Judges 9:46-49
46 And all the masters of the tower of Shechem hear, and go in unto the high place of the house of the god Berith, 47 and it is declared to Abimelech that all the masters of the tower of Shechem have gathered themselves together, 48 and Abimelech goeth up to mount Zalmon, he and all the people who 'are' with him, and Abimelech taketh the great axe in his hand, and cutteth off a bough of the trees, and lifteth it up, and setteth 'it' on his shoulder, and saith unto the people who 'are' with him, 'What ye have seen I have done—haste, do ye like it.' 49 And all the people also cut down each one his bough, and go after Abimelech, and set 'them' at the high place, and burn by these the high place with fire, and also all the men of the tower of Shechem die, about a thousand men and women.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Judges 9:46-49
Commentary on Judges 9:30-49
(Read Judges 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.