Judges 9:22-49

²² And Abimelech is prince over Israel three years, ²³ and God sendeth an evil spirit between Abimelech and the masters of Shechem, and the masters of Shechem deal treacherously with Abimelech, ²⁴ for the coming in of the violence 'to' the seventy sons of Jerubbaal, and of their blood to place 'it' on Abimelech their brother, who slew them, and on the masters of Shechem, who strengthened his hands to slay his brethren. ²⁵ And the masters of Shechem set for him ambushes on the top of the hills, and rob every one who passeth over by them in the way, and it is declared to Abimelech. ²⁶ And Gaal son of Ebed cometh—also his brethren—and they pass over into Shechem, and the masters of Shechem trust in him, ²⁷ and go out into the field, and gather their vineyards, and tread, and make praises, and go into the house of their god, and eat and drink, and revile Abimelech. ²⁸ And Gaal son of Ebed saith, 'Who 'is' Abimelech, and who 'is' Shechem, that we serve him? is 'he' not son of Jerubbaal? and Zebul his commander? Serve ye the men of Hamor father of Shechem, and wherefore do we serve him—we? ²⁹ and oh that this people were in my hand—then I turn Abimelech aside;' and he saith to Abimelech, 'Increase thy host, and come out.' ³⁰ And Zebul, prince of the city, heareth the words of Gaal son of Ebed, and his anger burneth, ³¹ and he sendeth messengers unto Abimelech deceitfully, saying, 'Lo, Gaal son of Ebed and his brethren are coming into Shechem, and lo, they are fortifying the city against thee; ³² and, now, rise by night, thou and the people who 'are' with thee, and lay wait in the field, ³³ and it hath been, in the morning, about the rising of the sun, thou dost rise early, and hast pushed against the city; and lo, he and the people who 'are' with him are going out unto thee—and thou hast done to him as thy hand doth find.' ³⁴ And Abimelech riseth, and all the people who 'are' with him, by night, and they lay wait against Shechem—four detachments; ³⁵ and Gaal son of Ebed goeth out, and standeth at the opening of the gate of the city, and Abimelech riseth—also the people who 'are' with him—from the ambush, ³⁶ and Gaal seeth the people, and saith unto Zebul, 'Lo, people are coming down from the top of the hills;' and Zebul saith unto him, 'The shadow of the hills thou art seeing like men.' ³⁷ And Gaal addeth yet to speak, and saith, 'Lo, people are coming down from the high part of the land, and another detachment is coming by the way of the oak of Meonenim.' ³⁸ And Zebul saith unto him, 'Where 'is' now thy mouth, in that thou sayest, Who 'is' Abimelech that we serve him? is not this the people against which thou hast kicked? go out, I pray thee now, and fight against it.' ³⁹ And Gaal goeth out before the masters of Shechem, and fighteth against Abimelech, ⁴⁰ and Abimelech pursueth him, and he fleeth from his presence, and many fall wounded—unto the opening of the gate. ⁴¹ And Abimelech abideth in Arumah, and Zebul casteth out Gaal and his brethren from dwelling in Shechem. ⁴² And it cometh to pass, on the morrow, that the people go out to the field, and they declare 'it' to Abimelech, ⁴³ and he taketh the people, and divideth them into three detachments, and layeth wait in a field, and looketh, and lo, the people are coming out from the city, and he riseth against them, and smiteth them. ⁴⁴ And Abimelech and the detachments who 'are' with him have pushed on, and stand at the opening of the gate of the city, and the two detachments have pushed against all who are in the field, and smite them, ⁴⁵ and Abimelech hath fought against the city all that day, and captureth the city, and the people who 'are' in it he hath slain, and he breaketh down the city, and soweth it 'with' salt. ⁴⁶ And all the masters of the tower of Shechem hear, and go in unto the high place of the house of the god Berith, ⁴⁷ and it is declared to Abimelech that all the masters of the tower of Shechem have gathered themselves together, ⁴⁸ and Abimelech goeth up to mount Zalmon, he and all the people who 'are' with him, and Abimelech taketh the great axe in his hand, and cutteth off a bough of the trees, and lifteth it up, and setteth 'it' on his shoulder, and saith unto the people who 'are' with him, 'What ye have seen I have done—haste, do ye like it.' ⁴⁹ And all the people also cut down each one his bough, and go after Abimelech, and set 'them' at the high place, and burn by these the high place with fire, and also all the men of the tower of Shechem die, about a thousand men and women.