Retaliation
In the heart of Shechem, as the city’s daughters dance in celebration, Dinah, the young daughter of Jacob, catches the eye of Shechem, son of Hamor, the prince of the land. Overcome by desire, Shechem seizes Dinah, igniting a chain of events that shatters the fragile peace between Jacob’s family and the city. As Shechem pleads for Dinah’s hand in marriage, the sons of Jacob plot a bloody revenge, cloaking their fury behind deceitful words. What unfolds next is a tragic clash of cultures and bloodlines, where the price of justice is steep, and no one will be left untouched.
Major Characters
Minor Characters
Insignificant Characters
Watch an explainer video for the Retaliation chapter:
Genesis
22%
Jasher
61%
Jubilees
17%
Exposition
Jubilee: 46
Year: 2214
Women go to Shechem to dance and rejoice
Genesis 34:1
Jasher 33:5-6
Rising Action
Shechem notices Dinah
Jasher 33:7-10
Shechem defiles Dinah and wants to marry her
Genesis 34:2-4
Jasher 33:11
Jubilees 30:2
Jacob learns about what happened and tries to retrieve her
Genesis 34:5
Jasher 33:12-15
Jacob sends maidens to tend to Dinah
Jasher 33:16a
Shechem and his father discuss Dinah becoming his wife
Jasher 33:16b-18
Jacob’s sons learn what happened and Hamor visits Jacob
Genesis 34:6-7
Jasher 33:19-23
Jubilees 30:3
Hamor tries to reason with Jacob
Genesis 34:8-10
Jasher 33:24-25
Shechem joins his father and speaks with Jacob
Genesis 34:11-12
Jasher 33:26-28
Simeon and Levi respond to Hamor and Shechem
Jasher 33:29-32
Hamor and Shechem leave and the sons of Jacob scheme on what to do
Jasher 33:33-40
Hamor and Shechem return the next day and the sons of Jacob request that they be circumcised
Genesis 34:13-17
Jasher 33:41-45
Hamor and Shechem agree that all the males will be circumcised
Genesis 34:18-19
Jasher 33:46
Hamor and Shechem tell the men of the city about their agreement
Genesis 34:20-24
Jasher 33:47-51
The men of Shechem are circumcised
Jasher 33:52, 34:1
Climax
Chiddekem and his brothers refuse to be circumcised and confront Hamor and Shechem
Jasher 34:2-13
Hamor and Shechem agree with Chiddekem to fight against the Hebrews
Jasher 34:14-18
Dinah sends a maiden to inform Jacob about the conversation
Jasher 34:19-21
Jacob, Simeon, and Levi respond with the news
Jasher 34:22-23
Simeon and Levi fight young men who were spying on the conversation but two escaped
Jasher 34:24
Simeon and Levi attack the city of Shechem and killed all the males
Genesis 34:25
Jasher 34:25
Jubilees 30:4
Falling Action
Judgment concerning the defilement of Hebrew virgins is established
Jubilees 30:5-23
The women and children of Shechem cry aloud
Jasher 34:26-27
Dinah is brought back
Genesis 34:26
Jasher 34:28
Jubilees 30:24a
Resolution
The sons of Jacob spoil the city
Genesis 34:27
Jasher 34:29
Simeon kills 300 more men who throw dust and stones at him
Jasher 34:30
The spoils are taken back to Jacob
Genesis 34:28-29
Jasher 34:31
Jubilees 30:24b
Jacob is angry with his sons
Genesis 34:30-31
Jasher 34:32-34
Jubilees 30:25
Simeon marries Bunah
Jasher 34:35-36
The people of Shechem became servants to the sons of Jacob
Jasher 34:37
Jubilee: 46
Year: 2214
Women go to Shechem to dance and rejoice
Jasher 33:5
5 At that time some of the women of the inhabitants of the land went to the city of Shechem to dance and rejoice with the daughters of the people of the city, and when they went forth then Rachel and Leah the wives of Jacob with their families also went to behold the rejoicing of the daughters of the city.
Genesis 34:1
1 And Dinah the daughter of Leah, which she bare unto Jacob, went out to see the daughters of the land.
Jasher 33:6
6 And Dinah the daughter of Jacob also went along with them and saw the daughters of the city, and they remained there before these daughters whilst all the people of the city were standing by them to behold their rejoicings, and all the great people of the city were there.
Shechem notices Dinah
Jasher 33:7-10
7 And Shechem the son of Hamor, the prince of the land was also standing there to see them.
8 And Shechem beheld Dinah the daughter of Jacob sitting with her mother before the daughters of the city, and the damsel pleased him greatly, and he there asked his friends and his people, saying, Whose daughter is that sitting amongst the women, whom I do not know in this city?
9 And they said unto him, Surely this is the daughter of Jacob the son of Isaac the Hebrew, who has dwelt in this city for some time, and when it was reported that the daughters of the land were going forth to rejoice she went with her mother and maid servants to sit amongst them as thou seest.
10 And Shechem beheld Dinah the daughter of Jacob, and when he looked at her his soul became fixed upon Dinah.
Shechem defiles Dinah and wants to marry her i
Genesis 34:2
2 And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he took her, and lay with her, and defiled her.
Jasher 33:11
11 And he sent and had her taken by force, and Dinah came to the house of Shechem and he seized her forcibly and lay with her and humbled her, and he loved her exceedingly and placed her in his house.
Jubilees 30:2
2 And there they carried off Dinah, the daughter of Jacob, into the house of Shechem, the son of Hamor, the Hivite, the prince of the land, and he lay with her and defiled her, and she was a little girl, a child of twelve years.
Genesis 34:3-4
3 And his soul clave unto Dinah the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the damsel, and spake kindly unto the damsel.
4 And Shechem spake unto his father Hamor, saying, Get me this damsel to wife.
Jacob learns about what happened and tries to retrieve her
Jasher 33:12-14
12 And they came and told the thing unto Jacob, and when Jacob heard that Shechem had defiled his daughter Dinah, Jacob sent twelve of his servants to fetch Dinah from the house of Shechem, and they went and came to the house of Shechem to take away Dinah from there.
