Judges 9:42-49

42Now it came about the next day, that the people went out to the field, and it was reported to Abimelech. 43So he took 1his people and divided them into three 2units, and lay in wait in the field; when he looked and 3saw the people coming out from the city, he 4attacked them and killed them. 44Then Abimelech and the 5company who was with him rushed forward and stood at the entrance of the city gate; the other two 6companies then attacked all who were in the field and killed them. 45Abimelech fought against the city that whole day, and he captured the city and killed the people who were in it; then he 7tore down the city and sowed it with salt.

46When all the 8leaders of the tower of Shechem heard about it, they entered the inner chamber of the 9temple of 10El-berith. 47And it was reported to Abimelech that all the 11leaders of the tower of Shechem were gathered together. 48So Abimelech went up to Mount 12Zalmon, he and all the people who were with him; and Abimelech took 13an axe in his hand and cut down a branch from the trees, and lifted it and put it on his shoulder. Then he said to the people who were with him, “What you saw me do, hurry and do 14likewise.” 49So all the people also cut down, each one, his branch and followed Abimelech, and put them on top of the inner chamber and set the inner chamber on fire over those inside, so that all the people of the tower of Shechem also died, about a thousand men and women.