9:46 And when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard [that], they entered into an hold of the house of the god {p} Berith.
(p) That is, of Baniberith, as Jud 8:33.
9:46 The tower - A strong place belonging to the city of Shechem, made for its defence without the city. Berith - Or, Baal - berith, ver.4. Hither they fled out of the town belonging to it, fearing the same event with Shechem; and here they thought to be secure; partly by the strength of the place, partly by the religion of it, thinking that either their god would protect them there, or that Abimelech would spare them out of pity to that god.
9:30-49 Abimelech intended to punish the Schechemites for slighting him now, but God punished them for their serving him formerly in the murder of Gideon's sons. When God uses men as instruments in his hand to do his work, he means one thing, and they another. That, which they hoped would have been for their welfare, proved a snare and a trap, as those will certainly find, who run to idols for shelter; such will prove a refuge of lies.