13 And when they came Shechem went out to them with his men and drove them from his house, and he would not suffer them to come before Dinah, but Shechem was sitting with Dinah kissing and embracing her before their eyes.
14 And the servants of Jacob came back and told him, saying, When we came, he and his men drove us away, and thus did Shechem do unto Dinah before our eyes.
Genesis 34:5
5 And Jacob heard that he had defiled Dinah his daughter: now his sons were with his cattle in the field: and Jacob held his peace until they were come.
Jasher 33:15
15 And Jacob knew moreover that Shechem had defiled his daughter, but he said nothing, and his sons were feeding his cattle in the field, and Jacob remained silent till their return.
Jacob sends maidens to tend to Dinah
Jasher 33:16a
16a And before his sons came home Jacob sent two maidens from his servants’ daughters to take care of Dinah in the house of Shechem, and to remain with her,
Shechem and his father discuss Dinah becoming his wife
Jasher 33:16b-18
16b and Shechem sent three of his friends to his father Hamor the son of Chiddekem, the son of Pered, saying, Get me this damsel for a wife.
17 And Hamor the son of Chiddekem the Hivite came to the house of Shechem his son, and he sat before him, and Hamor said unto his son, Shechem, Is there then no woman amongst the daughters of thy people that thou wilt take an Hebrew woman who is not of thy people?
18 And Shechem said to him, Her only must thou get for me, for she is delightful in my sight; and Hamor did according to the word of his son, for he was greatly beloved by him.
Jacob’s sons learn what happened and Hamor visits Jacob
Genesis 34:6-7
6 And Hamor the father of Shechem went out unto Jacob to commune with him.
7 And the sons of Jacob came out of the field when they heard it: and the men were grieved, and they were very wroth, because he had wrought folly in Israel in lying with Jacob’s daughter: which thing ought not to be done.
Jasher 33:19-20
19 And Hamor went forth to Jacob to commune with him concerning this matter, and when he had gone from the house of his son Shechem, before he came to Jacob to speak unto him, behold the sons of Jacob had come from the field, as soon as they heard the thing that Shechem the son of Hamor had done.
20 And the men were very much grieved concerning their sister, and they all came home fired with anger, before the time of gathering in their cattle.
Jubilees 30:3
3 And he besought his father and her brothers that she might be given to him to wife. And Jacob and his sons were wroth because of the men of Shechem; for they had defiled Dinah, their sister, and they spake to them with evil intent and dealt deceitfully with them and beguiled them.
Jasher 33:21-23
21 And they came and sat before their father and they spoke unto him kindled with wrath, saying, Surely death is due to this man and to his household, because the Lord God of the whole earth commanded Noah and his children that man shall never rob, nor commit adultery; now behold Shechem has both ravaged and committed fornication with our sister, and not one of all the people of the city spoke a word to him.
22 Surely thou knowest and understandest that the judgment of death is due to Shechem, and to his father, and to the whole city on account of the thing which he has done.
23 And whilst they were speaking before their father in this matter, behold Hamor the father of Shechem came to speak to Jacob the words of his son concerning Dinah, and he sat before Jacob and before his sons.
Hamor tries to reason with Jacob
Genesis 34:8-10
8 And Hamor communed with them, saying, The soul of my son Shechem longeth for your daughter: I pray you give her him to wife.
9 And make ye marriages with us, and give your daughters unto us, and take our daughters unto you.
10 And ye shall dwell with us: and the land shall be before you; dwell and trade ye therein, and get you possessions therein.
Jasher 33:24-25
24 And Hamor spoke unto them, saying, The soul of my son Shechem longeth for your daughter; I pray you give her unto him for a wife and intermarry with us; give us your daughters and we will give you our daughters, and you shall dwell with us in our land and we will be as one people in the land.
25 For our land is very extensive, so dwell ye and trade therein and get possessions in it, and do therein as you desire, and no one shall prevent you by saying a word to you.
Shechem joins his father and speaks with Jacob
Jasher 33:26
26 And Hamor ceased speaking unto Jacob and his sons, and behold Shechem his son had come after him, and he sat before them.
Genesis 34:11-12
11 And Shechem said unto her father and unto her brethren, Let me find grace in your eyes, and what ye shall say unto me I will give.
12 Ask me never so much dowry and gift, and I will give according as ye shall say unto me: but give me the damsel to wife.
Jasher 33:27-28
27 And Shechem spoke before Jacob and his sons, saying, May I find favor in your sight that you will give me your daughter, and whatever you say unto me that will I do for her.
28 Ask me for abundance of dowry and gift, and I will give it, and whatever you shall say unto me that will I do, and whoever he be that will rebel against your orders, he shall die; only give me the damsel for a wife.
Simeon and Levi respond to Hamor and Shechem
Jasher 33:29-32
29 And Simeon and Levi answered Hamor and Shechem his son deceitfully, saying, All you have spoken unto us we will do for you.
30 And behold our sister is in your house, but keep away from her until we send to our father Isaac concerning this matter, for we can do nothing without his consent.
31 For he knoweth the ways of our father Abraham, and whatever he sayeth unto us we will tell you, we will conceal nothing from you.
32 And Simeon and Levi spoke this unto Shechem and his father in order to find a pretext, and to seek counsel what was to be done to Shechem and to his city in this matter.
Hamor and Shechem leave and the sons of Jacob scheme on what to do
Jasher 33:33-40
33 And when Shechem and his father heard the words of Simeon and Levi, it seemed good in their sight, and Shechem and his father came forth to go home.
34 And when they had gone, the sons of Jacob said unto their father, saying, Behold, we know that death is due to these wicked ones and to their city, because they transgressed that which God had commanded unto Noah and his children and his seed after them.
35 And also because Shechem did this thing to our sister Dinah in defiling her, for such vileness shall never be done amongst us.
