Judges:9:23-41

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* Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem ; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech : * That the cruelty done to the threescore and ten sons of Jerubbaal might come , and their blood be laid upon Abimelech their brother , which slew them ; and upon the men of Shechem , which aided him in the killing of his brethren . * And the men of Shechem set liers in wait for him in the top of the mountains , and they robbed all that came along that way by them : and it was told Abimelech . * And Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brethren , and went over to Shechem : and the men of Shechem put their confidence in him . * And they went out into the fields , and gathered their vineyards , and trode the grapes , and made merry , and went into the house of their god , and did eat and drink , and cursed Abimelech . * And Gaal the son of Ebed said , Who is Abimelech , and who is Shechem , that we should serve him ? is not he the son of Jerubbaal ? and Zebul his officer ? serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem : for why should we serve him ? * And would to God this people were under my hand ! then would I remove Abimelech . And he said to Abimelech , Increase thine army , and come out . * And when Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed , his anger was kindled . * And he sent messengers unto Abimelech privily , saying , Behold , Gaal the son of Ebed and his brethren be come to Shechem ; and , behold , they fortify the city against thee . * Now therefore up by night , thou and the people that is with thee , and lie in wait in the field : * And it shall be , that in the morning , as soon as the sun is up , thou shalt rise early , and set upon the city : and , behold , when he and the people that is with him come out against thee , then mayest thou do to them as thou shalt find occasion . * And Abimelech rose up , and all the people that were with him , by night , and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies . * And Gaal the son of Ebed went out , and stood in the entering of the gate of the city : and Abimelech rose up , and the people that were with him , from lying in wait . * And when Gaal saw the people , he said to Zebul , Behold , there come people down from the top of the mountains . And Zebul said unto him , Thou seest the shadow of the mountains as if they were men . * And Gaal spake again and said , See there come people down by the middle of the land , and another company come along by the plain of Meonenim . * Then said Zebul unto him , Where is now thy mouth , wherewith thou saidst , Who is Abimelech , that we should serve him ? is not this the people that thou hast despised ? go out , I pray now , and fight with them . * And Gaal went out before the men of Shechem , and fought with Abimelech . * And Abimelech chased him , and he fled before him , and many were overthrown and wounded , even unto the entering of the gate . * And Abimelech dwelt at Arumah : and Zebul thrust out Gaal and his brethren , that they should not dwell in Shechem .

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