Bible Strands
Judges 9:34
So Abimelech and all his troops set out by night and lay in wait against Shechem in four companies.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrative places Abimelech and his troops in position to ambush Shechem during darkness, immediately preceding the dawn assault commanded in the preceding verse.
The words — The verb וַ/יֶּאֶרְב֣וּ (va/i.ye.'er.Vu) means "and they lay in wait," denoting concealed military positioning. The noun לָ֑יְלָה (La.ye.lah) specifies "night," marking the temporal setting for the ambush.
The thread — The text itself links this maneuver to the morning advance in Judges 9:33 and the immediate emergence of Gaal at the gate in Judges 9:35.
Why it lands — The passage records a calculated tactical deployment without commentary, requiring the reader to observe how concealed force sets the stage for the ensuing confrontation.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies.