44. Abimelech and the company with him rushed in and stood by the entrance of the city gate, while the other two companies rushed upon all who were in the field and attacked them.
45. That entire day Abimelech fought against the city. He captured it, killed the people who were in it, and demolished the city itself, sowing it with salt.
46. When they heard of this, all the lords of the Migdal-shechem went into the crypt of the temple of El-berith.
47. It was reported to Abimelech that all the lords of the Migdal-shechem were gathered together.
48. So he went up Mount Zalmon with all his soldiers, took his ax in his hand, and cut down some brushwood. This he lifted to his shoulder, then said to the troops with him, “Hurry! Do just as you have seen me do.”
49. So all the soldiers likewise cut down brushwood and, following Abimelech, placed it against the crypt. Then they set the crypt on fire over them, so that every one of the people of the Migdal-shechem, about a thousand men and women, perished.
50. Abimelech proceeded to Thebez, encamped, and captured it.
51. Now there was a strong tower in the middle of the city, and all the men and women and all the lords of the city fled there, shutting themselves in and going up to the roof of the tower.
52. Abimelech came up to the tower and fought against it. When he came close to the entrance of the tower to set it on fire,