Genesis 34:28 - Printer Friendly

ESV: They took their flocks and their herds, their donkeys, and whatever was in the city and in the field.

NIV: They seized their flocks and herds and donkeys and everything else of theirs in the city and out in the fields.

NASB: They took their flocks, their herds, and their donkeys, and that which was in the city and that which was in the field;

CSB: They took their flocks, herds, donkeys, and whatever was in the city and in the field.

NLT: They seized all the flocks and herds and donkeys — everything they could lay their hands on, both inside the town and outside in the fields.

KJV: They took their sheep, and their oxen, and their asses, and that which was in the city, and that which was in the field,

NKJV: They took their sheep, their oxen, and their donkeys, what was in the city and what was in the field,

Verses 28 and 29 describe the plunder Jacob's sons collected after slaughtering all the men of Shechem. This bloodshed was the result of local royalty, a man also named Shechem, the son of Hamor, raping one of Jacob's children (Genesis 34:1–8). Dinah's brothers tricked the men of the city into being circumcised, by promising opportunity for trade and intermarriage (Genesis 34:13–16). When the fighting men of the town were disabled, Simeon and Levi sprung a surprise attack that wiped out all resistance (Genesis 34:25).

On his deathbed, Jacob will pronounce prophetic blessings on his sons (Genesis 49:1). Among those predictions is a reference to Simeon and Levi's act of violence (Genesis 49:5–6). That comment also includes a statement that they "hamstrung oxen." This might mean, as part of their revenge, that the brothers crippled whatever livestock they could not take away with them. Or, it might be a play on the name "Hamor," which literally means "donkey." Either way, the brutality shown in this event will resonate in history.

The reversal for the Shechemites is astounding. The men had agreed to be circumcised for the opportunity to intermarry with Jacob's people. By becoming one with them, they hoped to eventually possess all of Jacob's great wealth (Genesis 30:43). Instead, Jacob's sons now obtain the entire wealth of the people of Shechem in a single day.

Genesis 34:13–31 describes the response of Jacob's sons to the rape of his daughter, Dinah. The rapist, Shechem, has asked for her hand in marriage. Dinah's brothers suggest that if the men of the town will be circumcised, they will agree to marriages between the two groups. Shechem and his father, Hamor, gladly agree to these terms. But this is a trap. While the men are still sore from circumcision, Simeon and Levi spring an attack, killing all the men and looting the town. Jacob is afraid this will bring retaliation from the Canaanite and Perizzite people. His sons, however, are adamant that their actions were justified.

Jacob's family has settled within sight of the city of Shechem. Dinah, Jacob's daughter by Leah, is raped by the son of the city's ruler Hamor, also named Shechem. Shechem decides he loves Dinah and wants to marry her. Dinah's brothers are outraged. Hamor and Shechem, however, ask for Dinah to be given to Shechem as a wife and for their people to intermarry. Jacob's sons pretend to agree, provided the men of the city are circumcised. Instead, while the town's men are recuperating, Dinah's brothers by Leah, Levi and Simeon, lead a slaughter of all the men of the city.

With the blessing of the Lord, Jacob has survived his reunion with his brother Esau and settled his family in the land of Canaan, in a city called Shechem. Some time passes and then Jacob's daughter Dinah is raped by the son of the ruler of the city. To exact revenge and defend their sister's honor, Jacob's sons trick the men of the city into being circumcised and then slaughter all of them when they are recovering, plundering all the wealth of the people. This creates fear in the local Canaanite communities, who avoid future confrontation with Jacob's family.

The book of Genesis establishes fundamental truths about God. Among these are His role as the Creator, His holiness, His hatred of sin, His love for mankind, and His willingness to provide for our redemption. We learn not only where mankind has come from, but why the world is in its present form. The book also presents the establishment of Israel, God's chosen people. Many of the principles given in other parts of Scripture depend on the basic ideas presented here in the book of Genesis. Within the framework of the Bible, Genesis explains the bare-bones history of the universe leading up to the captivity of Israel in Egypt, setting the stage for the book of Exodus.