30. And when Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled.
31. And he sent messengers unto Abimelech craftily, saying, Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his brethren are come to Shechem; and, behold, they constrain the city to take part against thee.
32. Now therefore, up by night, thou and the people that are with thee, and lie in wait in the field:
33. and it shall be, that in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, thou shalt rise early, and rush upon the city; and, behold, when he and the people that are with him come out against thee, then mayest thou do to them as thou shalt find occasion.
34. And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies.
35. And 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 that were with him, from the ambushment.
36. And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, Behold, there come people down from the tops of the mountains. And Zebul said unto him, Thou seest the shadow of the mountains as if they were men.
37. And Gaal spake again and said, See, there come people down by the middle of the land, and one company cometh by the way of the oak of Meonenim.
38. Then said Zebul unto him, Where is now thy mouth, that thou saidst, Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him? is not this the people that thou hast despised? go out now, I pray, and fight with them.
39. And Gaal went out before the men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech.
40. And Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him, and there fell many wounded, even unto the entrance of the gate.