In typical Hebrew fashion many of the words Zebul used to help Abimelech plan his attack (verse 9.32) are repeated here to show that Abimelech acted according to this plan.

And Abimelech and all the men that were with him rose up by night: Abimelech and his men set off under cover of darkness. The Hebrew waw conjunction rendered And introduces a consequence of Zebul’s instructions and thus may be translated “So” (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version). All the men that were with him is literally “all the people who [were] with him” (see verse 9.32). The key Hebrew verb qum rendered rose up reappears here (see verse 9.32). As directed, Abimelech and his men came by night.

And laid wait against Shechem in four companies describes the ambush set against the city. For laid wait, see verse 9.32. Abimelech’s father, Gideon, divided his small number of troops into three groups, while Abimelech divides his men into four companies. The Hebrew word for companies is literally “heads,” which sometimes designates groups of soldiers (verse 1 Sam 11.11).

Quoted with permission from Zogbo, Lynell and Ogden, Graham S. A Handbook on Judges. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2019. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .