33. In the morning at sunrise, advance against the city. When Gaal and his men come out against you, seize the opportunity to attack them.”
34. So Abimelek and all his troops set out by night and took up concealed positions near Shechem in four companies.
35. Now Gaal son of Ebed had gone out and was standing at the entrance of the city gate just as Abimelek and his troops came out from their hiding place.
36. When Gaal saw them, he said to Zebul, “Look, people are coming down from the tops of the mountains!” Zebul replied, “You mistake the shadows of the mountains for men.”
37. But Gaal spoke up again: “Look, people are coming down from the central hill, and a company is coming from the direction of the diviners’ tree.”
38. Then Zebul said to him, “Where is your big talk now, you who said, ‘Who is Abimelek that we should be subject to him?’ Aren’t these the men you ridiculed? Go out and fight them!”
39. So Gaal led out the citizens of Shechem and fought Abimelek.
40. Abimelek chased him all the way to the entrance of the gate, and many were killed as they fled.