30. Jacob said . . . Ye have troubled me--This atrocious outrage perpetrated on the defenseless citizens and their families made the cup of Jacob's affliction overflow. We may wonder that, in speaking of it to his sons, he did not represent it as a heinous sin, an atrocious violation of the laws of God and man, but dwelt solely on the present consequences. It was probably because that was the only view likely to rouse the cold-blooded apathy, the hardened consciences of those ruffian sons. Nothing but the restraining power of God saved him and his family from the united vengeance of the people (compare Ge 35:5). All his sons had not been engaged in the massacre. Joseph was a boy, Benjamin not yet born, and the other eight not concerned in it. Simeon and Levi alone, with their retainers, had been the guilty actors in the bloody tragedy. But the Canaanites would not be discriminating in their vengeance; and if all the Shechemites were put to death for the offense of their chief's son, what wonder if the natives should extend their hatred to all the family of Jacob; and who probably equalled, in number, the inhabitants of that village.
JFB.
Outline
1 Dinah is defiled by Shechem
4 Shechem entreats to marry Dinah
13 The sons of Jacob offer the condition of circumcision to the
Shechemites
20 Hamor and Shechem persuade them to accept it
23 The sons of Jacob slay them while they are weak
27 The sons of Jacob spoil their city.
Ancient Customs
Prince of the country
Defiled
Marriage
Circumcision
Dowry
Gift
the gate of his city
the edge of the sword
spoiled the city
harlot
Quick Reference Map
Map of the City of Shechem
(Click to Enlarge)
Ancient People
Dinah, Jacob, Hamor, sons of Jacob, Simeon, Levi
Hivites
Canaanites
Perizzites
Geography
Shechem
the land of Canaan
The Old Testament
Genesis Resources
Creation
Adam and Eve
The
Flood
The Tower of Babel
Abraham the First Hebrew
Isaac, Son of Promise
Jacob
and the 12 Tribes
Joseph
and Egypt