36 Now therefore know and see what you will do, and seek counsel and pretext what is to be done to them, in order to kill all the inhabitants of this city.
37 And Simeon said to them, Here is a proper advice for you: tell them to circumcise every male amongst them as we are circumcised, and if they do not wish to do this, we shall take our daughter from them and go away.
38 And if they consent to do this and will do it, then when they are sunk down with pain, we will attack them with our swords, as upon one who is quiet and peaceable, and we will slay every male person amongst them.
39 And Simeon’s advice pleased them, and Simeon and Levi resolved to do unto them as it was proposed.
40 And on the next morning Shechem and Hamor his father came again unto Jacob and his sons, to speak concerning Dinah, and to hear what answer the sons of Jacob would give to their words.
Hamor and Shechem return the next day and the sons of Jacob request that they be circumcised
Genesis 34:13
13 And the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father deceitfully, and said, because he had defiled Dinah their sister:
Jasher 33:41
41 And the sons of Jacob spoke deceitfully to them, saying, We told our father Isaac all your words, and your words pleased him.
Genesis 34:14
14 And they said unto them, We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one that is uncircumcised; for that were a reproach unto us:
Genesis 34:15
15 But in this will we consent unto you: If ye will be as we be, that every male of you be circumcised;
Jasher 33:42
42 But he spoke unto us, saying, Thus did Abraham his father command him from God the Lord of the whole earth, that any man who is not of his descendants that should wish to take one of his daughters, shall cause every male belonging to him to be circumcised, as we are circumcised, and then we may give him our daughter for a wife.
Genesis 34:16
16 Then will we give our daughters unto you, and we will take your daughters to us, and we will dwell with you, and we will become one people.
Jasher 33:43-44
43 Now we have made known to you all our ways that our father spoke unto us, for we cannot do this of which you spoke unto us, to give our daughter to an uncircumcised man, for it is a disgrace to us.
44 But herein will we consent to you, to give you our daughter, and we will also take unto ourselves your daughters, and will dwell amongst you and be one people as you have spoken, if you will hearken to us, and consent to be like us, to circumcise every male belonging to you, as we are circumcised.
Genesis 34:17
17 But if ye will not hearken unto us, to be circumcised; then will we take our daughter, and we will be gone.
Jasher 33:45
45 And if you will not hearken unto us, to have every male circumcised as we are circumcised, as we have commanded, then we will come to you, and take our daughter from you and go away.
Hamor and Shechem agree that all the males will be circumcised
Genesis 34:18-19
18 And their words pleased Hamor, and Shechem Hamor’s son.
19 And the young man deferred not to do the thing, because he had delight in Jacob’s daughter: and he was more honourable than all the house of his father.
Jasher 33:46
46 And Shechem and his father Hamor heard the words of the sons of Jacob, and the thing pleased them exceedingly, and Shechem and his father Hamor hastened to do the wishes of the sons of Jacob, for Shechem was very fond of Dinah, and his soul was riveted to her.
Hamor and Shechem tell the men of the city about their agreement
Genesis 34:20-24
20 And Hamor and Shechem his son came unto the gate of their city, and communed with the men of their city, saying,
21 These men are peaceable with us; therefore let them dwell in the land, and trade therein; for the land, behold, it is large enough for them; let us take their daughters to us for wives, and let us give them our daughters.
22 Only herein will the men consent unto us for to dwell with us, to be one people, if every male among us be circumcised, as they are circumcised.
23 Shall not their cattle and their substance and every beast of their’s be our’s? only let us consent unto them, and they will dwell with us.
24 And unto Hamor and unto Shechem his son hearkened all that went out of the gate of his city; and every male was circumcised, all that went out of the gate of his city.
Jasher 33:47-51
47 And Shechem and his father Hamor hastened to the gate of the city, and they assembled all the men of their city and spoke unto them the words of the sons of Jacob, saying,
48 We came to these men, the sons of Jacob, and we spoke unto them concerning their daughter, and these men will consent to do according to our wishes, and behold our land is of great extent for them, and they will dwell in it, and trade in it, and we shall be one people; we will take their daughters, and our daughters we will give unto them for wives.
49 But only on this condition will these men consent to do this thing, that every male amongst us be circumcised as they are circumcised, as their God commanded them, and when we shall have done according to their instructions to be circumcised, then will they dwell amongst us, together with their cattle and possessions, and we shall be as one people with them.
50 And when all the men of the city heard the words of Shechem and his father Hamor, then all the men of their city were agreeable to this proposal, and they obeyed to be circumcised, for Shechem and his father Hamor were greatly esteemed by them, being the princes of the land.
51 And on the next day, Shechem and Hamor his father rose up early in the morning, and they assembled all the men of their city into the middle of the city, and they called for the sons of Jacob, who circumcised every male belonging to them on that day and the next.
The men of Shechem are circumcised
Jasher 33:52, 34:1
52 And they circumcised Shechem and Hamor his father, and the five brothers of Shechem, and then every one rose up and went home, for this thing was from the Lord against the city of Shechem, and from the Lord was Simeon’s counsel in this matter, in order that the Lord might deliver the city of Shechem into the hands of Jacob’s two sons.
1 And the number of all the males that were circumcised, were six hundred and forty-five men, and two hundred and forty-six children.
Chiddekem and his brothers refuse to be circumcised and confront Hamor and Shechem
Jasher 34:2-13
2 But Chiddekem, son of Pered, the father of Hamor, and his six brothers, would not listen unto Shechem and his father Hamor, and they would not be circumcised, for the proposal of the sons of Jacob was loathsome in their sight, and their anger was greatly roused at this, that the people of the city had not hearkened to them.
3 And in the evening of the second day, they found eight small children who had not been circumcised, for their mothers had concealed them from Shechem and his father Hamor, and from the men of the city.
4 And Shechem and his father Hamor sent to have them brought before them to be circumcised, when Chiddekem and his six brothers sprang at them with their swords, and sought to slay them.
