And Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he took the city, and slew the people that was therein, and beat down the city, and sowed it with salt.
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Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
Gill's Exposition
And when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard that,.... That the city of Shechem was taken, the inhabitants of it slain, the city beaten down, and sowed with salt; by which it appears that this…
Barnes' Notes
Sowed it with salt - Expressing by this action his hatred, and his wish, that when utterly destroyed as a city, it might not even be a fruitful field. Salt is the emblem of barrenness (see the…
Three years Abimelech reigned, after a sort, without any disturbance; it is not said, He judged Israel, or did any service at all to his country, but so long he enjoyed the title and dignity of a…
Cambridge Bible
sowed it with salt Usually explained as a symbolic act shewing that A. had reduced the city to a salt, uninhabitable desert; cf. Deu 29:23; Jer 17:6; Psa 107:34; Job 39:6. More probably the strewing…
Cross References
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