Judges 9:46-52

46On hearing this, the citizens in the tower of Shechem went into the stronghold of the temple of El-Berith.

47When Abimelek heard that they had assembled there,

48he and all his men went up Mount Zalmon. He took an ax and cut off some branches, which he lifted to his shoulders. He ordered the men with him, “Quick! Do what you have seen me do!”

49So all the men cut branches and followed Abimelek. They piled them against the stronghold and set it on fire with the people still inside. So all the people in the tower of Shechem, about a thousand men and women, also died.

50Next Abimelek went to Thebez and besieged it and captured it.

51Inside the city, however, was a strong tower, to which all the men and women—all the people of the city—had fled. They had locked themselves in and climbed up on the tower roof.

52Abimelek went to the tower and attacked it. But as he approached the entrance to the tower to set it on fire,