Judges 9:34

34 So Abimelech and all his soldiers got up during the night and hid near Shechem in four groups.

Judges 9:34 Meaning and Commentary

Judges 9:34

And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him,
by night
According to the advice of Zebul:

and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies;
he divided his army into four parts, which he placed on the four sides of the city, at some distance from it, to act as they should have opportunity, to find ways and means of getting into it on either quarter.

Judges 9:34 In-Context

32 You and your men should get up during the night and hide in the fields outside the city.

33 As soon as the sun comes up in the morning, attack the city. When Gaal and his men come out to fight you, do what you can to them."

34 So Abimelech and all his soldiers got up during the night and hid near Shechem in four groups.

35 Gaal son of Ebed went out and was standing at the entrance to the city gate. As he was standing there, Abimelech and his soldiers came out of their hiding places.

36 When Gaal saw the soldiers, he said to Zebul, "Look! There are people coming down from the mountains!" But Zebul said, "You are seeing the shadows of the mountains. The shadows just look like people."