Judges 9:22-41

22Now AbimelechH40 ruledH8323 overH5921 IsraelH3478 for threeH7969 yearsH8141. 231Then GodH430 sentH7971 an evilH7451 spiritH7307 betweenH996 AbimelechH40 and the 2leadersH1167 of ShechemH7927; and the 3leadersH1167 of ShechemH7927 4dealtH898 treacherouslyH898 with AbimelechH40, 245so that the violenceH2555 6done to the seventyH7657 sonsH1121 of JerubbaalH3378 would comeH935, and the responsibility for 7their bloodH1818 would be placedH7760 on their brotherH251 AbimelechH40, whoH834 killedH2026 them, and on the 8leadersH1167 of ShechemH7927, whoH834 9encouragedH2388H3027 him to killH2026 his brothersH251. 25The 10leadersH1167 of ShechemH7927 setH7760 upH7760 menH693 inH693 ambushH693 against him on the topsH7218 of the mountainsH2022, and they robbedH1497 everyoneH3605 whoH834 would passH5674 by them on the roadH1870; and it was reportedH5046 to AbimelechH40.

26Now GaalH1603 the sonH1121 of EbedH5651 cameH935 with his relativesH251, and crossedH5674 overH5674 into ShechemH7927; and the 11leadersH1167 of ShechemH7927 trustedH982 him. 27So they wentH3318 outH3318 to the fieldH7704 and gatheredH1219 theH1219 grapesH1219 of their vineyardsH3754 and trampledH1869 them, and heldH6213 a festivalH1974; and they wentH935 into the houseH1004 of 12their 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 governorH6496? ServeH5647 the menH376 of 13HamorH2544 the fatherH1 of ShechemH7927; but whyH4069 should we serveH5647 him? 291415IfH4310H5414 onlyH4310H5414 thisH2088 peopleH5971 were under my authorityH3027! Then I would doH5493 awayH5493 withH5493 AbimelechH40.” And he saidH559 to AbimelechH40, “EnlargeH7235 your armyH6635 and comeH3318 outH3318!”

30When ZebulH2083 the leaderH8269 of the cityH5892 heardH8085 the wordsH1697 of GaalH1603 the sonH1121 of EbedH5651, his angerH639 burnedH2734. 31So using deceptionH8649, he successfully sentH7971 messengersH4397 to AbimelechH40, sayingH559, “BeholdH2009, GaalH1603 the sonH1121 of EbedH5651 and his relativesH251 have comeH935 to ShechemH7927; and beholdH2009, they are 16stirringH6696 upH6696 the cityH5892 againstH5921 you. 32So nowH6258, ariseH6965 by nightH3915, you and the peopleH5971 whoH834 are with you, and lieH693 inH693 waitH693 in the fieldH7704. 33Then in the morningH1242, as soon as the sunH8121 is up, you shall riseH7925 earlyH7925 and attackH6584 the cityH5892; and beholdH2009, when he and the peopleH5971 whoH834 are with him comeH3318 outH3318 againstH413 you, you shall 17doH6213 to them 18whateverH3512 you can.”

34So AbimelechH40 and allH3605 the peopleH5971 whoH834 were with him gotH6965 upH6965 at nightH3915, and layH693 inH693 waitH693 againstH5921 ShechemH7927, in fourH702 19unitsH7218. 35Now GaalH1603 the sonH1121 of EbedH5651 wentH3318 outH3318 and stoodH5975 at 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 peopleH376.” 37And GaalH1603 spokeH1696 yetH5750 againH3254 and saidH559, “LookH2009, peopleH5971 are comingH3381 downH3381 from 21the 22highestH2872 partH2872 of the landH776, and oneH259 23unitH7218 is comingH935 by wayH1870 of 24the diviners’H6049 25oakH436.” 38Then ZebulH2083 saidH559 to him, “WhereH346 thenH645 is your 26boastingH6310 with whichH834 you saidH559, ‘WhoH4310 is AbimelechH40 that we should serveH5647 him?’ Is thisH2088 not the peopleH5971 whomH834 you rejectedH3988? GoH3318 outH3318 nowH6258 and fightH3898 them!” 39So GaalH1603 wentH3318 outH3318 27in the sightH6440 of the 28leadersH1167 of ShechemH7927 and foughtH3898 AbimelechH40. 40But AbimelechH40 chasedH7291 him, and he fledH5127 from him; and manyH7227 fellH5307 woundedH2491 up to the entranceH6607 of the gateH8179. 41Then AbimelechH40 stayedH3427 in ArumahH725, but ZebulH2083 droveH1644 outH1644 GaalH1603 and his relativesH251 soH4480 thatH4480 they could notH4480 stayH3427 in ShechemH7927.