Interesting Facts

• The Chorinites were the inhabitants of the castle of Bethchorin.
• They were described as mighty men, with the strength such that one of them would not flee from before a thousand men.
• During a night battle with the sons of Jacob, the Lord caused great terror and confusion to seize the people of Bethchorin, leading them to fight amongst themselves.
• The shouts of the Chorinites during their night battle were heard from afar and caused the earth to quake, indicating their immense power and the scale of the conflict.
• Ultimately, all the remaining Chorinites in the castle were killed by the sons of Jacob.

Genealogy

• The provided sources do not offer any information regarding the genealogy of the Chorinites, including their ancestry, birth details, marital connections, or offspring. Their familial relationships beyond being a community within Bethchorin are not mentioned in these texts.

Historical Context

The narrative involving the Chorinites occurs within the broader context of conflict between Jacob’s sons and various Canaanite populations following the events in Shechem. The fear instilled in other Canaanite inhabitants and kings upon hearing the outcome of the battle with the Chorinites highlights the impact of these events on the regional power dynamics. The Chorinites, as a group residing in a fortified place (“castle of Bethchorin”), represent one of the many indigenous peoples of Canaan who perceived the actions of Jacob’s sons as a threat and engaged in warfare against them. The divine intervention causing confusion among the Chorinites during their battle suggests a theological interpretation of the events, portraying the struggles of Jacob’s family within a divinely ordained narrative.

Narrative

The narrative of the Chorinites is primarily centered around their battle with the sons of Jacob. Upon learning of the sons of Jacob approaching their territory, the inhabitants of Bethchorin, known for their might, went to their castle to meet them in battle. The ensuing night battle was fierce, with the Chorinites’ shouts being heard across the land. However, the Lord intervened, causing terror and confusion among them, leading them to fight and kill each other. Taking advantage of this chaos, the sons of Jacob withdrew and waited until morning. At daybreak, they returned to the castle and decisively defeated the remaining Chorinites, killing them all. The defeat of the mighty Chorinites and the widespread fear it instilled in other Canaanites underscore the growing power and impact of Jacob’s family in the land, setting the stage for future interactions and conflicts with the indigenous populations.