Judges 9:46-47

9:46 When all the leaders of the Tower of Shechem ¹  heard the news, they went to the stronghold ²  of the temple of El-Berith. ³  9:47 Abimelech heard ⁴  that all the leaders of the Tower of Shechem were in one place. ⁵ 

[9:46]  ¹ sn Perhaps the Tower of Shechem was a nearby town, distinct from Shechem proper, or a tower within the city.

[9:46]  ² tn Apparently this rare word refers here to the most inaccessible area of the temple, perhaps the inner sanctuary or an underground chamber. It appears only here and in 1 Sam 13:6, where it is paired with “cisterns” and refers to subterranean or cave-like hiding places.

[9:46]  ³ sn The name El-Berith means “God of the Covenant.” It is probably a reference to the Canaanite high god El.

[9:47]  ⁴ tn Heb “and it was told to Abimelech.”

[9:47]  ⁵ tn Heb “were assembled.”