34 So Abimelek and all his troops set out by night and took up concealed positions near Shechem in four companies.
34 And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies.
34 So Abimelech and all the men who were with him rose up by night and set an ambush against Shechem in four companies.
34 Abimelech and his troops, four companies of them, went up that night and waited in ambush approaching Shechem.
34 So Abimelech and all the people who were with him rose by night, and lay in wait against Shechem in four companies.
34 So Abimelech and all his men went by night and split into four groups, stationing themselves around Shechem.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Judges 9:34
Commentary on Judges 9:30-49
(Read Judges 9:30-49)
Abimelech intended to punish the Schechemites for slighting him now, but God punished them for their serving him formerly in the murder of Gideon's sons. When God uses men as instruments in his hand to do his work, he means one thing, and they another. That, which they hoped would have been for their welfare, proved a snare and a trap, as those will certainly find, who run to idols for shelter; such will prove a refuge of lies.