27. During the annual harvest festival at Shechem, held in the temple of the local god, the wine flowed freely, and everyone began cursing Abimelech.
28. “Who is Abimelech?” Gaal shouted. “He’s not a true son of Shechem, so why should we be his servants? He’s merely the son of Gideon, and this Zebul is merely his deputy. Serve the true sons of Hamor, the founder of Shechem. Why should we serve Abimelech?
29. If I were in charge here, I would get rid of Abimelech. I would say to him, ‘Get some soldiers, and come out and fight!’”
30. But when Zebul, the leader of the city, heard what Gaal was saying, he was furious.
31. He sent messengers to Abimelech in Arumah, telling him, “Gaal son of Ebed and his brothers have come to live in Shechem, and now they are inciting the city to rebel against you.
32. Come by night with an army and hide out in the fields.
33. In the morning, as soon as it is daylight, attack the city. When Gaal and those who are with him come out against you, you can do with them as you wish.”
34. So Abimelech and all his men went by night and split into four groups, stationing themselves around Shechem.
35. Gaal was standing at the city gates when Abimelech and his army came out of hiding.
36. When Gaal saw them, he said to Zebul, “Look, there are people coming down from the hilltops!”Zebul replied, “It’s just the shadows on the hills that look like men.”
37. But again Gaal said, “No, people are coming down from the hills. And another group is coming down the road past the Diviners’ Oak.”
38. Then Zebul turned on him and asked, “Now where is that big mouth of yours? Wasn’t it you that said, ‘Who is Abimelech, and why should we be his servants?’ The men you mocked are right outside the city! Go out and fight them!”
39. So Gaal led the leading citizens of Shechem into battle against Abimelech.
40. But Abimelech chased him, and many of Shechem’s men were wounded and fell along the road as they retreated to the city gate.
41. Abimelech returned to Arumah, and Zebul drove Gaal and his brothers out of Shechem.
42. The next day the people of Shechem went out into the fields to battle. When Abimelech heard about it,
43. he divided his men into three groups and set an ambush in the fields. When Abimelech saw the people coming out of the city, he and his men jumped up from their hiding places and attacked them.
44. Abimelech and his group stormed the city gate to keep the men of Shechem from getting back in, while Abimelech’s other two groups cut them down in the fields.
45. The battle went on all day before Abimelech finally captured the city. He killed the people, leveled the city, and scattered salt all over the ground.
46. When the leading citizens who lived in the tower of Shechem heard what had happened, they ran and hid in the temple of Baal-berith.
47. Someone reported to Abimelech that the citizens had gathered in the temple,