30. Then Zebul the city ruler heard the words of Gaal son of Ebed and he burned with anger.
31. He secretly sent messengers to Abimelek, saying, “Gaal, the son of Ebed, and his brothers have come to Shechem and are fortifying the city against you.
32. So now, get up at night, you and the people with you, and lie in wait in the field.
33. In the morning at sunrise, get up early and attack the city. He and the people with him will come out to you, then you can do to them as you find opportunity.”
34. So Abimelek and all the people who were with him got up at night and lay in wait by Shechem in four companies.
35. When Gaal son of Ebed went out and stood at the entrance of the city gate, then Abimelek and the people who were with him got up from their hiding places.
36. Gaal saw these people and said to Zebul, “Look, people are coming down from the hilltops.”Zebul said to him, “The shadows of the hills look like men to you.”
37. Gaal spoke again and said, “Look, people are coming down the middle of the land, and a company is coming by way of the Diviner’s Oak.”