Hamor is a significant figure in the Old Testament, specifically in the Book of Genesis. He is identified as a Hivite and the father of Shechem, a prince of the land. Hamor's narrative is primarily found in Genesis 34, where he plays a central role in the events surrounding the defilement of Dinah, the daughter of Jacob and Leah.

Biblical Account

Hamor is first introduced in Genesis 33:19, where it is mentioned that Jacob purchased a parcel of land from the sons of Hamor, Shechem's father, for a hundred pieces of silver. This transaction established a connection between Jacob's family and the inhabitants of the land.

The more detailed account involving Hamor occurs in Genesis 34. Shechem, Hamor's son, saw Dinah and "took her and lay with her by force" (Genesis 34:2). Deeply infatuated with Dinah, Shechem desired to marry her and spoke to his father, Hamor, to arrange the marriage. Hamor approached Jacob and his sons to negotiate the union, proposing intermarriage between their peoples and offering generous terms, including the sharing of land and resources (Genesis 34:8-10).

Jacob's sons, however, were outraged by the violation of their sister and deceitfully agreed to the marriage on the condition that all the males in Hamor's city be circumcised. Hamor and Shechem agreed to this condition, and Shechem did not delay in fulfilling it because of his love for Dinah (Genesis 34:18-19).

Tragically, while the men of the city were still in pain from the circumcision, Simeon and Levi, Dinah's brothers, took their swords and attacked the city, killing all the males, including Hamor and Shechem (Genesis 34:25-26). They then took Dinah from Shechem's house and plundered the city.

Cultural and Theological Significance

Hamor's account is often examined for its themes of justice, revenge, and the complexities of human relationships. The narrative highlights the cultural practices of the time, such as the importance of family honor and the practice of circumcision as a covenantal sign. The actions of Simeon and Levi, while driven by a desire to avenge their sister, are later condemned by Jacob for their violence and deceit (Genesis 49:5-7).

Hamor's involvement in the events of Genesis 34 also serves as a backdrop to the broader narrative of the patriarchs and their interactions with the peoples of Canaan. The incident underscores the tensions between the descendants of Abraham and the inhabitants of the land, foreshadowing future conflicts and the eventual conquest of Canaan by the Israelites.

Legacy

Hamor's legacy is primarily tied to the tragic events surrounding Dinah and the subsequent actions of Jacob's sons. His name is often associated with the city of Shechem, which later becomes a significant location in Israel's history. Despite the violent outcome, the account of Hamor and Shechem remains a poignant reminder of the complexities of human sinfulness and the need for divine guidance in matters of justice and reconciliation.Hamor

an ass; clay; dirt

Hamor

(an ass), a Hivite who at the time of the entrance of Jacob on Palestine was prince of the land and city of Shechem. (Genesis 33:19; 34:2,4,6,8,13,18,20,24,26) (B.C. 1737.) [DINAH]

He-ass, a Hivite from whom Jacob purchased the plot of ground in which Joseph was afterwards buried (Genesis 33:19). He is called "Emmor" in Acts 7:16. His son Shechem founded the city of that name which Simeon and Levi destroyed because of his crime in the matter of Dinah, Jacob's daughter (Genesis 34:20). Hamor and Shechem were also slain (ver. 26). HAMOR

ha'-mor (chamor, "an ass"; Emmor): Hamor was the father of Shechem from whom Jacob bought a piece of ground on his return from Paddan-aram for one hundred pieces of silver (Genesis 33:19), and the burial place of Joseph when his body was removed from Egypt to Canaan (Joshua 24:32). "The men of Hamor" were inhabitants of Shechem, and suffered a great loss under Abimelech, a prince over Israel (Judges 9:22-49). Dinah, Jacob's daughter, was criminally treated by Hamor, who requested her to be given to him in marriage, in which plan he had the cooperation of his father, Shechem. The sons of Jacob rejected their proposition and laid a scheme by which the inhabitants of the city were circumcised, and in the hour of helplessness slew all the males, thus wreaking special vengeance upon Hamor and his father Shechem. It is mere conjecture to claim that Hamor and Dinah were personifications of early central Palestinian clans in sharp antagonism, and that the course of Simeon and Levi was really the treachery of primitive tribes. Because the word Hamor means "an ass" and Shechem "a shoulder," there is no reason for rejecting the terms as designations of individuals and considering the titles as mere tribal appellations.

