The King James Version Bible

Judges 9:31-42

  1. 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.

  2. Now therefore up by night, thou and the people that is with thee, and lie in wait in the field:

  3. 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.

  4. And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies.

  5. 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.

  6. 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.

  7. 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.

  8. 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.

  9. And Gaal went out before the men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech.

  10. And Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him, and many were overthrown and wounded, even unto the entering of the gate.

  11. And Abimelech dwelt at Arumah: and Zebul thrust out Gaal and his brethren, that they should not dwell in Shechem.

  12. And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people went out into the field; and they told Abimelech.