Judges 9:51

“But there was a strong tower within the city, etc.] The tower of Shechem was without the city, but this within, as towers generally are: and hither fled all the men and women, and all they of the city; men, women, and children, man and maid servants, all the inhabitants of the city; the tower being a large place, having not only many rooms in it, but perhaps a large area in the midst of it, as well as it had battlements on the top of it: and shut it to them; the gates of it, and which no doubt they strongly barred and bolted, to keep out the enemy: and gat them up to the top of the tower; to observe the motions of Abimelech, and annoy him as much as they could with what they carried with…”

“all the men and women, . . . gat them up to the top of the tower--The Canaanite forts were generally mountain fastnesses or keeps, and they often had a strong tower which served as a last refuge. The Assyrian bas-reliefs afford counterparts of the scene here described so vivid and exact, that we might almost suppose them to be representations of the same historic events. The besieged city--the strong tower within--the men and women crowding its battlements--the fire applied to the doors, and even the huge fragments of stone dropping from the hands of one of the garrison on the heads of the assailants, are all well represented to the life--just as they are here described in the narrative of…”

“And all - All that were not slain in the taking of the town. Top of the tower - Which was flat and plain, after their manner of building. Judges 9:53”