Topical Bible: Shechem: Son of Hamor; Seduces Jacob's Daughter; Killed by Jacob's Sons

◄ Shechem: Son of Hamor; Seduces Jacob's Daughter; Killed by Jacob's Sons ►

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Shechem, a significant figure in the Old Testament, is primarily known as the son of Hamor the Hivite, a prince of the land. His account is intricately tied to the narrative of Jacob and his family, particularly in the events surrounding the defilement of Dinah, Jacob's daughter.

Seduces Jacob's Daughter

The account of Shechem is found in Genesis 34. Shechem, the son of Hamor, becomes infatuated with Dinah, the daughter of Jacob and Leah. The Bible records that Shechem "took her and lay with her by force" (Genesis 34:2). This act of defilement was a grave offense, not only against Dinah but also against her family and the cultural norms of the time. Despite the violent nature of his actions, Shechem's soul was drawn to Dinah, and he spoke tenderly to her, expressing a desire to marry her (Genesis 34:3).

Shechem's father, Hamor, approached Jacob to negotiate a marriage between Shechem and Dinah, offering to make amends and proposing a broader alliance between their peoples. Hamor suggested that Jacob's family could intermarry with the Hivites and dwell in the land, which was described as spacious and prosperous (Genesis 34:8-10).

Killed by Jacob's Sons

The proposal, however, was met with deceit by Jacob's sons, who were outraged by the violation of their sister. They agreed to the marriage on the condition that all the males in Shechem's city be circumcised, aligning with the covenantal sign given to Abraham and his descendants (Genesis 34:13-17). Shechem, eager to marry Dinah, did not hesitate to comply and convinced the men of his city to undergo circumcision (Genesis 34:18-24).

On the third day, when the men were in pain from the circumcision, Simeon and Levi, Dinah's brothers, took their swords and attacked the unsuspecting city, killing all the males, including Shechem and his father Hamor (Genesis 34:25-26). They rescued Dinah from Shechem's house and plundered the city, taking livestock, women, and children as spoil (Genesis 34:27-29).

The actions of Simeon and Levi were later condemned by Jacob, who feared retribution from the surrounding Canaanite and Perizzite inhabitants. Jacob rebuked his sons, saying, "You have brought trouble on me by making me a stench to the inhabitants of the land" (Genesis 34:30). This incident left a lasting impact on Jacob's family, influencing his blessings and prophecies over his sons in later years (Genesis 49:5-7).

Shechem's account serves as a complex narrative of passion, cultural conflict, and the severe consequences of sin and deception. His actions and the subsequent retaliation by Jacob's sons highlight the tensions between the Israelites and the surrounding peoples, as well as the importance of covenantal identity and purity in the biblical narrative.

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Genesis 33:19
And he bought a parcel of a field, where he had spread his tent, at the hand of the children of Hamor, Shechem's father, for an hundred pieces of money.
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Genesis 34:1
And Dinah the daughter of Leah, which she bore to Jacob, went out to see the daughters of the land.
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Joshua 24:32
And the bones of Joseph, which the children of Israel brought up out of Egypt, buried they in Shechem, in a parcel of ground which Jacob bought of the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem for an hundred pieces of silver: and it became the inheritance of the children of Joseph.
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Judges 9:28
And Gaal the son of Ebed said, Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? is not he the son of Jerubbaal? and Zebul his officer? serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem: for why should we serve him?
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