21. Then Jotham ran away to Beer and lived there to escape from Abimelech his half-brother.
22. Abimelech commanded Israel for three years.
23. God sent a spirit to stir up hostility between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem. He made the leaders of Shechem disloyal to Abimelech.
24. He did this so the violent deaths of Jerub-Baal’s seventy sons might be avenged and Abimelech, their half-brother who murdered them, might have to pay for their spilled blood, along with the leaders of Shechem who helped him murder them.
25. The leaders of Shechem rebelled against Abimelech by putting bandits in the hills, who robbed everyone who traveled by on the road. But Abimelech found out about it.
26. Gaal son of Ebed came through Shechem with his brothers. The leaders of Shechem transferred their loyalty to him.
27. They went out to the field, harvested their grapes, squeezed out the juice, and celebrated. They came to the temple of their god and ate, drank, and cursed Abimelech.
28. Gaal son of Ebed said, “Who is Abimelech and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? Is he not the son of Jerub-Baal, and is not Zebul the deputy he appointed? Serve the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem! But why should we serve Abimelech?
29. If only these men were under my command, I would get rid of Abimelech!” He challenged Abimelech, “Muster your army and come out for battle!”
30. When Zebul, the city commissioner, heard the words of Gaal son of Ebed, he was furious.
31. He sent messengers to Abimelech, who was in Arumah, reporting, “Beware! Gaal son of Ebed and his brothers are coming to Shechem and inciting the city to rebel against you.
32. Now, come up at night with your men and set an ambush in the field outside the city.
33. In the morning at sunrise quickly attack the city. When he and his men come out to fight you, do what you can to him.”
34. So Abimelech and all his men came up at night and set an ambush outside Shechem – they divided into four units.
35. When Gaal son of Ebed came out and stood at the entrance to the city’s gate, Abimelech and his men got up from their hiding places.