The familiar story is this: from Genesis 34: how Jacob's daughter Dinah is defiled by Shechem, son of Hamor, and how Simeon and Levi exact a brutal revenge, slaughtering all the men of the city. But the fallout? That's a story often left untold.
Well, the Book of JASHER, a non-canonical Jewish text referenced in the Bible itself (Joshua 10:13 and (2 Samuel 1:1)8), fills in some of those gaps. And Chapter 37 plunges us right back into the thick of it.
It's been about nine years since Jacob and his family settled in Canaan after their time in Padan-aram. According to Jasher, they've returned to Shechem, specifically to the part of the field Jacob bought from Hamor. The city has been rebuilt, though it's still relatively small, with only around 300 inhabitants.
Their arrival doesn't go unnoticed. The surrounding Canaanite and Amorite kings are not exactly thrilled. "Are these Hebrews going to come back and finish what they started?" they wonder. "Are they going to drive us out or kill us too?"
Paranoia sets in.
The kings, led by JASHUB, king of Tapnach, decide to band together. Jasher even names some of these kings: Elan of Gaash, Ihuri of Shiloh, Parathon of Chazar, Susi of Sarton, Laban of Bethchoran, and Shabir of Othnay-mah. Jashub sends a call to arms: "Come help me! Let's wipe out Jacob and his sons. They’re back to take Shechem and kill everyone!"
A massive army assembles – "like the sand upon the sea shore," Jasher tells us. They divide into seven camps, ready to face the sons of Jacob. Then, they send a message: "Come out and meet us in the plain. We're here to avenge the men of Shechem!"
Understandably, Jacob’s sons are not pleased. Ten of them, along with 102 servants, arm themselves and prepare for battle. Jacob, ever the patriarch, goes with them, and they all stand on the "heap of Shechem", presumably a high point offering a tactical advantage.
And here's where it gets really interesting. Jacob, knowing the odds are stacked against them, prays. It's a powerful, poignant prayer. "God, you are Almighty," he cries out. "Deliver my sons! Give them strength! But if it's your will to take them, take them mercifully, not at the hands of these Amorites!"
The response is immediate. The earth shakes, the sun darkens, and the kings are terrified. According to Jasher, God "impressed the hearts of all the kings and their hosts with the terror and awe of the sons of Jacob." They hear the sounds of chariots and a mighty army, even though it's just a small band of men.
Panic sets in.
The kings consider retreating, but pride gets in the way. "We can't back down twice!" they say. As the sons of Jacob advance with a tremendous shout, the kings realize just how outnumbered they are.
But the sons of Jacob are undeterred. They call out to God: "Help us, O Lord! We trust in you! Don't let us die at the hands of these uncircumcised men!"
And then, the battle begins.
JUDAH, ever the bold one, leads the charge, with ten servants by his side. He faces off against King Jashub himself, who’s riding a powerful horse and covered head-to-toe in armor. Jashub is a skilled archer, known for never missing his target.
But as Jashub fires arrows at Judah, a miracle occurs. The Lord "bound the hand of Jashub," and the arrows rebound, hitting his own men! Still, Jashub presses forward.
Judah, seeing the onslaught, grabs a massive stone – a stone weighing sixty shekels (about 1.5 pounds, though weights varied). He hurls it at Jashub, striking his shield with such force that Jashub is knocked off his horse. The shield shatters, flying fifteen cubits away!
The other kings, witnessing Judah's strength, are filled with dread. Judah, not wasting a moment, draws his sword and slays forty-two men from Jashub's camp. The rest flee, leaving their king on the ground.
Jashub, regaining his composure, rises to face Judah in single combat. His men, however, are nowhere to be seen. Jashub tries to spear Judah, but Judah deflects the blow with his shield, which splinters.
Seeing his opportunity, Judah swiftly draws his sword and cuts off Jashub's feet. As the king falls, Judah grabs Jashub's own spear and beheads him, casting his head next to his feet.
The sons of Jacob, inspired by Judah's victory, surge into the ranks of the other kings. They slaughter fifteen thousand men, "as if smiting at gourds," Jasher says poetically.
Meanwhile, Judah strips Jashub of his armor. As he does, nine of Jashub's captains approach to avenge their king. Judah, without hesitation, grabs another stone and kills one of them instantly. The remaining eight flee, but Judah and his ten men pursue and slay them all.
