Yaakov's Parting Words to Shimon and Levi/2

Shimon and Levi – Blessed or Cursed?

Exegetical Approaches

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Slaughter of Shekhem

Yaakov's words to Shimon and Levi referenced their slaughter of Shekhem and expressed his anger at the deed.

Sources:Testament of LeviShimon 5Levi 6About Testaments of the Patriarchs, Ibn EzraBereshit First Commentary 49:5-7Bereshit Third Commentary 49:5-7About R. Avraham ibn Ezra, R. Yosef KimchiLong Commentary Bereshit 49:5-7About R. Yaakov b. Asher,  RadakBereshit 49:5-7About R. David Kimchi, R. Avraham b. HaRambamBereshit 49:5-8About R. Avraham Maimonides, RambanBereshit 49:5About R. Moshe b. Nachman, R. Hirsch?

Yaakov's evaluation of the slaughter

"כְּלֵי חָמָס מְכֵרֹתֵיהֶם"

"בְּסֹדָם אַל תָּבֹא נַפְשִׁי בִּקְהָלָם אַל תֵּחַד כְּבֹדִי"

כִּי בְאַפָּם הָרְגוּ אִישׁ

"וּבִרְצֹנָם עִקְּרוּ שׁוֹר"

Sale of Yosef

Sources:R. Moshe AlshikhBereshit 49:5About R. Moshe Alshikh, Or HaChayyimBereshit 49:5-7About R. Chayyim b. Atar

Angry & Violent Nature

Worthy of Censure

Sources:R. Yosef Bekhor ShorBereshit 49:5-7About R. Yosef Bekhor Shor

Worthy of Praise

Sources:R. Yehuda HeChasidBereshit 49:5About R. Yehuda HeChasid

Combination

Sources:TanchumaVayechi 9-10About the Tanchuma, Tanchuma (Buber)Vayechi 12About the Tanchuma, Targum YerushalmiBereshit 49:5-7About Targum Yerushalmi, RashiBereshit 49:5-7About R. Shelomo Yitzchaki, Abarbanel Bereshit 49:5-7