Judges 9:22-41

22Now AbimelechH40 ruledH8323 overH5921 IsraelH3478 threeH7969 yearsH8141. 231Then GodH430 sentH7971 an evilH7451 spiritH7307 betweenH996 AbimelechH40 and the menH1167 of ShechemH7927; and the menH1167 of ShechemH7927 2dealtH898 treacherouslyH898 with AbimelechH40, 243so that the violenceH2555 4done to the seventyH7657 sonsH1121 of JerubbaalH3378 might comeH935, and 5their bloodH1818 might be laidH7760 on AbimelechH40 their brotherH251, whoH834 killedH2026 them, and on the menH1167 of ShechemH7927, whoH834 strengthenedH2388 his handsH3027 to killH2026 his brothersH251. 25The menH1167 of ShechemH7927 setH7760 6men in ambushH693 against him on the topsH7218 of the mountainsH2022, and they robbedH1497 allH3605 whoH834 might passH5674 by them along the roadH1870; and it was toldH5046 to AbimelechH40.

26Now GaalH1603 the sonH1121 of EbedH5651 cameH935 with his 7relativesH251, and crossedH5674 overH5674 into ShechemH7927; and the menH1167 of ShechemH7927 putH982 their trustH982 in him. 27They wentH3318 out into the fieldH7704 and gatheredH1219 the grapes of their vineyardsH3754 and trodH1869 them, and heldH6213 a 8festivalH1974; and they wentH935 into the houseH1004 of 9their godH430, and ateH398 and drankH8354 and cursedH7043 AbimelechH40. 28Then GaalH1603 the sonH1121 of EbedH5651 saidH559, “WhoH4310 is AbimelechH40, and whoH4310 is ShechemH7927, that we should serveH5647 him? Is he not the sonH1121 of JerubbaalH3378, and is ZebulH2083 not his 10lieutenantH6496? ServeH5647 the menH376 of 11HamorH2544 the fatherH1 of ShechemH7927; but whyH4069 should we serveH5647 him? 291213WouldH4310H5414, therefore, that thisH2088 peopleH5971 were under my authorityH3027! Then I would removeH5493 AbimelechH40.” And he saidH559 to AbimelechH40, “IncreaseH7235 your armyH6635 and comeH3318 out.”

30When ZebulH2083 the rulerH8269 of the cityH5892 heardH8085 the wordsH1697 of GaalH1603 the sonH1121 of EbedH5651, his angerH639 burnedH2734. 31He sentH7971 messengersH4397 to AbimelechH40 14deceitfullyH8649, sayingH559, “BeholdH2009, GaalH1603 the sonH1121 of EbedH5651 and his 15relativesH251 have comeH935 to ShechemH7927; and beholdH2009, they are 16stirringH6696 up the cityH5892 againstH5921 you. 32NowH6258 therefore, ariseH6965 by nightH3915, you and the peopleH5971 whoH834 are with you, and lieH693 in waitH693 in the fieldH7704. 33In the morningH1242, as soon as the sunH8121 is up, you shall riseH7925 earlyH7925 and rushH6584 upon the cityH5892; and beholdH2009, when he and the peopleH5971 whoH834 are with him comeH3318 out againstH413 you, you shall 17doH6213 to them 18whateverH3512 you can.”

34So AbimelechH40 and allH3605 the peopleH5971 whoH834 were with him aroseH6965 by nightH3915 and layH693 in waitH693 againstH5921 ShechemH7927 in fourH702 19companiesH7218. 35Now GaalH1603 the sonH1121 of EbedH5651 wentH3318 out and stoodH5975 in the entranceH6607 of the cityH5892 gateH8179; and AbimelechH40 and the peopleH5971 whoH834 were with him aroseH6965 from the ambushH3993. 36When GaalH1603 sawH7200 the peopleH5971, he saidH559 to ZebulH2083, “20LookH2009, peopleH5971 are comingH3381 downH3381 from the topsH7218 of the mountainsH2022.” But ZebulH2083 saidH559 to him, “You are seeingH7200 the shadowH6738 of the mountainsH2022 as if they were menH376.” 37GaalH1603 spokeH1696 againH5750H3254 and saidH559, “BeholdH2009, peopleH5971 are comingH3381 downH3381 from 21the 22highestH2872 partH2872 of the landH776, and oneH259 23companyH7218 comesH935 by the wayH1870 of 24the diviners’H6049 25oakH436.” 38Then ZebulH2083 saidH559 to him, “WhereH346 is your 26boastingH6310 nowH645 with whichH834 you saidH559, ‘WhoH4310 is AbimelechH40 that we should serveH5647 him?’ Is thisH2088 not the peopleH5971 whomH834 you despisedH3988? GoH3318 out nowH6258 and fightH3898 with them!” 39So GaalH1603 wentH3318 out beforeH6440 the leadersH1167 of ShechemH7927 and foughtH3898 with AbimelechH40. 40AbimelechH40 chasedH7291 him, and he fledH5127 beforeH4480H6440 him; and manyH7227 fellH5307 woundedH2491 up to the entranceH6607 of the gateH8179. 41Then AbimelechH40 remainedH3427 at ArumahH725, but ZebulH2083 droveH1644 out GaalH1603 and his 27relativesH251 soH4480 that they could not remainH3427 in ShechemH7927.