places about the
city, and caught many of Abimelech's followers, and destroyed them.

4. Now there was one Zebul, a magistrate of the Shechemites, that had
entertained Abimelech. He sent messengers, and informed him how much
Gaal had irritated the people against him, and excited him to lay
ambushes before the city, for that he would persuade Gaal to go out
against him, which would leave it in his power to be revenged on him;
and when that was once done, he would bring him to be reconciled to the
city. So Abimelech laid ambushes, and himself lay with them. Now Gaal
abode in the suburbs, taking little care of himself; and Zebul was with
him. Now as Gaal saw the armed men coming on, he said to Zebul, That
some armed men were coming; but the other replied, They were only
shadows of huge stones: and when they were come nearer, Gaal perceived
what was the reality, and said, They were not shadows, but men lying
in ambush. Then said Zebul, "Didst not thou reproach Abimelech for
cowardice? why dost thou not then show how very courageous thou art
thyself, and go and fight him?" So Gaal, being in disorder, joined
battle with Abimelech, and some of his men fell; whereupon he fled into
the city, and took his men with him. But Zebul managed his matters so in
the city, that he procured them to expel Gaal out of the city, and
this by accusing him of cowardice in this action with the soldiers of
Ahimelech. But Abimelech, when he had learned that the Shechemites were
again coming out to gather their grapes, placed ambushes before the
city, and when they were coming out, the third part of his army took
possession of the gates, to hinder the citizens from returning in again,
while the rest pursued those that were scattered abroad, and so there
was slaughter every where; and when he had overthrown the city to the
very foundations, for it was not able to bear a siege, and had sown its
ruins with salt, he proceeded on with his army till all the Shechemites
were slain. As for those that were scattered about the country, and so
escaped the danger, they were gathered together unto a certain strong
rock, and settled themselves upon it, and prepared to build a wall about
it: and when Abimelech knew their intentions, he prevented them, and
came upon them with his forces, and laid faggots of dry wood round the
place, he himself bringing some of them, and by his example encouraging
the soldiers to do the same. And when the rock was encompassed round