And by and by the fire came. For after three years there was a quarrel between Abimelech and the men of Shechem. The men of Shechem began to rob the caravans as they went to and fro over the great roads through Abimelech’s land. And in the autumn, when the grapes were ripe, and the men of Shechem were all in the vineyards making wine and drinking it, they defied Abimelech. They said that they were not afraid of him. And they had for leader a man named Gaal, who wished to be king in Abimelech’s place. “Who is Abimelech?” he said; “why should we serve him? Make me your captain, and I will look after Abimelech.” And this they agreed to do. But Zebul, the mayor of the city, sent word and told Abimelech. And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him, by night, and marched toward Shechem. Now early in the morning Gaal the rebel and Zebul the mayor stood together in the gate of the city and looked out. And Gaal said, “See, there are people coming down from the top of the mountains.” But Zebul laughed and said, “Oh, you see the shadows of the passing clouds.” And Gaal spoke again and said, “See! see! there are people coming over Midland Hill, and there are others gathering under the Magician’s Tree.” And Zebul said, “Where is your mouth with which you said, ‘Who is Abimelech?’ These are the people whom you have despised. Go out now and fight.” So Gaal went out and fought, and Abimelech beat him and chased him and all his followers into the town. And the men of Shechem fled into their strong tower. And Abimelech and his men took axes in their hands and went off into the woods; and Abimelech said, “Watch me, and do as you see me do, quickly.” And he cut off a big branch of a tree and put it over his shoulder, and all the soldiers did the same. And down they came against the tower of Shechem, like a marching forest, like Birnam Wood on its famous march to Dunsinane. The boughs they piled about the tower and set them on fire, and burned the tower and the men of Shechem with it. But the next day, when Abimelech tried in the same way to burn the tower of Thebez, suddenly the end came. For a woman on the top of the tower had a piece of a millstone in her hand, and as Abimelech came near she threw the stone with all her might, and it hit him in the head. And that he might die a soldier’s death, he called his armor-bearer to come and kill him with his sword. Thus he died. And thus the evil both of the men of Shechem and of Abimelech was punished. XXIV JEPHTHAH’S DAUGHTER