And when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard that, they entered into an hold of the house of the god Berith.
When all the men in the tower of Shechem heard about this, they went into the stronghold of the temple of their god Berith.
The writer is describing how the people of Shechem's tower sought protection in their pagan temple when they heard about the danger approaching.
📚 Historical Context
In the book of Judges, during a period of political instability in ancient Israel, Abimelech had violently seized power in Shechem after killing his brothers to become ruler. When the people of Shechem heard that Abimelech was advancing to attack them, they fled to the stronghold within the temple of Berith, a Canaanite deity, as a place of perceived safety. This reflects the common ancient practice of seeking refuge in religious sites, amid the broader theme of Israel's struggle with idolatry.
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