30
When Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal son of Ebed, his anger was kindled.
31
He sent messengers to Abimelech at Arumah, saying, "Look, Gaal son of Ebed and his kinsfolk have come to Shechem, and they are stirring up the city against you.
32
Now therefore, go by night, you and the troops that are with you, and lie in wait in the fields.
33
Then early in the morning, as soon as the sun rises, get up and rush on the city; and when he and the troops that are with him come out against you, you may deal with them as best you can."
34
So Abimelech and all the troops with him got up by night and lay in wait against Shechem in four companies.
35
When Gaal son of Ebed went out and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city, Abimelech and the troops with him rose from the ambush.
36
And when Gaal saw them, he said to Zebul, "Look, people are coming down from the mountain tops!" And Zebul said to him, "The shadows on the mountains look like people to you."
37
Gaal spoke again and said, "Look, people are coming down from Tabbur-erez, and one company is coming from the direction of Elon-meonenim."
38
Then Zebul said to him, "Where is your boast now, you who said, "Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him?' Are not these the troops you made light of? Go out now and fight with them."
39
So Gaal went out at the head of the lords of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech.
40
Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him. Many fell wounded, up to the entrance of the gate.
41
So Abimelech resided at Arumah; and Zebul drove out Gaal and his kinsfolk, so that they could not live on at Shechem.
42
On the following day the people went out into the fields. When Abimelech was told,
43
he took his troops and divided them into three companies, and lay in wait in the fields. When he looked and saw the people coming out of the city, he rose against them and killed them.
44
Abimelech and the company that was with him rushed forward and stood at the entrance of the gate of the city, while the two companies rushed on all who were in the fields and killed them.
45
Abimelech fought against the city all that day; he took the city, and killed the people that were in it; and he razed the city and sowed it with salt.
46
When all the lords of the Tower of Shechem heard of it, they entered the stronghold of the temple of El-berith.
47
Abimelech was told that all the lords of the Tower of Shechem were gathered together.
48
So Abimelech went up to Mount Zalmon, he and all the troops that were with him. Abimelech took an ax in his hand, cut down a bundle of brushwood, and took it up and laid it on his shoulder. Then he said to the troops with him, "What you have seen me do, do quickly, as I have done."
49
So every one of the troops cut down a bundle and following Abimelech put it against the stronghold, and they set the stronghold on fire over them, so that all the people of the Tower of Shechem also died, about a thousand men and women.