5 And they sought to slay also Shechem and his father Hamor and they sought to slay Dinah with them on account of this matter.
6 And they said unto them, What is this thing that you have done? are there no women amongst the daughters of your brethren the Canaanites, that you wish to take unto yourselves daughters of the Hebrews, whom ye knew not before, and will do this act which your fathers never commanded you?
7 Do you imagine that you will succeed through this act which you have done? and what will you answer in this affair to your brethren the Canaanites, who will come tomorrow and ask you concerning this thing?
8 And if your act shall not appear just and good in their sight, what will you do for your lives, and me for our lives, in your not having hearkened to our voices?
9 And if the inhabitants of the land and all your brethren the children of Ham, shall hear of your act, saying,
10 On account of a Hebrew woman did Shechem and Hamor his father, and all the inhabitants of their city, do that with which they had been unacquainted and which their ancestors never commanded them, where then will you fly or where conceal your shame, all your days before your brethren, the inhabitants of the land of Canaan?
11 Now therefore we cannot bear up against this thing which you have done, neither can we be burdened with this yoke upon us, which our ancestors did not command us.
12 Behold tomorrow we will go and assemble all our brethren, the Canaanitish brethren who dwell in the land, and we will all come and smite you and all those who trust in you, that there shall not be a remnant left from you or them.
13 And when Hamor and his son Shechem and all the people of the city heard the words of Chiddekem and his brothers, they were terribly afraid of their lives at their words, and they repented of what they had done.
Hamor and Shechem agree with Chiddekem to fight against the Hebrews
Jasher 34:14-18
14 And Shechem and his father Hamor answered their father Chiddekem and his brethren, and they said unto them, All the words which you spoke unto us are true.
15 Now do not say, nor imagine in your hearts that on account of the love of the Hebrews we did this thing that our ancestors did not command us.
16 But because we saw that it was not their intention and desire to accede to our wishes concerning their daughter as to our taking her, except on this condition, so we hearkened to their voices and did this act which you saw, in order to obtain our desire from them.
17 And when we shall have obtained our request from them, we will then return to them and do unto them that which you say unto us.
18 We beseech you then to wait and tarry until our flesh shall be healed and we again become strong, and we will then go together against them, and do unto them that which is in your hearts and in ours.
Dinah sends a maiden to inform Jacob about the conversation
Jasher 34:19-21
19 And Dinah the daughter of Jacob heard all these words which Chiddekem and his brothers had spoken, and what Hamor and his son Shechem and the people of their city had answered them.
20 And she hastened and sent one of her maidens, that her father had sent to take care of her in the house of Shechem, to Jacob her father and to her brethren, saying:
21 Thus did Chiddekem and his brothers advise concerning you, and thus did Hamor and Shechem and the people of the city answer them.
Jacob, Simeon, and Levi respond with the news
Jasher 34:22-23
22 And when Jacob heard these words he was filled with wrath, and he was indignant at them, and his anger was kindled against them.
23 And Simeon and Levi swore and said, As the Lord liveth, the God of the whole earth, by this time tomorrow, there shall not be a remnant left in the whole city.
Simeon and Levi fight young men who were spying on the conversation but two escaped
Jasher 34:24
24 And twenty young men had concealed themselves who were not circumcised, and these young men fought against Simeon and Levi, and Simeon and Levi killed eighteen of them, and two fled from them and escaped to some lime pits that were in the city, and Simeon and Levi sought for them, but could not find them.
Simeon and Levi attack the city of Shechem and killed all the males
Genesis 34:25
25 And it came to pass on the third day, when they were sore, that two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brethren, took each man his sword, and came upon the city boldly, and slew all the males.
Jasher 34:25
25 And Simeon and Levi continued to go about in the city, and they killed all the people of the city at the edge of the sword, and they left none remaining.
Jubilees 30:4
4 And Simeon and Levi came unexpectedly to Shechem and executed judgment on all the men of Shechem, and slew all the men whom they found in it, and left not a single one remaining in it: they slew all in torments because they had dishonoured their sister Dinah.
Judgment concerning the defilement of Hebrew virgins is established
Jubilees 30:5-23
5 And thus let it not again be done from henceforth that a daughter of Israel be defiled; for judgment is ordained in heaven against them that they should destroy with the sword all the men of the Shechemites because they had wrought shame in Israel.
6 And the Lord delivered them into the hands of the sons of Jacob that they might exterminate them with the sword and execute judgment upon them, and that it might not thus again be done in Israel that a virgin of Israel should be defiled.
7 And if there is any man who wishes in Israel to give his daughter or his sister to any man who is of the seed of the Gentiles he shall surely die, and they shall stone him with stones; for he hath wrought shame in Israel; and they shall burn the woman with fire, because she has dishonoured the name of the house of her father, and she shall be rooted out of Israel.
8 And let not an adulteress and no uncleanness be found in Israel throughout all the days of the generations of the earth; for Israel is holy unto the Lord, and every man who has defiled (it) shall surely die: they shall stone him with stones.
9 For thus has it been ordained and written in the heavenly tablets regarding all the seed of Israel: he who defileth (it) shall surely die, and he shall be stoned with stones.
10 And to this law there is no limit of days, and no remission, nor any atonement: but the man who has defiled his daughter shall be rooted out in the midst of all Israel, because he has given of his seed to Moloch, and wrought impiously so as to defile it.
11 And do thou, Moses, command the children of Israel and exhort them not to give their daughters to the Gentiles, and not to take for their sons any of the daughters of the Gentiles, for this is abominable before the Lord.
12 For this reason I have written for thee in the words of the Law all the deeds of the Shechemites, which they wrought against Dinah, and how the sons of Jacob spake, saying: ‘We will not give our daughter to a man who is uncircumcised; for that were a reproach unto us.’
13 And it is a reproach to Israel, to those who live, and to those that take the daughters of the Gentiles; for this is unclean and abominable to Israel.
