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Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

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SHECHEM, Tower of

Fortress erected on the acropolis of Shechem, housing the temple of Baal-berith and situated inside the city walls. The city of Shechem was located in the hill country of the tribe of Ephraim near Mt Gerizim.

The tower of Shechem served as the citadel to which the leaders of Shechem fled from the onslaught of Abimelech. They sought refuge in the inner chamber of the temple of Baal-berith. Abimelech, however, set the upper parts of the inner chamber on fire, killing all the men and women housed within (Jgs 9:46-49).

Show passage in OET: JDG 9:46–49

OET-RV JDG 9:46

46 When all the lords of the tower of Shekem heard, they went into the citadel of the temple for El-Berit,

OET-RV JDG 9:47

47 but it was reported to Avimelek that all the lords of the Shekem tower had gathered there.

OET-RV JDG 9:48

48 So Avimelek and all the people with him, went up to Mt. Tsalmon. He took axes and cut a branch down from the trees, then lifted it onto his shoulder and said to the people who were with him, “What I just did, you all quickly do the same.”

OET-RV JDG 9:49

49 So all the people also each cut off a branch and then followed Avimelek. They piled them on top of the underground chamber, and that’s how they burnt out the underground chamber. As a result, all the distinguished people in the tower of Shekem also died—about a thousand men and women.

OET-LV JDG 9:46

46 And_ all_of the_citizens_of the_tower_of Shəkem _they_heard and_they_came into the_underground_chamber_of the_house_of ʼĒl- Berith.

OET-LV JDG 9:47

47 And_it_was_told to_ʼAⱱīmelek if/because_that all_of the_citizens_of the_tower_of Shəkem they_had_gathered_together.

OET-LV JDG 9:48

48 And_he/it_ascended ʼAⱱīmelek the_mountain_of Tsalmōn/(Zalmon) he and_all the_people which with_him/it and_ ʼAⱱīmelek _he/it_took DOM the_axes in_his/its_hand and_he_cut_off a_branch_of wood(s) and_he_lifted_it_up and_he/it_assigned on shoulder_of_his and_he/it_said to the_people which with_him/it whatever you(pl)_have_seen I_have_done hurry do like_me.

OET-LV JDG 9:49

49 And_ also all_of the_people _they_cut_off everyone branch_of_his_own and_they_went after ʼAⱱīmelek and_they_put_them over the_underground_chamber and_they_set_on_fire over_them DOM the_underground_chamber with_fire and_ also all_of the_men_of the_tower_of Shəkem _they_died about_a_thousand man and_woman.

Jump to OET JDG 9:46–49 section.

The remnants of the tower of Shechem have been found within the ancient town of Shechem at Tell Bala’ta, a short distance northeast of modern Nablus in central Palestine. Modern excavations show that the tower of Shechem was used as a temple and a fortress.