Charles Ellicott Commentary Judges 9:29

"And would that this people were under my hand! then would I remove Abimelech. And he said to Abimelech, Increase thine army, and come out." — Judges 9:29 (ASV)

If only these people were under my control! (Compare to 2 Samuel 15:4).

And he said to Abimelech. — The phrase “he said” may be an impersonal idiom (compare to Joshua 7:26 and other similar passages), meaning “it was told” (Vulgate, Dictum est). It is less likely that “he” refers to Zebul, or that it is Gaal’s drunken boast to the absent Abimelech. Another possible reading is, “And I would say to Abimelech,” and so on.