Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 34:29

And all their wealth, and all their little ones, and their wives took they captive, and spoiled even all that [was] in the house.

Either in the princes house, or in their several houses; or within doors, as the word signifies.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

And all their wealth,…. Or “power” o or “strength”; every thing that made them mighty and powerful; their gold and silver, their jewels, and rich furniture of their houses, their arms and weapons of war, their goods and substance, in which they trafficked:

and all their little ones and their wives took they captive: they spared the women and children, as was usual war, and in the plunder of towns and cities:

and spoiled even all that [was] in the house; of Shechem or Hamor, or in any of the houses of the inhabitants; they rifled and plundered everyone, and took away whatsoever they found in them; but as Jacob disapproved of this unjust, cruel, bloody, and perfidious action, so no doubt, as he set the captives at liberty, he restored to them their cattle and substance.

o “siquidem” “proprie potentia, robur”, Drusius; so Ainsworth.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

(29) Their little ones.Heb., their taf. (See Note on Gen. 17:13.) How erroneous is the translation little-ones may be seen from Num. 31:17-18, which in the Heb. is, Now, therefore, kill every male in the taf . . . and all the taf of women that are unmarried. It would be monstrous to suppose that boys were to be put to death, and men escape, nor would little girls be likely to be married. In 2Ch. 31:18 the taf is distinguished both from the sons and daughters; and so also in Gen. 20:13, where we read their tafs and their children. The LXX. have altered the order here, but otherwise translate correctly their persons, that is, their property in men-servants and maid servants, as opposed to their cattle and their wealth in goods. In Gen. 1:8 the LXX. translate clan, and in Gen. 34:21 household. The slaves thus seized would form the most valuable part probably of the spoil.

Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)

Gen 34:29 And all their wealth, and all their little ones, and their wives took they captive, and spoiled even all that [was] in the house.

Ver. 29. And all their wealth, ] Or, Power: for in a man’s wealth is his power; yea, it is his “tower of strength,” Pro 18:11 and so much he is valued at, as he is able to disburse. See Trapp on “ Gen 31:1 “

And spoiled even all that was in the house. ] So dealt Minerius at Merindol; Charles V, at Magdeburg; the bloody Papists, at the Parisian massacre. But when the Lord came to “make inquisition for blood, he remembered them.” Psa 9:12 He drew articles of inquiry against them, as strict, and as critical, as ever the Spanish Inquisition; and dealt with them accordingly. Cambyses lighting off his horse, after he had been showing great cruelty to them of Athens, his sword flew out of the scabbard, and slew him. a If these brethren in iniquity sped better, they may thank a good God, whose terror fell upon the adjacent cities. For they did enough to undo, not themselves only, but their father, and his whole family. It was good counsel to such, that Tertullian gives to bloody Scapula; Si nobis non parcis, tibi parce: si non tibi, Carthagini: See thou undo not thyself and thy city by thy cruelty to Christians.

a Justin.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

wealth. Hebrew strength. Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct). Strength put for the wealth which it acquires.

Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics

Reciprocal: Gen 31:26 – carried

Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Gen 34:29. Their little ones and their wives took they captive No mention is made of these captives afterward: nor is it easy to conjecture what became of them. Perhaps the most probable supposition is, that Jacob restored both them and the property taken by his sons to their surviving relatives and countrymen.