34. So Abimelech and all the people with him got up at night and waited in ambush for Shechem in four units.
35. Gaal son of Ebed went out and stood at the entrance of the city gate. Then Abimelech and the people who were with him got up from their ambush.
36. When Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, “Look, people are coming down from the mountaintops! ” But Zebul said to him, “The shadows of the mountains look like men to you.”
37. Then Gaal spoke again, “Look, people are coming down from the central part of the land, and one unit is coming from the direction of the Diviners’ Oak.”
38. Zebul replied, “Where is your mouthing off now? You said, ‘Who is Abimelech that we should serve him? ’ Aren’t these the people you despised? Now go and fight them! ”
39. So Gaal went out leading the lords of Shechem and fought against Abimelech,
40. but Abimelech pursued him, and Gaal fled before him. Many wounded died as far as the entrance of the gate.
41. Abimelech stayed in Arumah, and Zebul drove Gaal and his brothers from Shechem.
42. The next day when the people went into the countryside, this was reported to Abimelech.
43. He took the people, divided them into three companies, and waited in ambush in the countryside. He looked, and the people were coming out of the city, so he arose against them and struck them down.
44. Then Abimelech and the units that were with him rushed forward and took their stand at the entrance of the city gate. The other two units rushed against all who were in the countryside and struck them down.
45. So Abimelech fought against the city that entire day, captured it, and killed the people who were in it. Then he tore down the city and sowed it with salt.
46. When all the lords of the Tower of Shechem heard, they entered the inner chamber of the temple of El-berith.
47. Then it was reported to Abimelech that all the lords of the Tower of Shechem had gathered together.
48. So Abimelech and all the people who were with him went up to Mount Zalmon. Abimelech took his ax in his hand and cut a branch from the trees. He picked up the branch, put it on his shoulder, and said to the people who were with him, “Hurry and do what you have seen me do.”
49. Each person also cut his own branch and followed Abimelech. They put the branches against the inner chamber and set it on fire around the people, and all the people in the Tower of Shechem died — about 1,000 men and women.
50. Abimelech went to Thebez, camped against it, and captured it.
51. There was a strong tower inside the city, and all the men, women, and lords of the city fled there. They locked themselves in and went up to the roof of the tower.
52. When Abimelech came to attack the tower, he approached its entrance to set it on fire.