42
And it came to pass on the morrow that the people went out into the field, and they told Abimelech.
43
And he took the people and divided them into three companies, and lay in wait in the field, and looked, and behold, the people had come forth out of the city; and he rose up against them and smote them.
44
And Abimelech and the company that was with him rushed forward, and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city; and the two other companies ran upon all the people who were in the fields and slew them.
45
And Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he took the city, and slew the people who were therein, and beat down the city and sowed it with salt.
46
And when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard that, they entered into a stronghold of the house of the god Berith.
47
And it was told Abimelech that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together.
48
And Abimelech went 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 and laid it on his shoulder, and said unto the people who were with him, "What ye have seen me do, 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 stronghold, and set the stronghold 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 those of the city, and shut it to them and went up to the top of the tower.
52
And Abimelech came unto the tower and fought against it, and went hard unto the door of the tower to burn it with fire.