45
Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he took the city, and killed the people who were therein: and he beat down the city, and sowed it with salt.
46
When all the men of the tower of Shechem heard of it, they entered into the stronghold of the house of Elberith.
47
It was told Abimelech that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together.
48
Abimelech got him up to Mount Zalmon, he and all the people who were with him; and Abimelech took an ax in his hand, and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it up, and laid it on his shoulder: and he said to the people who were with him, What you have seen me do, make haste, and do as I have done.
49
All the people likewise cut down every man his bough, and followed Abimelech, and put them to the stronghold, and set the stronghold on fire on 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 there fled all the men and women, and all they of the city, and shut themselves in, and got them up to the roof of the tower.
52
Abimelech came to the tower, and fought against it, and drew near to the door of the tower to burn it with fire.
53
A certain woman cast an upper millstone on Abimelech's head, and broke his skull.
54
Then he called hastily to the young man his armor bearer, and said to him, Draw your sword, and kill me, that men not say of me, A woman killed him. His young man thrust him through, and he died.
55
When the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they departed every man to his place.