Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he took the city and killed the people in it. He beat down the city and sowed it with salt.
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 45. Sowed salt. To make the ground barren, and fit for nothing; ( Challoner.) and to testify his eternal hatred towards the place, as salt is the symbol of duration. See Deuteronomy 29:23. Sophon. 2:9. Jeremiah 17:6.—Salsa autem tellus & quæ perhibetur amara—Frugibus infelix. Virg. Geor. ii. Notwithstanding the fury of Abimelech, Sichem was afterwards rebuilt, and became as fertile as before. The city of Milan was destroyed and sowed with salt in 1162. Sigon.—The houses of traitors were formerly treated in this manner in France, (Brantome) as was that of the admiral ed Chatillon. Calmet.—See on this custom Bochart, animal. 3:16.—Some think it denoted that the ground might henceforth be cultivated, and grow corn where houses had stood. Salt is the source of fertility, if there be not too much of it. Bible.