48
And Abimelech gat him up to mountZalmon, he and all the people that were with him; and Abimelechtook an axe 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 that 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 hold, and set the hold on fire upon them; so that all the men of the tower of Shechemdied also, about a thousandmen and women.
50
Then wentAbimelech to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez, and took it.
51
But there was a strongtowerwithin the city, and thither fled all the men and women, and all they of the city, and shut it to them, and gat them up to the top of the tower.
52
And Abimelechcame unto the tower, and fought against it, and went hard unto the door of the tower to burn it with fire.
53
And a certainwomancast a piece of a millstone upon Abimelech'shead, and all to brake his skull.
54
Then he calledhastily unto the young man his armourbearer* , and said unto him, Draw thy sword, and slay me, that men say not of me, A womanslew him. And his young man thrust him through , and he died .
55
And when the men of Israelsaw that Abimelech was dead , they departed every man unto his place.
56
Thus Godrendered the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did unto his father, in slaying his seventybrethren:
57
And all the evil of the men of Shechem did Godrender upon their heads: and upon them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.