14 And Israel will not be free from this uncleanness if it has a wife of the daughters of the Gentiles, or has given any of its daughters to a man who is of any of the Gentiles.
15 For there will be plague upon plague, and curse upon curse, and every judgment and plague and curse will come upon him: if he do this thing, or hide his eyes from those who commit uncleanness, or those who defile the sanctuary of the Lord, or those who profane His holy name, (then) will the whole nation together be judged for all the uncleanness and profanation of this man.
16 And there will be no respect of persons [and no consideration of persons] and no receiving at his hands of fruits and offerings and burnt-offerings and fat, nor the fragrance of sweet savour, so as to accept it: and so fare every man or woman in Israel who defiles the sanctuary.
17 For this reason I have commanded thee, saying: ‘Testify this testimony to Israel: see how the Shechemites fared and their sons: how they were delivered into the hands of two sons of Jacob, and they slew them under tortures, and it was (reckoned) unto them for righteousness, and it is written down to them for righteousness.
18 And the seed of Levi was chosen for the priesthood, and to be Levites, that they might minister before the Lord, as we, continually, and that Levi and his sons may be blessed for ever; for he was zealous to execute righteousness and judgment and vengeance on all those who arose against Israel.
19 And so they inscribe as a testimony in his favour on the heavenly tablets blessing and righteousness before the God of all:
20 And we remember the righteousness which the man fulfilled during his life, at all periods of the year; until a thousand generations they will record it, and it will come to him and to his descendants after him, and he has been recorded on the heavenly tablets as a friend and a righteous man.
21 All this account I have written for thee, and have commanded thee to say to the children of Israel, that they should not commit sin nor transgress the ordinances nor break the covenant which has been ordained for them, (but) that they should fulfil it and be recorded as friends.
22 But if they transgress and work uncleanness in every way, they will be recorded on the heavenly tablets as adversaries, and they will be destroyed out of the book of life, and they will be recorded in the book of those who will be destroyed and with those who will be rooted out of the earth.
23 And on the day when the sons of Jacob slew Shechem a writing was recorded in their favour in heaven that they had executed righteousness and uprightness and vengeance on the sinners, and it was written for a blessing.
The women and children of Shechem cry aloud
Jasher 34:26-27
26 And there was a great consternation in the midst of the city, and the cry of the people of the city ascended to heaven, and all the women and children cried aloud.
27 And Simeon and Levi slew all the city; they left not a male remaining in the whole city.
Dinah is brought back
Genesis 34:26
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.
Jasher 34:28
28 And they slew Hamor and Shechem his son at the edge of the sword, and they brought away Dinah from the house of Shechem and they went from there.
Jubilees 30:24a
24a And they brought Dinah, their sister, out of the house of Shechem,
The sons of Jacob spoil the city
Genesis 34:27
27 The sons of Jacob came upon the slain, and spoiled the city, because they had defiled their sister.
Jasher 34:29
29 And the sons of Jacob went and returned, and came upon the slain, and spoiled all their property which was in the city and the field.
Simeon kills 300 more men who throw dust and stones at him
Jasher 34:30
30 And whilst they were taking the spoil, three hundred men stood up and threw dust at them and struck them with stones, when Simeon turned to them and he slew them all with the edge of the sword, and Simeon turned before Levi, and came into the city.
The spoils are taken back to Jacob
Genesis 34:28-29
28 They took their sheep, and their oxen, and their asses, and that which was in the city, and that which was in the field,
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.
Jasher 34:31
31 And they took away their sheep and their oxen and their cattle, and also the remainder of the women and little ones, and they led all these away, and they opened a gate and went out and came unto their father Jacob with vigor.
Jubilees 30:24b
24b and they took captive everything that was in Shechem, their sheep and their oxen and their asses, and all their wealth, and all their flocks, and brought them all to Jacob their father.
Jacob is angry with his sons
Jasher 34:32
32 And when Jacob saw all that they had done to the city, and saw the spoil that they took from them, Jacob was very angry at them, and Jacob said unto them, What is this that you have done to me? behold I obtained rest amongst the Canaanitish inhabitants of the land, and none of them meddled with me.
Genesis 34:30
30 And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, Ye have troubled me to make me to stink among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites: and I being few in number, they shall gather themselves together against me, and slay me; and I shall be destroyed, I and my house.
Jasher 34:33
33 And now you have done to make me obnoxious to the inhabitants of the land, amongst the Canaanites and the Perizzites, and I am but of a small number, and they will all assemble against me and slay me when they hear of your work with their brethren, and I and my household will be destroyed.
Jubilees 30:25
25 And he reproached them because they had put the city to the sword for he feared those who dwelt in the land, the Canaanites and the Perizzites.
Genesis 34:31
31 And they said, Should he deal with our sister as with an harlot?
Jasher 34:34
34 And Simeon and Levi and all their brothers with them answered their father Jacob and said unto him, Behold we live in the land, and shall Shechem do this to our sister? why art thou silent at all that Shechem has done? and shall he deal with our sister as with a harlot in the streets?
Simeon marries Bunah
Jasher 34:35-36
35 And the number of women whom Simeon and Levi took captives from the city of Shechem, whom they did not slay, was eighty-five who had not known man.
36 And amongst them was a young damsel of beautiful appearance and well favored, whose name was Bunah, and Simeon took her for a wife, and the number of the males which they took captives and did not slay, was forty-seven men, and the rest they slew.
The people of Shechem became servants to the sons of Jacob
Jasher 34:37
37 And all the young men and women that Simeon and Levi had taken captives from the city of Shechem, were servants to the sons of Jacob and to their children after them, until the day of the sons of Jacob going forth from the land of Egypt.
Notes
i
According to Jubilees 28:23, Dinah was born in the year 2134 which means that in the year 2143 as stated in Jubilees 30:1 she would be 9, not 12 as Jubilees 30:2 states. Because all of the following events occur after the defilement of Dinah, placing the year 3 years into the future causes chronological problems.
