The sons of Jacob came upon the slain, and spoiled the city, because they had defiled their sister.
27. The sons of Jacob ] This verse and Gen 34:28-29 record the version in which all the sons of Jacob united to massacre the males of Shechem, carried away captive the wives and children, and took possession of the wealth and property of the inhabitants: cf. Num 31:9; Num 31:11.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 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.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
They, i.e. one of them, as ofttimes that which is done by one man is imputed to the whole body. See Jos 7:1,11,12; 22:20; Mat 2:20. Or they impute Shechems fact to all, either invidiously and cunningly to take off from themselves the reproach of this cruel action; or because they made themselves guilty of it, either by not discouraging and hindering that filthiness as far as they might, or by their being instrumental in it, or by their approbation of it and complacency in it.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
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.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
27. The sons of Jacob came. Moses shows that, not content with simple revenge, they fly together to the spoil. As it respects the words, they are said to have come upon the slain, either because they made themselves a way over the slaughtered bodies; or because, in addition to the slaughter, they rushed to the plunder. In whichever way it is taken, Moses teaches that, not satisfied with their former wickedness, they made this addition to it. Be it, that they were blinded with anger in shedding blood; yet by what right do they sack the city? This certainly cannot be ascribed to anger. But these are the ordinary fruits of human intemperance, that he who gives himself the rein in perpetrating one wickedness, soon breaks out into another. Thus the sons of Jacob, from being murderers, become also robbers, and the guilt of avarice is added to that of cruelty. The more anxious then should be our endeavors to bridle our desires; lest they should mutually fan each other, so that at length, by their combined action, a dreadful conflagration should arise; but especially, we must beware of using force of arms, which brings with it many perverse and brutal assaults. Moses says that the sons of Jacob did this, because the Shechemites had defiled their sister; but the whole city was not guilty. Moses, however, only states in what way the authors of the slaughter are affected: for although they wish to appear just avengers of the injury, yet they pay no respect to what it was lawful for them to do, and make no attempt to control their depraved affections, and consequently set no bounds to their wickedness. Should any one prefer taking the expression in a higher sense, it may be referred to the judgment of God, by which the whole city was involved in guilt, because no one had opposed the lust of the prince: perhaps many had consented to it, as not being very much concerned about the unjust dishonor done to their guests; but the former sense is what I most approve.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(27) The sons of Jacob.After slaying Hamor and Shechem, the two brothers took Dinah and went out. It was after this that Jacobs sons generallythough not without exceptions, for several of them were still very youngjoined in seizing the spoil.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
‘The sons of Jacob came on the slain and spoiled the city because they had defiled their sister. They took their flocks and their herds and their asses, and whatever was in the city and whatever was in the surrounding country. And all their wealth and all their little ones, and their wives, they took captive, and spoiled even all that was in the house.’
Once the expiation had been carried out the remainder of Jacob’s sons moved in to plunder the city. They despoiled the city and took possession of all the belongings of the inhabitants, including their wives and children. And the reason is again made clear. It was due to their sacrilege.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Gen 34:27 The sons of Jacob came upon the slain, and spoiled the city, because they had defiled their sister.
Ver. 27. Because they had defiled their sister. ] So it was just in God, though unjust in the instruments; who were therefore cursed by Jacob; Gen 49:7 but yet not rejected by God. His election is of free grace, and not of foreseen faith or works.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
The sons. Some MSS. read “And the sons”.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Gen 34:13
spoiled: Est 9:10, Est 9:16, 1Ti 6:10
they: Gen 34:2, Gen 34:31, Exo 2:14, Jos 7:1, Jos 7:21