29
Would that this people were under my hand! then would I remove Avimelekh. He said to Avimelekh, Increase your army, and come out.
30
When Zevul the ruler of the city heard the words of Ga`al the son of `Eved, his anger was kindled.
31
He sent messengers to Avimelekh craftily, saying, Behold, Ga`al the son of `Eved and his brothers are come to Shekhem; and, behold, they constrain the city [to take part] against you.
32
Now therefore, 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
Avimelekh rose up, and all the people who were with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shekhem in four companies.
35
Ga`al the son of `Eved went out, and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city: and Avimelekh rose up, and the people who were with him, from the ambush.
36
When Ga`al saw the people, he said to Zevul, Behold, there come people down from the tops of the mountains. Zevul said to him, You see the shadow of the mountains as if they were men.
37
Ga`al spoke again and said, Behold, there come people down by the middle of the land, and one company comes by the way of the oak of Me`onenim.
38
Then said Zevul to him, Where is now your mouth, that you said, Who is Avimelekh, that we should serve him? is not this the people that you have despised? go out now, I pray, and fight with them.
39
Ga`al went out before the men of Shekhem, and fought with Avimelekh.