Byron H. Dement

1697. Hemmor -- Emmor, a Canaanite
... Emmor, a Canaanite. Part of Speech: Proper Noun, Indeclinable Transliteration: Hemmor
Phonetic Spelling: (em-mor') Short Definition: Hamor Definition: Hamor, a ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1697.htm - 6k7927. Shekem -- "ridge," a district in Northern Palestine, also a ...
... Shekem. 7928 . "ridge," a district in Northern Palestine, also a son of Hamor.
Transliteration: Shekem Phonetic Spelling: (shek-em') Short Definition: Shechem ...
/hebrew/7927.htm - 6k

2544. Chamor -- father of Shechem
... 2543, 2544. Chamor. 2545 . father of Shechem. Transliteration: Chamor
Phonetic Spelling: (kham-ore') Short Definition: Hamor. ... Hamor. ...
/hebrew/2544.htm - 6k

Appendix D.
... at Sychem, but in the cave of Machpelah at Hebron;"we know also that the field,
which was bought of the sons of Emmor, or the children of Hamor (as they are ...
//christianbookshelf.org/burgon/inspiration and interpretation/appendix d.htm

The Testament of Levi Concerning the Priesthood and Arrogance.
... Shechem. And I was young, about twenty years of age, when with Simeon I
wrought the vengeance on Hamor for our sister Dinah. And ...
/.../iii the testament of levi concerning.htm

Chapter xxxiv
... 1-3. And Dinah, the daughter that Leah had borne to Jacob, went out to see the women
of the country; and Shechem, the son of Hamor, the Hivite, a prince of the ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xxxiv.htm

Concerning the violation of Dina's Chastity.
... But when Shechem, the son of Hamor the king, saw her, he defiled her by violence;
and being greatly in love with her, desired of his father that he would ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 21 concerning the violation.htm

Chapter xxxiii
... And he acquired the portion of the field where he pitched his tent from the hand
of the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem, for a hundred kesitas. ...
/.../leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xxxiii.htm

The Crowning of Abimelech
... and Zebul his officer? serve ye the men of Hamor the father of Shechem; but why
should we serve him? And would to God this people were under my hand! ...
/.../select masterpieces of biblical literature/iii the crowning of abimelech.htm

Letter Lvii. To Pammachius on the Best Method of Translating.
... Shechem which is in the land of Canaan, and that he dwelt there and "bought a parcel
of a field where he had spread his tent at the hand of Hamor, the father ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter lvii to pammachius on.htm

Appendix ii. Philo of Alexandria and Rabbinic Theology.
... with Genesis 46:27), often nearly misled by the Sophists (Dinah and Hamor), often
nearly failing and faint in the conflict (Jacob's wrestling), but holpen by ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/appendix ii philo of alexandria.htm

Chapter xxiii
... Another problem is created by Acts 7:16, which ascribes Abraham's purchase of a
tomb to a place at Shechem and names the seller as "the sons of Hamor in Shechem ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xxiii.htm

Here Beginneth the Life of Isaac
... the town of Shechem which is in the land of Canaan, and bought there a part of a
field, in which he fixed his tabernacles, of the sons of Hamor father of ...
/.../wells/bible stories and religious classics/here beginneth the life of.htm

Hamor (13 Occurrences)
... daughter (Genesis 34:20). Hamor and Shechem were also slain (ver. 26). Int.
Standard Bible Encyclopedia. HAMOR. ha'-mor (chamor, "an ...
/h/hamor.htm - 12k

Hamor's (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Hamor's (1 Occurrence). Genesis 34:18 Their words pleased
Hamor and Shechem, Hamor's son. (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV). ...
/h/hamor's.htm - 6k

Shechem's (5 Occurrences)
... Genesis 33:19 He bought the parcel of ground where he had spread his tent, at the
hand of the children of Hamor, Shechem's father, for one hundred pieces of ...
/s/shechem's.htm - 8k

Dinah (7 Occurrences)
... 21). She was seduced by Shechem, the son of Hamor, the Hivite chief, when
Jacob's camp was in the neighbourhood of Shechem. This ...
/d/dinah.htm - 10k

Shechem (61 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Shoulder. (1.) The son of Hamor the Hivite (Genesis
33:19; 34). (2.) A descendant of Manasseh (Numbers 26:31; Joshua 17:2). ...
/s/shechem.htm - 38k

Kesitah (3 Occurrences)
... Genesis 33:19 And he bought the portion of the field where he had spread his tent,
of the hand of the sons of Hamor, Shechem's father, for a hundred kesitahs. ...
/k/kesitah.htm - 8k

Kesitahs (2 Occurrences)
... Genesis 33:19 And he bought the portion of the field where he had spread his tent,
of the hand of the sons of Hamor, Shechem's father, for a hundred kesitahs. ...
/k/kesitahs.htm - 7k

Reasonable (6 Occurrences)
... without partiality, and without hypocrisy. (WEB NAS). Genesis 34:18 Their
words pleased Hamor and Shechem, Hamor's son. (See NAS). ...
/r/reasonable.htm - 11k

Defiled (119 Occurrences)
... Genesis 34:2 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. (KJV WBS). ...
/d/defiled.htm - 38k

Parcel (10 Occurrences)
... Genesis 33:19 He bought the parcel of ground where he had spread his tent, at the
hand of the children of Hamor, Shechem's father, for one hundred pieces of ...
/p/parcel.htm - 11k

Who was Dinah in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Simeon in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

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