42. And it came to pass on the next day 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 set ambushes in the field and looked, and, behold, the people were 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 entering of the gate of the city, and the two other companies ran upon all the people that 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 that were therein and beat down the city and sowed it with salt.
46. And when those of the tower of Shechem heard that, they entered into the stronghold of the temple of the god Berith.
47. And it was told Abimelech how all those of the tower of Shechem were gathered together.
48. Then Abimelech went up to Mount Zalmon, he and all the people that were with him; and Abimelech took 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 each one his bough and followed Abimelech and put them next to the stronghold and set the stronghold on fire upon them; so that all those of the tower of Shechem died, about a thousand men and women.
50. Then Abimelech went to Thebez and laid siege against Thebez and took it.
51. But in the midst of the city there was a strong tower, and all the men and women fled there, and all those of the city, and shutting the doors behind them, they climbed up to the top of the tower.
52. And Abimelech came to the tower, and fighting against it, he came to the door of the tower to burn it with fire.
53. But a woman cast a piece of a millstone upon Abimelech’s head and crushed his skull.
54. Then he called hastily unto the young man, his armourbearer, and said unto him, Draw thy sword and slay me that it not be said of me, A woman slew him. And his young man thrust him through, and he died.