Exposition
Jubilee: 46
Year: 2214
Women go to Shechem to dance and rejoice
Genesis 34:1
Jasher 33:5-6
At that time, some of the women from the surrounding land went to the city of Shechem to dance and celebrate with the daughters of the city. When they went out, Rachel and Leah, the wives of Jacob, also went with their families to watch the celebration of the city’s daughters. Dinah, Jacob’s daughter, went along with them and observed the daughters of the city. They stayed there in front of these young women while all the people of the city stood nearby to watch the celebration, and all the important people of the city were present.
Rising Action
Shechem notices Dinah
Jasher 33:7-10
Shechem, the son of Hamor and prince of the land, was also there watching. He noticed Dinah, the daughter of Jacob, sitting with her mother among the daughters of the city, and he was very pleased by her. He asked his friends and the people around him, “Whose daughter is that sitting among the women? I don’t recognize her from this city.”
They replied, “Surely this is the daughter of Jacob, the son of Isaac the Hebrew, who has lived in this city for a while. When it was announced that the daughters of the land were going out to celebrate, she went with her mother and her maidservants to sit among them, just as you see.”
Shechem continued to watch Dinah, the daughter of Jacob, and the more he looked at her, the more his soul became attached to her.
Shechem defiles Dinah and wants to marry her
Genesis 34:2-4
Jasher 33:11
Jubilees 30:2
And there they took Dinah, the daughter of Jacob, by force into the house of Shechem, the son of Hamor the Hivite, the prince of the land. He slept with her and defiled her. She was a little girl of 12 years old. His soul became attached to Dinah, the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the young woman and spoke kindly to her. Then Shechem said to his father Hamor, “Get me this girl to be my wife.”
Jacob learns about what happened and tries to retrieve her
Genesis 34:5
Jasher 33:12-15
They came and told Jacob what had happened, and when he heard that Shechem had defiled his daughter Dinah, he sent 12 of his servants to bring her back from Shechem’s house. The servants went and arrived at Shechem’s house to take Dinah away. But when they got there, Shechem came out with his men and drove them away from the house. He refused to let them see Dinah. Instead, Shechem was sitting with Dinah, kissing and embracing her right in front of them. Jacob’s servants returned and told him, “When we came, he and his men drove us away, and this is what Shechem did to Dinah in our sight.”
Jacob now knew that Shechem had defiled his daughter, but he didn’t say anything. His sons were out in the field tending the livestock, and Jacob stayed silent until they returned.
Jacob sends maidens to tend to Dinah
Jasher 33:16a
Before his sons came back, Jacob sent 2 maidens, daughters of his servants, to care for Dinah in Shechem’s house and to stay with her there.
Shechem and his father discuss Dinah becoming his wife
Jasher 33:16b-18
Shechem sent 3 of his friends to his father Hamor, the son of Chiddekem, son of Pered, with a message: “Get me this girl as a wife.”
Hamor, the son of Chiddekem the Hivite, came to Shechem’s house and sat down with him. He said, “Isn’t there a woman among your own people you could marry, that you would take a Hebrew woman who doesn’t belong to us?”
But Shechem said, “You must get her for me—she’s the only one I want, she pleases me.” Hamor did as his son asked, because he loved him deeply.
Jacob’s sons learn what happened and Hamor visits Jacob
Genesis 34:6-7
Jasher 33:19-23
Jubilees 30:3
Hamor went to speak with Jacob about the matter. But before he reached Jacob, Jacob’s sons came in from the field, having heard what Shechem, son of Hamor, had done. They were deeply grieved about their sister and came home burning with anger because Shechem had committed such a disgrace in Israel by sleeping with Jacob’s daughter—a thing that should never have been done—before they even had a chance to gather the cattle.
They sat down before their father and, full of fury, said, “This man and his household deserve to die! The Lord God of the whole earth commanded Noah and his children that no one should steal or commit adultery, and now look—Shechem has both violated and defiled our sister! Not one person in that whole city said a word to stop him. You know this as well as we do—Shechem, his father, and the whole city are under judgment for what he’s done.”
While they were still speaking to their father, Hamor, Shechem’s father, arrived to talk to Jacob about his son’s request for Dinah. He sat down in front of Jacob and his sons.
Hamor tries to reason with Jacob
Genesis 34:8-10
Jasher 33:24-25
Hamor said to them, “My son Shechem’s heart longs for your daughter. Please, give her to him as a wife. Let’s intermarry—give us your daughters and take ours in return. You can live with us in our land; we’ll be one people. The land is large and open to you—live in it, trade, acquire property, and do whatever you wish. No one will stop you or say a word against you.”
Shechem joins his father and speaks with Jacob
Genesis 34:11-12
Jasher 33:26-28
After Hamor finished speaking, Shechem arrived and sat down with them. He said to Jacob and his sons, “Let me find favor in your eyes. Give me your daughter. Whatever you ask for as a dowry or gift, I’ll pay it. I’ll do whatever you say. If anyone refuses to obey your command, he’ll die. Just give me the girl as a wife.”
Simeon and Levi respond to Hamor and Shechem
Jasher 33:29-32
Simeon and Levi answered Shechem and his father deceitfully, saying, “Everything you’ve said—we’ll do it. Our sister is in your house, but don’t go near her until we’ve sent word to our father Isaac about this. We can’t make a decision without his approval. He knows the ways of our forefather Abraham. Whatever he tells us, we’ll let you know. We won’t hide anything from you.”
Simeon and Levi said this just to stall for time and figure out what to do to Shechem and his city.
Hamor and Shechem leave and the sons of Jacob scheme on what to do
Jasher 33:33-40
Shechem and his father liked what Simeon and Levi said, and they left to go back home. After they were gone, the sons of Jacob spoke to their father, saying, “We know these wicked men and their city deserve death. They broke the command God gave to Noah, his children, and all their descendants. And Shechem defiled our sister Dinah—this kind of depravity must never be allowed among us. So now, think carefully about what you will do. Look for a plan and a reason that will allow us to destroy every man in that city.”
