Charles Ellicott Commentary Judges 9:52

"And Abimelech came unto the tower, and fought against it, and drew near unto the door of the tower to burn it with fire." — Judges 9:52 (ASV)

Went hard unto the door. —Hard, i.e., close. Like other bad men, Abimelech was not lacking in physical courage. He had all his father’s impetuous energy. The peril of such rashness served the Israelites as a perpetual warning (2 Samuel 11:21).

To burn it with fire. —He naturally anticipated another hideous success like that at Millo.