Judges 9:47

47 And when Abimelech was told that all the leaders in the tower of Shechem were gathered there,

Judges 9:47 Meaning and Commentary

Judges 9:47

And it was told Abimelech
Who had his spies about, and particularly to observe the motions of the men in this tower:

that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together;
in the hold of the temple of Baalberith.

Judges 9:47 In-Context

45 And all that day Abimelech fought against the city until he had captured it and killed its people. Then he demolished the city and sowed it with salt.

46 On hearing of this, all the leaders in the tower of Shechem entered the inner chamber of the temple of El-berith.

47 And when Abimelech was told that all the leaders in the tower of Shechem were gathered there,

48 he and all his men went up to Mount Zalmon. Abimelech took his axe in his hand and cut a branch from the trees, which he lifted to his shoulder, saying to his men, “Hurry and do what you have seen me do.”

49 So each man also cut his own branch and followed Abimelech. Then they piled the branches against the inner chamber and set it on fire above them, killing everyone in the tower of Shechem, about a thousand men and women.