Then Simeon said, “Here’s an idea: Tell them that every male must be circumcised like we are. If they refuse, we’ll take our daughter and leave. But if they agree and go through with it, then while they’re in pain and recovering, we’ll surprise them with our swords while they’re defenseless and kill every man.”
The brothers agreed this was a good plan, and Simeon and Levi decided to carry it out.
The next morning, Shechem and his father Hamor returned to Jacob and his sons to continue discussing Dinah and hear their response.
Hamor and Shechem return the next day and the sons of Jacob request that they be circumcised
Genesis 34:13-17
Jasher 33:41-45
The sons of Jacob spoke deceitfully to them and said, “We told our father Isaac everything you said, and he approved. But we can’t give our sister to an uncircumcised man—that’s a disgrace to us. Isaac told us, ‘This is what Abraham was commanded by God, Lord of the whole earth: any man who isn’t from his descendants but wants to marry one of his daughters must have all the males in his house circumcised.’ Only then can we give our daughter to you.
If you do this, we’ll exchange daughters, live among you, and become one people. We’re being honest—we’re telling you exactly what our father told us. We can’t give our daughter to an uncircumcised man; that would shame us. But if you agree to be like us and circumcise every male, we’ll live together as one people. If not, we’ll come, take our daughter, and leave.”
Hamor and Shechem agree that all the males will be circumcised
Genesis 34:18-19
Jasher 33:46
Shechem and his father Hamor listened to the sons of Jacob and were very pleased. They hurried to fulfill their wishes because Shechem was deeply attached to Dinah. He was the most respected of his father’s household.
Hamor and Shechem tell the men of the city about their agreement
Genesis 34:20-24
Jasher 33:47-51
Shechem and Hamor hurried to the city gate and gathered all the men. They explained what the sons of Jacob had said: “We spoke to them about their daughter, and they agreed to our request. Our land is big enough for them, and they’ll live with us, do business, and become one people with us. We’ll exchange daughters in marriage. But they’ll only agree if every male among us is circumcised like they are, as their God commanded. Once we do this, they’ll live among us, and we’ll be united—they’ll bring their livestock and property, and we’ll be one people.”
When the men of the city heard this, they agreed. Shechem and Hamor were highly respected as the city’s leaders. The next day, early in the morning, Shechem and Hamor gathered all the men in the city center. They called for the sons of Jacob, who then circumcised every male that day and the next.
The men of Shechem are circumcised
Jasher 33:52, 34:1
They circumcised Shechem, Hamor, his 5 brothers, and then all the others. Everyone went home afterward. This was from the Lord—He had determined to bring judgment against Shechem’s city. Simeon’s counsel came from the Lord, so that He might deliver the city into the hands of Jacob’s 2 sons. Altogether, 645 men and 246 children were circumcised.
Climax
Chiddekem and his brothers refuse to be circumcised and confront Hamor and Shechem
Jasher 34:2-13
But Chiddekem, the son of Pered and father of Hamor, along with his 6 brothers, refused to listen to Shechem and his father Hamor, and they would not agree to be circumcised. The proposal made by Jacob’s sons was disgusting to them, and it made them extremely angry that the people of the city had agreed to it.
On the evening of the 2nd day, they discovered 8 young children who hadn’t been circumcised, because their mothers had hidden them from Shechem, Hamor, and the men of the city. Shechem and Hamor sent for the children to be brought to them for circumcision, but Chiddekem and his 6 brothers attacked them with swords, intending to kill them. They also tried to kill Shechem, Hamor, and Dinah over the matter.
They said to them, “What is this thing you’ve done? Aren’t there women among your Canaanite relatives that you have to take daughters of the Hebrews, people you didn’t even know before, and do something our fathers never told us to do? Do you really think this plan of yours is going to work? What are you going to say tomorrow when our Canaanite brothers come asking about this? If they don’t think your actions were right, how will you protect yourselves—or us—for not listening to us? And when the people of the land and all your brothers, the children of Ham, hear what happened and say, ‘Because of a Hebrew woman, Shechem and Hamor and all their people did something completely foreign to them, something their ancestors never told them to do,’ where will you go? How will you hide your shame from your Canaanite brothers for the rest of your lives?
We can’t accept what you’ve done. We won’t carry this burden—something our ancestors never accepted. Tomorrow we’ll gather all our Canaanite brothers throughout the land, and we’ll come and destroy you and everyone who sides with you, until not a single one of you is left.”
When Hamor, Shechem, and all the city’s people heard what Chiddekem and his brothers had said, they were terrified for their lives and regretted what they had done.
Hamor and Shechem agree with Chiddekem to fight against the Hebrews
Jasher 34:14-18
Shechem and Hamor responded to Chiddekem and his brothers, saying, “Everything you said is true. Don’t think for a second that we did this out of love for the Hebrews, or because we wanted to do something our ancestors never taught us. We did it because we realized the only way to get their daughter was to agree to this condition. That’s the only reason we went through with it.
Once we’ve gotten what we wanted from them, we’ll go back and do exactly what you said. Just wait until we’ve healed and regained our strength. Then we’ll go together and carry out what’s in both your hearts and ours.”
Dinah sends a maiden to inform Jacob about the conversation
Jasher 34:19-21
Dinah, daughter of Jacob, overheard everything Chiddekem and his brothers said, as well as how Hamor, Shechem, and the people responded. She quickly sent one of the maidens—assigned by her father to care for her in Shechem’s house—to Jacob and her brothers with the message: “This is what Chiddekem and his brothers said about you, and this is how Hamor, Shechem, and the people of the city responded.”
Jacob, Simeon, and Levi respond with the news
Jasher 34:22-23
When Jacob heard the news, he was furious and deeply offended, and his anger burned within him. Simeon and Levi swore, saying, “As the Lord lives, the God of the whole earth, by this time tomorrow, there won’t be a single man left in that city.”
