Judges 9:46

9:46 When all the leaders of the Tower of Shechem heard the news, they went to the stronghold of the temple of El-Berith.


sn Perhaps the Tower of Shechem was a nearby town, distinct from Shechem proper, or a tower within the city.

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.

sn The name El-Berith means “God of the Covenant.” It is probably a reference to the Canaanite high god El.