Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 34:26
And they slew Hamor and Shechem his son with the edge of the sword, and took Dinah out of Shechem’s house, and went out.
26. slew Hamor and Shechem took Dinah went forth ] In this verse we have the narrative in which Simeon and Levi (cf. Gen 34:25 ; Gen 34:30) alone entered the city, slew Hamor and Shechem, took Dinah from Shechem’s house, and made off with her. Their act is one of family vengeance for the honour of their sister.
with the edge of the sword ] Lit. “according to the mouth of the sword,” i.e. according to the sword’s power to devour, unmercifully. Cf. 2Sa 2:26; 2Sa 11:25.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
And they slew Hamor and Shechem his son with the edge of the sword,…. Whom they had been just treating with in a seeming friendly manner: Shechem was the chief aggressor, and his crime was very heinous; but considering that he did all he could, after the fact was committed, to make recompence for the injury done, he deserved other treatment, at least mercy should have been shown him. Hamor, perhaps, was too indulgent to his son, connived at his sin, and did not punish him for it; and, it may be, approved of it, and now dies for it:
and took Dinah out of Shechem’s house, and went out; where she was kept from the time of her being ravished by Shechem, with an intention to marry her, could the consent of her parents and relations be obtained; for it does not appear that he kept her to carry on a criminal conversation with her, but a courtship in order to marriage.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Gen 34:26 And they slew Hamor and Shechem his son with the edge of the sword, and took Dinah out of Shechem’s house, and went out.
Ver. 26. And they slew Hamor and Shechem. ] This is commended in apocryphal Judith Jdt 9:2 for zeal; which the canonical Scripture condemneth for self-will; and Jacob, on his death bed, cursed it for cruelty, and blessed himself from their assembly. Gen 49:6-7 Quest. But why doth he not more sharply reprove it here? Ans. First, he considered God’s just judgment on the Shechemites; who, without the knowledge and faith of God, had profaned the sacrament of circumcision. A sin that God suffers not to pass without a sensible check, 1Co 11:29-30 in his dearest children; how much less in strangers and enemies? The Donatists, that cast the holy elements of the Lord’s Supper to dogs, were devoured of dogs. He that came without his wedding garment, was taken from the table to the tormerntor. Secondly, Jacob gave place, for present, to his sons’ rage and fury. Discretion in the choice of seasons for reproving, is no less necessary than zeal and faithfulness in reproving. Good physicians use not to evacuate the body, in the extremities of heat and cold. Good mariners do not hoise up sail in every wind.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
edge. Hebrew mouth. Figure of speech Pleonasm. The acts of Jacob and his sons at Shechem may be contrasted with those of Abraham (Gen 12:6), and of Joshua (Jos 24:1-27), and of Christ (Joh 4:5).
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
edge: Heb. mouth, Deu 32:42, 2Sa 2:26, Isa 31:8
Reciprocal: Gen 30:21 – and called Gen 49:6 – a man Psa 5:6 – the bloody Pro 27:3 – but Ecc 7:9 – anger