But Abraham lodged a complaint against Abimelech concerning a well that Abimelech’s servants had seized.

Abimelech commanded Israel for three years.

God sent a spirit to stir up hostility between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem. He made the leaders of Shechem disloyal to Abimelech.

If only these men were under my command, I would get rid of Abimelech!” He challenged Abimelech, “Muster your army and come out for battle!”

Then Abimelech said, “Look, my land is before you; live wherever you please.”

So Gaal led the leaders of Shechem out and fought Abimelech.

The next day the Shechemites came out to the field. When Abimelech heard about it,

Abimelech heard that all the leaders of the Tower of Shechem were in one place.

Abimelech moved on to Thebez; he besieged and captured it.

Now Abimelech had not gone near her. He said, “Lord, would you really slaughter an innocent nation?

Then Abimelech asked Abraham, “What prompted you to do this thing?”

Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, as well as his wife and female slaves so that they were able to have children.

Abraham took some sheep and cattle and gave them to Abimelech. The two of them made a treaty.

Abimelech asked Abraham, “What is the meaning of these seven ewe lambs that you have set apart?”

So Abimelech commanded all the people, “Whoever touches this man or his wife will surely be put to death.”

Then Abimelech said to Isaac, “Leave us and go elsewhere, for you have become much more powerful than we are.”

Now Abimelech had come to him from Gerar along with Ahuzzah his friend and Phicol the commander of his army.

His concubine, who lived in Shechem, also gave him a son, whom he named Abimelech.

Then Jotham ran away to Beer and lived there to escape from Abimelech his half-brother.

So Abimelech and all his men came up at night and set an ambush outside Shechem – they divided into four units.