35. Gaal (son of Ebed) went out and stood at the entrance to the city. Then Abimelech and his troops rose from their ambush.
36. When Gaal saw the troops, he said to Zebul, “Look, troops are coming down from the mountaintops!”Zebul replied, “The shadows of the mountains look like men to you.”
37. Gaal spoke again, “No, there are troops coming down from Tabbur Haares. One company is coming along the road by the Fortune tellers’ Tree.”
38. Then Zebul said to him, “Where is your big mouth now? You were the one who said, ‘Who’s Abimelech that we should serve him?’ Aren’t these the troops ⌊whose ruler⌋ you despised? Now go out and fight him.”
39. Then Gaal led citizens of Shechem out to fight Abimelech.
40. Abimelech chased Gaal so that he ran away from him. Many were killed at the entrance of the city.
41. Abimelech continued to live at Arumah. Zebul threw Gaal and his brothers out and would not let them live in Shechem.
42. The next day the people ⌊of Shechem⌋ went into the fields. Abimelech was told about it.
43. So he took his troops, divided them into three companies, and set an ambush in the fields. He watched and saw the people coming out of the city. Then he began to attack them.