What does Judges 9:48 mean?
The city of Shechem is surrounded by nearby mountains, many of which have played a significant role in Abimelech's story (Judges 9:6–7). Mount Zalmon is unknown to modern scholars, but it was apparently well forested.Intent on destroying who and what remains in Shechem (Judges 9:22–25; 39–41), Abimelech takes an ax and leads his men to Zalmon. He does not explain anything. Instead, he just shows his followers what to do. He cuts down as much brushwood as he can carry on his shoulder and tells those with him to quickly do the same. He is in a hurry to be done with Shechem once and for all.
While Abimelech is cutting brush, his enemies are huddled in a temple, believing they are safe (Judges 9:46–47). The Hebrew terminology used here implies they are in a kind of underground bunker: a "stronghold." Abimelech brings wood, rather than more soldiers, and proves this location is not invincible (Judges 9:49).
Judges 9:22–57 describes the brutal fulfillment of Jotham's curse against his brother, Abimelech, and the leaders of the city of Shechem. God allows the two sides to be split by an evil spirit. First, Shechem's leaders attempt to kill Abimelech. Then they plot with a man named Gaal to overthrow him. Helped by his officer in the city, Abimelech and his men ambush Gaal and Shechem. They kill all the people and destroy the city. They then move on to the town of Thebez to do the same, but Abimelech is killed. Jotham's prediction of divine vengeance (Judges 9:19–20) comes true.
Shechem's leaders conspire with a concubine's son to kill Gideon's other seventy sons. They make this man, Abimelech, their ruler. Gideon's youngest son survives, however, and delivers a curse. Using a fable, he says Abimelech and Shechem's leaders will destroy each other. God causes a division between Shechem's leaders and Abimelech. The noblemen attempt to kill Abimelech and unite behind a new leader. Abimelech discovers the plot and kills everyone in Shechem, destroying the city. When attacking a tower in a nearby town, however, Abimelech's skull is crushed by a thrown millstone. The curse is fulfilled.