Simeon and Levi fight young men who were spying on the conversation but two escaped
Jasher 34:24
Twenty young, uncircumcised men had been hiding and listening. They tried to fight Simeon and Levi, but Simeon and Levi killed 18 of them. Two of the young men escaped to lime pits in the city. Simeon and Levi searched for them but couldn’t find them.
Simeon and Levi attack the city of Shechem and killed all the males
Genesis 34:25
Jasher 34:25
Jubilees 30:4
On the 3rd day, when the men were still in pain, Simeon and Levi launched a surprise attack on Shechem. They executed judgment on all the men in the city, killing everyone they found. Not a single man was left alive—they were all slain in agony because they had dishonored their sister Dinah.
Falling Action
Judgment concerning the defilement of Hebrew virgins is established
Jubilees 30:5-23
From now on, this must never happen again—a daughter of Israel must not be defiled. Judgment has been set in heaven against the Shechemites, and they were to be destroyed by the sword for bringing shame on Israel. The Lord gave them into the hands of Jacob’s sons so they could carry out judgment and make sure this never happened again to an Israelite virgin.
If any man in Israel gives his daughter or sister to a Gentile, he will surely die and be stoned, because he has disgraced Israel. The woman will be burned with fire for bringing dishonor on her father’s house, and she will be completely cut off from Israel.
Adultery and impurity must never be allowed in Israel throughout all generations. Israel belongs to the Lord, and any man who defiles it will die and be stoned. This command is written in the heavenly tablets for all Israel’s descendants: anyone who defiles Israel must die.
There is no time limit on this law, no forgiveness or atonement. A man who defiles his daughter will be cut off from Israel because he’s offered his seed to Moloch and defiled it in wickedness.
Moses, command the children of Israel and warn them not to give their daughters to Gentiles or take Gentile daughters for their sons. This is detestable to the Lord. That’s why I’ve written down for you in the Law everything the Shechemites did to Dinah, and how Jacob’s sons responded by saying, “We won’t give our daughter to an uncircumcised man, for that would be a disgrace to us.” It is a disgrace to all Israel—both to those who live and to those who marry Gentile daughters—because it is impure and detestable.
Israel can’t be purified from this defilement if it takes Gentile wives or gives daughters to Gentiles. Plagues and curses will fall on them—every judgment, plague, and curse will come if anyone does this, or ignores those who commit impurity, or defile the Lord’s sanctuary, or profane His holy name. The entire nation will be judged for the uncleanness and desecration of such a person. God will not show favoritism or accept offerings, sacrifices, or even fragrant incense from them. Every man or woman in Israel who defiles the sanctuary will be judged this way.
That’s why I command you to deliver this testimony to Israel: look at what happened to the Shechemites and their sons. They were handed over to just 2 of Jacob’s sons and were killed in agony. It was counted as righteousness for them and is written in their favor.
Levi’s descendants were chosen for the priesthood to serve the Lord continually, and Levi and his sons are blessed forever because he was zealous to carry out justice, vengeance, and righteousness for Israel. A testimony was written in his favor in the heavenly tablets—blessing and righteousness before God. Levi’s righteousness is remembered in heaven for all time, recorded for 1,000 generations, and his name is written in the heavenly tablets as a friend and righteous man.
I’ve written all of this for you and commanded you to teach it to the children of Israel, so they won’t sin or break the covenant, but keep it and be counted as friends. If they break it and commit impurity in every way, they’ll be written in the heavenly tablets as enemies. They’ll be erased from the book of life and added to the book of destruction, to be cut off from the earth.
When Jacob’s sons killed Shechem, a record was made in heaven saying they had executed righteousness, justice, and vengeance against sinners. It was written down as a blessing.
The women and children of Shechem cry aloud
Jasher 34:26-27
A great panic broke out in the city. The cries of the people rose up to heaven, and all the women and children screamed. Simeon and Levi killed everyone—they didn’t leave a single male alive in the whole city.
Dinah is brought back
Genesis 34:26
Jasher 34:28
Jubilees 30:24a
They killed Hamor and his son Shechem with the sword, and they brought Dinah, their sister, out of Shechem’s house and left the place.
Resolution
The sons of Jacob spoil the city
Genesis 34:27
Jasher 34:29
The sons of Jacob returned, came upon the dead, and took everything from the city and fields because their sister had been defiled.
Simeon kills 300 more men who throw dust and stones at him
Jasher 34:30
While they were looting the city, 300 men attacked them with dust and stones. Simeon turned on them and killed all of them with the sword. Then he returned ahead of Levi and went back into the city.
The spoils are taken back to Jacob
Genesis 34:28-29
Jasher 34:31
Jubilees 30:24b
They took the sheep, oxen, donkeys, everything in the city and the fields. They captured all the people’s wealth, their children, and their wives—everything in the houses. Then they opened a gate and left, returning to their father Jacob in strength.
Jacob is angry with his sons
Genesis 34:30-31
Jasher 34:32-34
Jubilees 30:25
When Jacob saw what they had done to the city and all the spoil they had taken, he was furious. He said, “What have you done to me? I had peace among the Canaanites, and no one bothered me. Now you’ve made me hated by the Canaanites and the Perizzites. I’m only a small group—when they hear what you did to their brothers, they’ll come and destroy me and my whole household!”
Simeon, Levi, and the rest of the brothers answered, “We live in this land, and Shechem dared to do that to our sister. Why are you silent about what Shechem did? Should he treat our sister like a prostitute?”
Simeon marries Bunah
Jasher 34:35-36
Simeon and Levi had taken 85 women from Shechem who had never been with a man and didn’t kill them. Among them was a beautiful young woman named Bunah, and Simeon took her as a wife. They also captured 47 males and killed the rest.
The people of Shechem became servants to the sons of Jacob
Jasher 34:37
All the young men and women Simeon and Levi had captured from Shechem became servants to Jacob’s sons and their children, remaining that way until Jacob’s descendants left Egypt.