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the Week of Proper 14 / Ordinary 19
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Complete Jewish Bible

Genesis 34:27

Then the sons of Ya‘akov entered over the dead bodies of those who had been slaughtered and plundered the city in reprisal for defiling their sister.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Deception;   Dishonesty;   Homicide;   Vengeance;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Dinah;   Levi;   Shechem;   Simeon;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Perizzites;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Anger;   Jews, Judaism;   Sexuality, Human;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Levi;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Beriah;   Shechem (1);   Holman Bible Dictionary - Genesis;   Levi;   Simeon;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Dinah;   Family;   Hamor;   Israel;   Levi;   Marriage;   Simeon;   Tribes of Israel;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Levi ;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Canaan (2);   Dinah;   Levi;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Jacob (1);   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Dinah;   Levi;   Levi ;   Patriarchs, the;   War;  

Parallel Translations

Hebrew Names Version
Ya`akov's sons came on the dead, and plundered the city, because they had defiled their sister.
King James Version
The sons of Jacob came upon the slain, and spoiled the city, because they had defiled their sister.
Lexham English Bible
The other sons of Jacob came upon the slain and plundered the city, because they had defiled their sister.
New Century Version
Jacob's sons came upon the dead bodies and stole everything that was in the city, to pay them back for what Shechem had done to their sister.
New English Translation
Jacob's sons killed them and looted the city because their sister had been violated.
Amplified Bible
Then Jacob's [other] sons came upon those who were killed and looted the town, because their sister had been defiled and disgraced.
New American Standard Bible
Jacob's sons came upon those killed and looted the city, because they had defiled their sister.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Againe the other sonnes of Iaakob came vpon the dead, and spoyled the citie, because they had defiled their sister.
Legacy Standard Bible
Jacob's sons came upon the slain and plundered the city because they had defiled their sister.
Contemporary English Version
Jacob's other sons came and took everything they wanted. All this was done because of the horrible thing that had happened to their sister.
Darby Translation
The sons of Jacob came upon the slain, and plundered the city, because they had defiled their sister.
Easy-to-Read Version
Jacob's sons went to the city and stole everything that was there because of what Shechem had done to their sister.
English Standard Version
The sons of Jacob came upon the slain and plundered the city, because they had defiled their sister.
George Lamsa Translation
Then the sons of Jacob came back to the slain, and plundered the town, because they had defiled their sister.
Good News Translation
After the slaughter Jacob's other sons looted the town to take revenge for their sister's disgrace.
Christian Standard Bible®
Jacob’s sons came to the slaughter and plundered the city because their sister had been defiled.
Literal Translation
The sons of Jacob came on the slain and plundered the city, because they had defiled their sister.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Then came Iacobs sonnes ouer the slayne, and spoyled the cite (because they had defyled their sister)
American Standard Version
The sons of Jacob came upon the slain, and plundered the city, because they had defiled their sister.
Bible in Basic English
And the sons of Jacob came on them when they were wounded and made waste the town because of what had been done to their sister;
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And the sonnes of Iacob commyng vpon the dead, spoyled the citie, because they had defiled their sister.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
The sons of Jacob came upon the slain, and spoiled the city, because they had defiled their sister.
King James Version (1611)
The sonnes of Iacob came vpon the slaine, and spoiled the citie, because they had defiled their sister.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
But the sons of Jacob came upon the wounded, and ravaged the city wherein they had defiled Dina their sister.
English Revised Version
The sons of Jacob came upon the slain, and spoiled the city, because they had defiled their sister.
Berean Standard Bible
Jacob's other sons came upon the slaughter and looted the city, because their sister had been defiled.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And whanne thei weren goon out, othere sones of Jacob felden in on the slayn men, and rifeliden the citee for the veniaunce of defoulyng of a virgyn.
Young's Literal Translation
Jacob's sons have come in upon the wounded, and they spoil the city, because they had defiled their sister;
Update Bible Version
The sons of Jacob came on the slain, and plundered the city, because they had defiled their sister.
Webster's Bible Translation
The sons of Jacob came upon the slain, and spoiled the city; because they had defiled their sister.
World English Bible
Jacob's sons came on the dead, and plundered the city, because they had defiled their sister.
New King James Version
The sons of Jacob came upon the slain, and plundered the city, because their sister had been defiled.
New Living Translation
Meanwhile, the rest of Jacob's sons arrived. Finding the men slaughtered, they plundered the town because their sister had been defiled there.
New Life Bible
Then Jacob's sons went over the dead men and robbed the city of its riches because its men had put their sister to shame.
New Revised Standard
And the other sons of Jacob came upon the slain, and plundered the city, because their sister had been defiled.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
The sons of Jacob, came in upon the slain and plundered the city, - because they had defiled their sister:
Douay-Rheims Bible
And when they were gone out, the other sons of Jacob came upon the slain; and plundered the city in revenge of the rape.
Revised Standard Version
And the sons of Jacob came upon the slain, and plundered the city, because their sister had been defiled;
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Jacob's sons came upon the slain and looted the city, because they had defiled their sister.

