Companies emerge at dawn

34So Abimelech and all the people who were with him got up by night, and they lay in ambush against Shechem in four companies.

35Then Gaal son of Ebed went out and stood at the entrance of the city gate, and Abimelech and the people who were with him rose from the ambush.

36When Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, “Look, people are coming down from the tops of the mountains.” But Zebul said to him, “You are seeing the shadow of the mountains as men.”

37Gaal spoke again and said, “Look, people are coming down from the center of the land, and one company is coming by the way of the Oak of the Soothsayers.”

38Then Zebul said to him, “Where is your mouth now, you who said, ‘Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him?’ Is this not the people whom you despised? Go out now and fight against them.”

39So Gaal went out before the leaders of Shechem and fought against Abimelech.

40Abimelech pursued him, and he fled before him; and many slain fell as far as the entrance of the gate.

41And Abimelech stayed in Arumah, and Zebul drove Gaal and his brothers out from dwelling in Shechem.