So Abimelech fought against the city that entire day, captured it, and killed the people who were in it. Then he tore down the city and sowed it with salt.

There was a strong tower inside the city, and all the men, women, and lords of the city fled there. They locked themselves in and went up to the roof of the tower.

They named the city Dan, after the name of their ancestor Dan, who was born to Israel. The city was formerly named Laish.

But when the column of smoke began to go up from the city, Benjamin looked behind them, and the whole city was going up in smoke.

The men of Israel turned back against the other Benjaminites and killed them with their swords—the entire city, the animals, and everything that remained. They also burned down all the cities that remained.