²² After Abimelek had governed Israel three years, ²³ God stirred up animosity^(A) between Abimelek and the citizens of Shechem so that they acted treacherously against Abimelek. ²⁴ God did this in order that the crime against Jerub-Baal’s seventy sons,^(B) the shedding^(C) of their blood, might be avenged^(D) on their brother Abimelek and on the citizens of Shechem, who had helped him^(E) murder his brothers. ²⁵ In opposition to him these citizens of Shechem set men on the hilltops to ambush and rob everyone who passed by, and this was reported to Abimelek.