Genesis 34:30 in Hebrew
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יַעֲקֹ֜ב אֶל־שִׁמְעֹ֣ון וְאֶל־לֵוִי֮ עֲכַרְתֶּ֣ם אֹתִי֒ לְהַבְאִישֵׁ֨נִי֙ בְּיֹשֵׁ֣ב הָאָ֔רֶץ בַּֽכְּנַעֲנִ֖י וּבַפְּרִזִּ֑י וַאֲנִי֙ מְתֵ֣י מִסְפָּ֔ר וְנֶאֶסְפ֤וּ עָלַי֙ וְהִכּ֔וּנִי וְנִשְׁמַדְתִּ֖י אֲנִ֥י וּבֵיתִֽי׃
Introduction to the Verse
Genesis 34:30 records Yaʿaqov’s rebuke of Shimʿon and Levi after their attack on Shekhem. The verse states:
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יַעֲקֹ֜ב אֶל־שִׁמְעֹ֣ון וְאֶל־לֵוִי֮ – “Then Yaʿaqov said to Shimʿon and Levi.”
עֲכַרְתֶּ֣ם אֹתִי֒ – “You have troubled me.”
לְהַבְאִישֵׁ֨נִי֙ בְּיֹשֵׁ֣ב הָאָ֔רֶץ – “To make me odious among the inhabitants of the land.”
A key word in this verse is עֲכַרְתֶּ֣ם (ʿaḵartem), which helps us understand Yaʿaqov’s fear and distress.
Understanding עֲכַרְתֶּ֣ם
1. עֲכַרְתֶּ֣ם (ʿAḵartem) – “You have brought trouble”
– Derived from the root ע־כ־ר (ʿ-k-r), meaning “to disturb, trouble, or bring disaster.”
– The verb is in the 2nd person masculine plural perfect, indicating completed action performed by multiple people (Shimʿon and Levi).
– This root appears in other biblical passages where trouble or calamity is brought upon a person or group (e.g., 1 Kings 18:17, Joshua 7:25).
2. Parallel Usage in the Hebrew Bible
– The verb עָכַר is used in Joshua 7:25, where Achan’s sin brings trouble upon Israel:
“Why have you brought trouble (עָכַ֖רְתָּ) upon us?”
– This connection suggests that Yaʿaqov saw Shimʿon and Levi’s actions as reckless, leading to potential disaster.
The Context and Implications
1. Yaʿaqov’s Fear of Retaliation
– The phrase וְנֶאֶסְפ֤וּ עָלַי֙ וְהִכּ֔וּנִי (“They will gather against me and strike me”) shows that Yaʿaqov feared an alliance of Canaanite tribes against his family.
– His concern was not just personal survival but also the safety of his entire household.
2. The Concept of “Defilement” and Reputation
– The phrase לְהַבְאִישֵׁ֨נִי֙ (“to make me odious”) implies that Yaʿaqov feared becoming detested or dishonored in the eyes of neighboring peoples.
– In the ancient Near East, reputation and alliances were crucial for survival, and violent actions could lead to isolation and war.
3. Contrast with Divine Justice
– While Shimʿon and Levi saw their revenge against Shekhem as justified, Yaʿaqov viewed it as rash and dangerous.
– This contrast foreshadows later biblical themes of human vengeance versus divine justice.
The Weight of עֲכַרְתֶּ֣ם in Genesis 34:30
The term עֲכַרְתֶּ֣ם highlights Yaʿaqov’s deep distress over Shimʿon and Levi’s actions. He saw their revenge not as an act of justice but as a reckless decision that endangered the entire family.
By using a word associated with bringing calamity, Yaʿaqov underscores the grave consequences of their actions, revealing a broader biblical theme: the dangers of unchecked human retaliation.
