²⁸ Gaal, Ebed’s son, said, “Who is Abimelech, and who are we of Shechem that we ought to serve him? Didn’t this son of Jerubbaal and his deputy Zebul once serve the men of Hamor, Shechem’s father? Why should we of all people serve him? ²⁹ If only this people were under my command! I would push Abimelech aside! I^[a] would tell Abimelech, ‘Build up your army and march out for battle.’”

³⁰ When Zebul the city’s ruler heard the words of Gaal, Ebed’s son, he became angry.