en_tn/jdg/09/45.md

Abimelek fought ... He broke down

Here "Abimelek" represents himself and his soldiers. Alternate translation: "Abimelek and his soldiers fought ... They broke down" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-synecdoche)

against the city

Here "city" represents the people. Alternate translation: "against the people of Shechem" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)

broke down

"demolished"

sowed it with salt

Here salt is spoken of as if it were seeds. Spreading salt over land keeps anything from growing there. Alternate translation: "spread salt over the land" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)