34 So Abimelech and all the people who were with him arose by night and lay in wait against Shechem in four companies . 35 Now Gaal the son of Ebed went out and stood in the entrance of the city gate ; and Abimelech and the people who were with him arose from the ambush . 36 When 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 if they were men ." 37 Gaal spoke again e and said , "Behold , people are coming down from the highest part of the land , and one company comes by the way of the diviners' oak ." 38 Then Zebul said to him, "Where is your boasting now with which you said , 'Who is Abimelech that we should serve him?' Is this not the people whom you despised ? Go out now and fight with them!" 39 So Gaal went out before the leaders of Shechem and fought with Abimelech . 40 Abimelech chased him, and he fled before e him; and many fell wounded up to the entrance of the gate . 41 Then Abimelech remained at Arumah , but Zebul drove out Gaal and his relatives so that they could not remain in Shechem . 42 Now it came about the next day , that the people went out to the field , and it was told to Abimelech . 43 So he took his people and divided them into three companies , and lay in wait in the field ; when he looked and saw the people coming out from the city , he arose against them and slew them. 44 Then Abimelech and the company who was with him dashed forward and stood in the entrance of the city gate ; the other two companies then dashed against all who were in the field and slew them. 45 Abimelech fought against the city all that day , and he captured the city and killed the people who were in it; then he razed the city and sowed it with salt .

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Judges 9:34-45

Commentary on Judges 9:30-49

(Read Judges 9:30-49)

Abimelech intended to punish the Schechemites for slighting him now, but God punished them for their serving him formerly in the murder of Gideon's sons. When God uses men as instruments in his hand to do his work, he means one thing, and they another. That, which they hoped would have been for their welfare, proved a snare and a trap, as those will certainly find, who run to idols for shelter; such will prove a refuge of lies.