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