Genesis

בייה

Link to Diagram One

Israel/Jacob spoke with his son Joseph, Viceroy of Egypt, regarding the inheritance he was leaving him prior to his death. Israel said, ‘[Joseph] I have given you one portion above your brothers, which I took from the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my bow’ (Genesis 48.21-22). Israel’s comment is neatly tucked in Ha Torah without any explanation. However, (Beresheit Rabba 80.10) Explains Israel’s comment to Joseph. What is the meaning of (Genesis 34.25)? AND CAME UPON THE CITY CONFIDENTLY? Simon and Levi were confident in the strength of the Patriarch. Even though Jacob did not desire Simon and Levi to annihilate Shechem but once they did perpetrate that deed, he said:‘ Shall I let my sons fall into the hands of the heathens?’, i.e. ,Shechem/Shechemites.?’ What did he do? He took his sword and bow and stood at the entrance to Shechem and loudly exclaimed, If the heathens come to attack my sons, I will fight them.’ It was to this act that he alluded when he spoke with Joseph, saying, Which I took out of the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my bow(Genesis 48. 22). And where do we find that our father Jacob took up his sword and bow? It was in Shechem. Some Jewish commentaries mention three battles in which Jacob led his sons and servants. Rabbi Meir Zlotowitz and Rabbi Nosson Scherman, The Artscroll Tanach Series – Bereishis Vol. I (b (Brooklyn, New York: Mesorah Publications, Ltd. 3rd Impression, 1989), p 1490

Genesis 34.1.2) says, ‘Dinah the daughter of Leah went out to see the daughters of the land. Shechem, the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her; he took her, lay with her, and defiled her.’ A major conflict ensued. Like here, some people break God’s Laws without fearing retribution. At Turning Point Action USA in Florida, Tucker Carlson spoke about what he learned at the Iowa Summit. I characterized part of his speech as ‘Looking The Other Way or looking away from issues when we should be looking directly at the issues.’ He gave several examples. We all know rioting, breaking windows, and stealing from merchants is wrong. So why do many keep silent and look away from the problem? Likewise, Jacob, The Patriarch, tried to look away from his daughter’s abduction and rape. Simon and Levi looked directly at Dinah’s abduction and rape. They made a plan and carried it out. Afterward, Jacob said to Simon and Levi, ‘You have brought trouble on me to make me odious among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites; and I being few in number, they shall gather together against me, and slay me, and I shall be destroyed, I and my house.’

Simon and Levi replied, Should he deal with our sister as with a harlot? (Genesis 34.30-31)

(Midrash Sefer Ha Yasher) says, ‘And when Jacob saw what [Simon and Levi] had done to the city and the spoil they had made, Jacob was ‎furious at them and said to them: ‘What is it that ye have done unto me? Behold, I ‎have found rest among the inhabitants of the land of the Canaanites, and no one of them ever ‎said a word to me. And now you have caused me to be in a bad order with the inhabitants of ‎the land of the Canaanites and the Perizzites, and I, being few in numbers, they shall gather ‎themselves together against me and slay me when they hear what you have done to their ‎brethren, I and my house shall be destroyed, I and my house.’

And Simon, Levi, and their brothers ‎answered their father, saying: ‘Behold, we are yet alive in the earth. Shall we permit ‎Shechem to do this to our sister? Why are you silent at all that Shechem has done? Shall our ‎sister be treated like a harlot of the street?’They were looking directly at the evil sins of Shechem and the Shechemites.

When Jashub, King of Tapuah, was informed about how Simon and Levi had devastated the city of Shechem, he sent two men to investigate. When they returned, they confirmed the utter annihilation of Shechem. Jashub was astonished! He openly questioned, ‘How could two [sons of Jacob] destroy such a large city, and not even one of the inhabitants stand against ‎them.’ After Jashub consulted with his advisors, he sought assistance from all the kings ‎around them. When the kings of the Amorites heard of the evil which the sons of Jacob had done to the city ‎of Shechem, they were greatly astonished. All seven kings of the ‎Amorites assembled their armies of about ten thousand men with drawn sword, came to wage war against the sons of Jacob.

When Jacob heard that the kings of the ‎Amorites came to fight against his sons, Jacob was in great fear and distress. And Jacob ‎rebuked Simon and Levi, saying: What is it that ye have done unto me? Why have ye done ‎unto me the evil to summon against me all the children of Canaan, to exterminate me and my ‎household? For I was in rest, I as well as my household, ere you have done this thing to unite ‎against me all the inhabitants of the land, by your actions.

And Judah replied unto his father, ‎saying: ‘[Did] my brothers Simon and Levi slay all the inhabitants of Shechem without any ‎cause? They did it because Shechem had defiled our sister, transgressing the ‎commandments of God to Noah and his children, for Shechem hath both robbed us of our ‎sister and defiled her. And Shechem committed that great evil, but none of the inhabitants of ‎his city spoke unto him a word, saying: Why dost thou do this? Is it not for this reason that my ‎brothers went out and smote the city? And the Lord Gave them into their hands because all ‎her inhabitants have transgressed the commandments of our God. Have, then, my brothers ‎acted without any cause? Why do you fear? Why are you distressed? ‎What is causing your heart to think evil of my brothers and your wrath kindled against them? Our God, Delivered the city of Shechem and its ‎inhabitants into their hands. God will Deliver all the kings of the Canaanites that are now ‎advancing against us into our hands. We will do the same as my brothers have done to Shechem. Now please be quiet concerning them, abandon your fears, trust in God, and pray unto ‎Him on our behalf to help deliver us, and give our enemies into our hands.’ (Genesis 35.1) says, ‘And God said to Jacob, ”Arise, go up to Beth-El, and live there; and make there an altar to God, who appeared to you when you fled from the face of Esau, your brother.”’ Then Jacob arose from praying on the battlefield.

Does anyone blame Jacob for wanting to live in peace? We want to live in peace. We can empathize with Jacob? Yes, BUT that doesn’t give us a pass from facing the problems that must be faced! It’s comforting to know God is with us and that He goes forth to fight with us, BUT exercising faith and courage when you are the blue dot circle among so many intimidating boxes is a HUGE CHALLENGE. That is where Israel has been and is now. That may be where we are if we stand up to injustice.

Jacob, his sons, and one-hundred servants took up positions against the seven Amorite kings with their armies of ten thousand warriors advancing on Jacob and his sons. Dear Ones, we are servants of Lord our God, King, and Creator of all. Even though we may be a tiny dot/circle surrounded by adversaries, we are the chosen people of the King of the Universe, blessed be He!

Dear Ones it is essential that we lovingly Observe Ha Torah. The world needs people to face the music. We need the attitude of ‘Put me in coach!’ God is for us! We can be victorious even when we are the dot among many boxes. May we help others! May we bring peace and healing to our world! May this coming Sabbath and every Sabbath be a blessed Day. May we arise and go to Beth-EL – the house of God.

Good Sabbath!

Dr. Akiva Gamliel Belk

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