Difference between revisions of "Sin and Slaughter of Shekhem/2"
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<point><b>In what did the city sin?</b> These commentators differ in their assessment of the specific wrongdoing of the people of the city:<br/> | <point><b>In what did the city sin?</b> These commentators differ in their assessment of the specific wrongdoing of the people of the city:<br/> | ||
<ul> | <ul> | ||
| − | <li><b>Condoning the Act</b> – Ibn Kaspi and Abarbanel assert that the people of  Shechem did not protest the taking of Dina, and as such were guilty of complicity.<fn>Ibn Kaspi points to Hashem's warning to Yechezkel that if he does not chastise wrongdoers, he himself will be held accountable: "בְּאָמְרִי לָרָשָׁע מוֹת תָּמוּת וְלֹא הִזְהַרְתּוֹ... הוּא רָשָׁע בַּעֲוֹנוֹ יָמוּת וְדָמוֹ מִיָּדְךָ אֲבַקֵּשׁ".</fn> Rambam adds that in not prosecuting Shechem, they violated the Noahide law to institute legal procedures, which is itself punishable by death.<fn>Ramban questions this | + | <li><b>Condoning the Act</b> – Ibn Kaspi and Abarbanel assert that the people of  Shechem did not protest the taking of Dina, and as such were guilty of complicity.<fn>Ibn Kaspi points to Hashem's warning to Yechezkel that if he does not chastise wrongdoers, he himself will be held accountable: "בְּאָמְרִי לָרָשָׁע מוֹת תָּמוּת וְלֹא הִזְהַרְתּוֹ... הוּא רָשָׁע בַּעֲוֹנוֹ יָמוּת וְדָמוֹ מִיָּדְךָ אֲבַקֵּשׁ".</fn> Rambam adds that in not prosecuting Shechem, they violated the Noahide law to institute legal procedures, which is itself punishable by death.<fn>Ramban questions Rambam, asserting that if this were true, then Yaakov should not have rebuked his children, but rather been the first to join them.</fn></li> |
<li><b>Actively took Dina</b> – Or HaChayyim asserts that the people of the city participated in the taking of Dina, thereby transgressing the Noahide Law of Theft.<fn>See above that this is a capital crime under the Noahide laws while rape is not.  He explains that the verse highlights that "they defiled her" rather than saying "and they took her" to show that the "stolen item" was not returnable.  Had it been, they would have retrieved Dina without killing the whole city.</fn></li> | <li><b>Actively took Dina</b> – Or HaChayyim asserts that the people of the city participated in the taking of Dina, thereby transgressing the Noahide Law of Theft.<fn>See above that this is a capital crime under the Noahide laws while rape is not.  He explains that the verse highlights that "they defiled her" rather than saying "and they took her" to show that the "stolen item" was not returnable.  Had it been, they would have retrieved Dina without killing the whole city.</fn></li> | ||
<li><b>Joined in the sexual assault</b> – Tosafot goes even a step further to suggest that Dina was raped by the other men of Shechem as well.<fn>He apparently maintains that killing one who rapes is justified.</fn></li> | <li><b>Joined in the sexual assault</b> – Tosafot goes even a step further to suggest that Dina was raped by the other men of Shechem as well.<fn>He apparently maintains that killing one who rapes is justified.</fn></li> | ||
Version as of 00:54, 4 December 2014
Shimon and Levi in Shekhem
Exegetical Approaches
Justified
Entire city was guilty
Did Shechem deserve death? Rambam, Abarbanel and Or HaChayyim maintain that the act of taking DIna against her will falls under the category of "theft" which is a capital crime under the Noahide laws.1 Tosafot, on the other hand, apparently assumes that it is justified to punish rape with death, even though neither Noahide nor Torah law does so.2
In what did the city sin? These commentators differ in their assessment of the specific wrongdoing of the people of the city:
- Condoning the Act – Ibn Kaspi and Abarbanel assert that the people of Shechem did not protest the taking of Dina, and as such were guilty of complicity.3 Rambam adds that in not prosecuting Shechem, they violated the Noahide law to institute legal procedures, which is itself punishable by death.4
- Actively took Dina – Or HaChayyim asserts that the people of the city participated in the taking of Dina, thereby transgressing the Noahide Law of Theft.5
- Joined in the sexual assault – Tosafot goes even a step further to suggest that Dina was raped by the other men of Shechem as well.6
"אֲשֶׁר טִמְּאוּ" – Tosafot, Ibn Kaspi and Or HaChayyim point to these words as evidence that the entire city was implicated in the crime.
"וַיַּעֲנוּ בְנֵי יַעֲקֹב... בְּמִרְמָה"
Yaakov's reaction: "עכרתם אותי"
Hashem's evaluation: protection, choosing of Levi
Why did they kill them on the third day?
Taking of the Spoils – Or HaChayyim justifies the looting as payment for embarrassing Dina and the family ("דמי בושת").
Shimon and Levi versus the other brothers
Yaakov's blessing in Bereshit 49
Polemical motivations
Practically necessary to retrieve Dina
Yaakov's reaction
Hashem's evaluation
"וַיַּעֲנוּ בְנֵי יַעֲקֹב... בְּמִרְמָה"
"אֲשֶׁר טִמְּאוּ"
Why did they kill them on the third day?
Taking of the Spoils
Shimon and Levi versus the other brothers
Yaakov's blessing in Bereshit 49
Polemical motivations
Shechemites reneged on the deal
Sources:Sefer HaYashar, Sefer Yosef HaMekannei, Peirush HaRosh, Hadar Zekeinim, Ma'asei Hashem, HaKetav VeHaKabbalah
Yaakov's reaction
Hashem's evaluation
"וַיַּעֲנוּ בְנֵי יַעֲקֹב... בְּמִרְמָה"
"אֲשֶׁר טִמְּאוּ"
Why did they kill them on the third day?
Taking of the Spoils
Shimon and Levi versus the other brothers
Yaakov's blessing in Bereshit 49
Polemical motivations
Deterrence for the future
Yaakov's reaction
Hashem's evaluation
"וַיַּעֲנוּ בְנֵי יַעֲקֹב... בְּמִרְמָה"
"אֲשֶׁר טִמְּאוּ"
Why did they kill them on the third day?
Taking of the Spoils
Shimon and Levi versus the other brothers
Yaakov's blessing in Bereshit 49
Polemical motivations
Sinned
Sources:Ramban, R. Hirsch, R. D"Z Hoffmann
Yaakov's reaction
Hashem's evaluation
"וַיַּעֲנוּ בְנֵי יַעֲקֹב... בְּמִרְמָה"
"אֲשֶׁר טִמְּאוּ"
Why did they kill them on the third day?
Taking of the Spoils
Shimon and Levi versus the other brothers
Yaakov's blessing in Bereshit 49
Polemical motivations
