Judges 9:34-45 ▼

34 And Abimelech rose, and all the people who were with him, by night, and they lay in wait against Shechem in four companies.

35 And Gaal son of Ebed went out and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city, and Abimelech rose, and the people who were with him, from the ambush.

36 And Gaal saw the people, and he said to Zebul, “Behold, a people is coming down from the tops of the mountains.” And Zebul said to him, “The shadows of the mountains You are seeing as men.”

37 And Gaal added again to speak, and he said, “Behold, a people are coming down from the center of the land, and one company is coming from the way of the Oak of the Diviners.”

38 And Zebul said to him, “Where now is your mouth, with which you said, ‘Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him?’ Is this not the people whom you have despised? Go out, please, now, and fight against it.”

39 And Gaal went out before the faces of the masters of Shechem, and he fought with Abimelech.

40 And Abimelech chased him, and he fled from him, and many fell wounded as far as the entrance of the gate.

41 And Abimelech dwelt in Arumah, and Zebul drove out Gaal and his brothers from dwelling in Shechem.

42 And it came to pass on the next day that the people went out into the field. And they declared it to Abimelech.

43 And he took the people and divided them into three companies and lay in wait in the field, and he looked, and behold, the people were coming out of the city; and he rose up against them and attacked them.

44 And Abimelech and the company that was with him rushed forward and stood at the entrance of the gate of the city, and the two companies rushed upon all who were in the fields, and struck them.

45 And Abimelech fought against the city all that day, and he took the city, and he killed the people who were in it, and he tore down the city and sowed it with salt.