Shofetim 9:48

48 And Avimelech got him up to Mt Tzalmon, he and all the people that were with him; and Avimelech took axes in his yad, and cut down a branch from the etzim (trees), and lifted it, and laid it on his shoulder, and said unto the people that were with him, What ye have seen me do, make haste, and do as I have done.

Shofetim 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.

Shofetim 9:48 In-Context

46 And when all the ba’alei migdal Shechem heard that, they entered into the stronghold of the bais el brit.

47 And it was told Avimelech, that all the ba’alei migdal Shechem were gathered together.

48 And Avimelech got him up to Mt Tzalmon, he and all the people that were with him; and Avimelech took axes in his yad, and cut down a branch from the etzim (trees), and lifted it, and laid it on his shoulder, and said unto the people that were with him, What ye have seen me do, make haste, and do as I have done.

49 And kol haAm likewise cut down every man his branch, and followed Avimelech, and piled them against the stronghold, and set the stronghold on eish over them; so that all the anshei migdal Shechem died also, about a thousand men and women.

50 Then went Avimelech to Tevetz, and encamped against Tevetz, and captured it.