Contextual Overview

25 On the third day after the circumcision, when they were in pain, two of Ya‘akov's sons, Shim‘on and Levi, Dinah's brothers, took their swords, boldly descended on the city and slaughtered all the males. 26 They killed Hamor and Sh'khem his son with their swords, took Dinah out of Sh'khem's house, and left. 27 Then the sons of Ya‘akov entered over the dead bodies of those who had been slaughtered and plundered the city in reprisal for defiling their sister. 28 They took their flocks, cattle and donkeys, and everything else, whether in the city or in the field, 29 everything they owned. Their children and wives they took captive, and they looted whatever was in the houses. 30 But Ya‘akov said to Shim‘on and Levi, "You have caused me trouble by making me stink in the opinion of the local inhabitants, the Kena‘ani and the P'rizi. Since I don't have many people, they'll align themselves together against me and attack me; and I will be destroyed, I and my household." 31 They replied, "Should we let our sister be treated like a whore?"

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Genesis 34:13

spoiled: Esther 9:10, Esther 9:16, 1 Timothy 6:10

they: Genesis 34:2, Genesis 34:31, Exodus 2:14, Joshua 7:1, Joshua 7:21

Cross-References

Genesis 34:2
and Sh'khem the son of Hamor the Hivi, the local ruler, saw her, grabbed her, raped her and humiliated her.
Genesis 34:31
They replied, "Should we let our sister be treated like a whore?"
Exodus 2:14
He retorted, "Who appointed you ruler and judge over us? Do you intend to kill me the way you killed the Egyptian?" Moshe became frightened. "Clearly," he thought, "the matter has become known."
Joshua 7:1
But the people of Isra'el misappropriated some of the goods set aside to be destroyed; for ‘Akhan, the son of Karmi, the son of Zavdi, the son of Zerach, of the tribe of Y'hudah, took some of the things reserved for destruction. In consequence, the anger of Adonai blazed up against the people of Isra'el.
Joshua 7:13
So get up, consecrate the people, and say, ‘Consecrate yourselves in preparation for tomorrow; for here is what Adonai the God of Isra'el says: "Isra'el, you have things under the curse of destruction among you; and you will not be able to stand before your enemies until you remove the things that were to have been destroyed from among you."
Joshua 7:21
when I saw there with the spoil a beautiful robe from Shin‘ar, five pounds of silver shekels and a one-and-a-quarter-pound wedge of gold, I really wanted them. So I took them. You will find them hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath."
Esther 9:16
The other Jews, those in the royal provinces, had assembled, defended their lives and won rest from their enemies, killing 75,000 of those who hated them, but without touching the spoil,
1 Timothy 6:10
For the love of money is a root of all the evils; because of this craving, some people have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves to the heart with many pains.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

The sons of Jacob came upon the slain,.... That is, the rest of them, as the Targum of Jonathan paraphrases it; understanding what their two brothers had done, they came and joined them, and partook of stripping the slain of their clothes, or from them what they found of any worth about them:

and spoiled the city; plundered it of all its goods and substance, spoiled all the inhabitants of it of their wealth:

because they had defiled their sister; one of them had done it, which is imputed to them all, they not restraining him from it, when it was in their power; and perhaps approving of it, and made a laugh of and jest at it; or however did not punish him for it.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

- Dinah’s Dishonor

This chapter records the rape of Dinah and the revenge of her brothers.

Genesis 34:1-5

Dinah went out to see the daughters of the land. The Jewish doctors of a later period fix the marriageable age of a female at twelve years and a day. It is probable that Dinah was in her thirteenth year when she went out to visit the daughters of the land. Six or seven years, therefore, must have been spent by Jacob between Sukkoth, where he abode some time, and the neighborhood of Shekerm, where he had purchased a piece of ground. If we suppose Dinah to have been born in the same year with Joseph, who was in his seventeenth year at the time of his being sold as a bondslave Genesis 37:2, the events of this chapter must have occurred in the interval between the completion of her twelfth and that of her sixteenth year. “Shekem.” This name is hereditary in the family, and had taken hold in the locality before the time of Abraham. The Hivite was a descendant of Kenaan. We find this tribe now occupying the district where the Kenaanite was in possession at a former period Genesis 12:6. “Spake to the heart of the damsel.” After having robbed her of her honor, he promises to recognize her as his wife, provided he can gain the consent of her relatives. “Shekem spake unto his father Hamor.” He is in earnest about this matter. “Jacob held his peace.” He was a stranger in the land, and surrounded by a flourishing tribe, who were evidently unscrupulous in their conduct.

