Judges 9:22 says. When Abimelech had reigned three years over Israel,  Verse twenty-three adds, Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech:  After Abimelech had ruled for three years, we are told that God sent an evil spirit to come between Abimelech and the men of Shechem.  Again I have to believe that it was more God allowing an evil spirit to come between them than His actually sending one, since I don't believe that God leads people to evil.  Verse twenty-four states, That the cruelty done to the threescore and ten sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood be laid upon Abimelech their brother, which slew them; and upon the men of Shechem, which aided him in the killing of his brethren.  There was now a time for accounting for the cruelty in the killing of Gideon's other sons.  Both Abimelech and the men of Shechem who had backed him were guilty of their deaths.  All who participate in evil actions will be held responsible for their actions by God, even if they never are by the people of the world.  Verse twenty-five says,  And the men of Shechem set liers in wait for him in the top of the mountains, and they robbed all that came along that way by them: and it was told Abimelech.  The men of Shechem had men lie in wait for Abimelech at the top of the mountain and they robbed people who came along.  Verse twenty-six states, And Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brethren, and went over to Shechem: and the men of Shechem put their confidence in him.  Gaal and his brothers came to the men of Shechem, and they put their confidence in him.  When the people of the world have given up on one ruler, they will always be looking for someone else to help them.  Verse twenty-seven adds, And they went out into the fields, and gathered their vineyards, and trode the grapes, and made merry, and went into the house of their god, and did eat and drink, and cursed Abimelech.  Having made Gaal their leader, the men of Shechem partied and cursed Abimelech.  These were the same men who had supported Abimelech when he had seized power.  Their own jealousy and ambition had caused them to now despise Abimelech, just as those traits, those evil spirits, will cause the people who do not follow God today to have disputes, even if they have been allied at times.  Verse twenty-eight declares, And Gaal the son of Ebed said, Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? is not he the son of Jerubbaal? and Zebul his officer? serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem: for why should we serve him?  Gaal questioned why they should serve Abimelech.  He asked who Abimelech was that they should serve him.  He was bold in his defiance of Abimelech.  Verse twenty-nine adds, And would to God this people were under my hand! then would I remove Abimelech. And he said to Abimelech, Increase thine army, and come out.  Gaal challenged Abimelech, but he also attempted to give his challenge God's endorsement.  Gaal told Abimelech to increase his army and come meet him.  People often get caught up in their own sense of power and at times also attempt to give their actions God's endorsement without really seeking God's guidance.  Verse thirty states, And when Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled.  Then verse thirty-one adds, And he sent messengers unto Abimelech privily, saying, Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his brethren be come to Shechem; and, behold, they fortify the city against thee.  Zebul, the ruler of the city heard Gaal's plans and sent word to Abimelech.  Gaal should not have assumed that everyone was going to agree with what he was doing.  Verse thirty-two continues, Now therefore up by night, thou and the people that is with thee, and lie in wait in the field:  Zebul advised Abimelech to come by night and lay in wait in the field near the city.  Verse thirty-three concludes, And it shall be, that in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, thou shalt rise early, and set upon the city: and, behold, when he and the people that is with him come out against thee, then mayest thou do to them as thou shalt find occasion.  Zebul then told Abimelech to come against the city early in the morning and when Gaal and the men of the city came out after him, Abimelech could do to them whatever he chose to do.  Zebul not only sent word to Abimelech, but the told him how to defeat Gaal.  Gaal had put too much faith in his own ability to get everyone to side with him against Abimelech.  Verse thirty-four declares, And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies.  Abimelech carried out the plan.  The people that had been with him might have turned against Abimelech, but he was still the ruler.  Getting rid of those who come to power through evil ways may not be as simple as those who have enabled them to come to power think.