Judges 9:23-41

231Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem 2dealt treacherously with Abimelech, 243so that the violence 4done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come, and 5their blood might be laid on Abimelech their brother, who killed them, and on the men of Shechem, who strengthened his hands to kill his brothers. 25The men of Shechem set 6men in ambush against him on the tops of the mountains, and they robbed all who might pass by them along the road; and it was told to Abimelech.

26Now Gaal the son of Ebed came with his 7relatives, and crossed over into Shechem; and the men of Shechem put their trust in him. 27They went out into the field and gathered the grapes of their vineyards and trod them, and held a 8festival; and they went into the house of 9their god, and ate and drank and cursed Abimelech. 28Then Gaal the son of Ebed said, “Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? Is he not the son of Jerubbaal, and is Zebul not his 10lieutenant? Serve the men of 11Hamor the father of Shechem; but why should we serve him? 291213Would, therefore, that this people were under my authority! Then I would remove Abimelech.” And he said to Abimelech, “Increase your army and come out.”

30When Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger burned. 31He sent messengers to Abimelech 14deceitfully, saying, “Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his 15relatives have come to Shechem; and behold, they are 16stirring up the city against you. 32Now therefore, arise by night, you and the people who are with you, and lie in wait in the field. 33In the morning, as soon as the sun is up, you shall rise early and rush upon the city; and behold, when he and the people who are with him come out against you, you shall 17do to them 18whatever you can.”

34So Abimelech and all the people who were with him arose by night and lay in wait against Shechem in four 19companies. 35Now Gaal the son of Ebed went out and stood in the entrance of the city gate; and Abimelech and the people who were with him arose from the ambush. 36When Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, “20Look, people are coming down from the tops of the mountains.” But Zebul said to him, “You are seeing the shadow of the mountains as if they were men.” 37Gaal spoke again and said, “Behold, people are coming down from 21the 22highest part of the land, and one 23company comes by the way of 24the diviners’ 25oak.” 38Then Zebul said to him, “Where is your 26boasting now with which you said, ‘Who is Abimelech that we should serve him?’ Is this not the people whom you despised? Go out now and fight with them!” 39So Gaal went out before the leaders of Shechem and fought with Abimelech. 40Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him; and many fell wounded up to the entrance of the gate. 41Then Abimelech remained at Arumah, but Zebul drove out Gaal and his 27relatives so that they could not remain in Shechem.