Judges 9:22-49

²² Abimelech was prince over Israel three years. ²³ God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech: ²⁴ that the violence done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come, and that their 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. ²⁵ The men of Shechem set an ambush for him on the tops of the mountains, and they robbed all who came along that way by them: and it was told Abimelech. ²⁶ Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brothers, and went over to Shechem; and the men of Shechem put their trust in him. ²⁷ They went out into the field, and gathered their vineyards, and trod the grapes, and held festival, and went into the house of their god, and did eat and drink, and cursed Abimelech. ²⁸ Gaal the son of Ebed said, “Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? Isn’t he the son of Jerubbaal? and Zebul his officer? Serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem: but why should we serve him? ²⁹ Would that this people were under my hand! Then I would remove Abimelech.” He said to Abimelech, “Increase your army, and come out!” ³⁰ When Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled. ³¹ He sent messengers to Abimelech craftily, saying, “Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his brothers are come to Shechem; and behold, they constrain the city to take part against you. ³² Now therefore, go up by night, you and the people who are with you, and lie in wait in the field: ³³ and it shall be, that in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, you shall rise early, and rush on the city; and behold, when he and the people who are with him come out against you, then may you do to them as you shall find occasion.” ³⁴ Abimelech rose up, and all the people who were with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies. ³⁵ Gaal the son of Ebed went out, and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city: and Abimelech rose up, and the people who were with him, from the ambush. ³⁶ When Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, “Behold, people are coming down from the tops of the mountains.”

Zebul said to him, “You see the shadow of the mountains as if they were men.” ³⁷ Gaal spoke again and said, “Behold, people are coming down by the middle of the land, and one company comes by the way of the oak of Meonenim.” ³⁸ Then Zebul said to him, “Now where is your mouth, that you said, ‘Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him?’ Isn’t this the people that you have despised? Go out now, please, and fight with them.” ³⁹ Gaal went out before the men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech. ⁴⁰ Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him, and many fell wounded, even to the entrance of the gate. ⁴¹ Abimelech lived at Arumah: and Zebul drove out Gaal and his brothers, that they should not dwell in Shechem. ⁴² It happened on the next day, that the people went out into the field; and they told Abimelech. ⁴³ He took the people, and divided them into three companies, and laid wait in the field; and he looked, and behold, the people came forth out of the city; He rose up against them, and struck them. ⁴⁴ Abimelech, and the companies that were with him, rushed forward, and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city: and the two companies rushed on all who were in the field, and struck them. ⁴⁵ Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he took the city, and killed the people who were therein: and he beat down the city, and sowed it with salt. ⁴⁶ When all the men of the tower of Shechem heard of it, they entered into the stronghold of the house of Elberith. ⁴⁷ It was told Abimelech that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together. ⁴⁸ Abimelech got him up to Mount Zalmon, he and all the people who were with him; and Abimelech took an axe in his hand, and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it up, and laid it on his shoulder: and he said to the people who were with him, “What you have seen me do, make haste, and do as I have done!” ⁴⁹ All the people likewise each cut down his bough, and followed Abimelech, and put them at the base of the stronghold, and set the stronghold on fire on them; so that all the people of the tower of Shechem died also, about a thousand men and women.