Genesis 34:6-17

A conference takes place between the parties. Hamer and Jacob, the parents on both sides, are the principals in the negotiation. The sons of Jacob, being brothers of the injured damsel, are present, according to custom. “Wrought fully in Israel;” a standing phrase from this time forward for any deed that was contrary to the sanctity which ought to characterize God’s holy people. Israel is used here to designate the descendants of Israel, the special people. Hamer makes his proposal. “Shekem, my son.” These words are a nominative pendent, for which “his soul” is substituted. He proposes a political alliance or amalgamation of the two tribes, to be sealed and actually effected by intermarriage. He offers to make them joint-possessors of the soil, and of the rights of dwelling, trading, and acquiring property. Shekem now speaks with becoming deference and earnestness.

He offers any amount of dowry, or bridal presents, and of gift to the mother and brothers of the bride. It must be acknowledged that the father and the son were disposed to make whatever amends they could for the grievous offence that had been committed. The sons of Jacob answer with deceit. They are burning with resentment of the wrong that “ought not to have been done,” and that cannot now be fully repaired. Yet they are in presence of a superior force, and therefore, resort to deceit. “And spake.” This goes along with the previous verb “answered,” and is meant to have the same qualification “with deceit.” The last clause of the verse then assigns the cause of this deceitful dealing. Their speech, for the matter of it, is reasonable. They cannot intermarry with the uncircumcised. Only on condition that every male be circumcised will they consent. On these terms they promise to “become one people” with them. Otherwise they take their daughter, and depart. Our daughter. They here speak as a family or race, and therefore, call Dinah their daughter, though her brothers are the speakers.

Genesis 34:18-24

Hamor and Shekem accept the terms, and immediately proceed to carry them into effect. It is testified of Shekem, that he delayed not to do the thing, and that he was more honorable than all his house. They bring the matter before their fellow-citizens, and urge them to adopt the rite of circumcision, on the ground that the men are peaceable, well-conducted, and they and their cattle and goods would be a valuable addition to the common wealth of their tribe. Hence, it appears that the population was still thin, that the neighboring territory was sufficient for a much larger number than its present occupants, and that a tribe found a real benefit in an accession to his numbers. The people were persuaded to comply with the terms proposed. There is nothing said here of the religious import of the rite, or of any diversity of worship that may have existed between the two parties. But it is not improbable that the Shekemites were prepared for mutual toleration, or even for the adoption of the religion of Israel in its external forms, though not perhaps to the exclusion of their own hereditary customs. It is also possible that the formal acknowledgment of the one true God was not yet extinct. Circumcision has been in use among the Egyptians, Colchians (Herodotus ii. 104), and other eastern nations; but when and how introduced we are not informed. The present narrative points out one way in which it may have spread from nation to nation.

Genesis 34:25-31

Simon and Levi, at the head no doubt of all their father’s men, now fall upon the Shekemites, when feverish with the circumcision, and put them to the sword. Simon and Levi were the sons of Leah, and therefore, full brothers of Dinah. If Dinah was of the same year as Joseph, they would be respectively seven and six years older than she was. If she was in her thirteenth year, they would therefore, be respectively in their twentieth and nineteenth years, and therefore, suited by age and passion for such an enterprise. All the sons of Jacob joined in the sacking of the city. They seized all their cattle and goods, and made captives of their wives and little ones. Jacob is greatly distressed by this outrage, which is equally contrary to his policy and his humanity. He sets before his sons, in this expostulation, the danger attendant upon such a proceeding. The “Kenaanite and the Perizzite,” whom Abraham found in the land on his return from Egypt Genesis 13:7. “I am a few men” - men of number that might easily be counted. I here denotes the family or tribe with all its dependents. When expanded, therefore, it is, “I and my house.” Simon and Levi have their reply. It justifies the retribution which has fallen on the Shekemites for this and all their other crimes. But it does not justify the executioners for taking the law into their own hands, or proceeding by fraud and indiscriminate slaughter. The employment of circumcision, too, which was the sign of the covenant of grace, as a means of deception, was a heinous aggravation of their offence.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Genesis 34:27. The sons of Jacob — The rest of Jacob's sons, the remaining brothers of Simeon and Levi, spoiled the city. Though the others could slay the defenceless males, it was not likely that they could have carried away all the booty, with the women, children, and cattle; it is therefore most natural to suppose that the rest of the sons of Jacob assisted at last in the business.


 
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