While all this is happening, LEVI sees ELON, king of Gaash, approaching with fourteen captains. Levi, with twelve servants, turns to face this new threat and slays Elon and his captains with the sword.
The chapter ends with the sons of Jacob victorious, having routed the armies of the Canaanite and Amorite kings.
What are we to make of this story? It's a raw, violent account, but it also highlights themes of faith, courage, and divine intervention. The sons of Jacob, though outnumbered, trust in God and fight with unwavering determination. Judah's single-handed defeat of King Jashub is a evidence of his strength and bravery.
The Book of Jasher, while not part of the biblical canon, offers a fascinating glimpse into the world of Jewish legend and lore. It expands on the familiar stories of the Torah, adding details and perspectives that enrich our understanding of these ancient narratives. It reminds us that even in the face of overwhelming odds, faith and courage can lead to victory. And it leaves us pondering the complexities of justice, revenge, and the ever-present struggle for survival in a turbulent world.
Book of Jasher, Chapter 37 1 And in the one hundred and fifth year of the life of Jacob, that is the ninth year of Jacob's dwelling with his children in the land of Canaan, he came from Padan-aram. 2 And in those days Jacob journeyed with his children from Hebron, and they went and returned to the city of Shechem, they and all belonging to them, and they dwelt there, for the children of Jacob obtained good and fat pasture land for their cattle in the city of Shechem, the city of Shechem having then been rebuilt, and there were in it about three hundred men and women. 3 And Jacob and his children and all belonging to him dwelt in the part of the field which Jacob had bought from Hamor the father of Shechem, when he came from Padan-aram before Simeon and Levi had smitten the city. 4 And all those kings of the Canaanites and Amorites that surrounded the city of Shechem, heard that the sons of Jacob had again come to Shechem and dwelt there. 5 And they said, Shall the sons of Jacob the Hebrew again come to the city and dwell therein, after that they have smitten its inhabitants and driven them out? shall they now return and also drive out those who are dwelling in the city or slay them? 6 And all the kings of Canaan again assembled, and they came together to make war with Jacob and his sons. 7 And Jashub king of Tapnach sent also to all his neighboring kings, to Elan king of Gaash, and to Ihuri king of Shiloh, and to Parathon king of Chazar, and to Susi king of Sarton, and to Laban king of Bethchoran, and to Shabir king of Othnay-mah, saying, 8 Come up to me and assist me, and let us smite Jacob the Hebrew and his sons, and all belonging to him, for they are again come to Shechem to possess it and to slay its inhabitants as before. 9 And all these kings assembled together and came with all their camps, a people exceedingly plentiful like the sand upon the sea shore, and they were all opposite to Tapnach. 10 And Jashub king of Tapnach went forth to them with all his army, and he encamped with them opposite to Tapnach without the city, and all these kings they divided into seven divisions, being seven camps against the sons of Jacob. 11 And they sent a declaration to Jacob and his son, saying, Come you all forth to us that we may have an interview together in the plain, and revenge the cause of the men of Shechem whom you slew in their city, and you will now again return to the city of Shechem and dwell therein, and slay its inhabitants as before. 12 And the sons of Jacob heard this and their anger was kindled exceedingly at the words of the kings of Canaan, and ten of the sons of Jacob hastened and rose up, and each of them girt on his weapons of war; and there were one hundred and two of their servants with them equipped in battle array. 13 And all these men, the sons of Jacob with their servants, went toward these kings, and Jacob their father was with them, and they all stood upon the heap of Shechem. 14 And Jacob prayed to the Lord for his sons, and he spread forth his hands to the Lord, and he said, O God, thou art an Almighty God, thou art our father, thou didst form us and we are the works of thine hands; I pray thee deliver my sons through thy mercy from the hand of their enemies, who are this day coming to fight with them and save them from their hand, for in thy hand is power and might, to save the few from the many. 15 And give unto my sons, thy servants, strength of heart and might to fight with their enemies, to subdue them, and make their enemies fall before them, and let not my sons and their servants die through the hands of the children of Canaan. 16 But if it seemeth good in thine eyes to take away the lives of my sons and their servants, take them in thy great mercy through the hands of thy ministers, that they may not perish this day by the hands of the kings of the Amorites. 17 And when Jacob ceased praying to the Lord the earth shook from its place, and the sun darkened, and all these kings were terrified and a great consternation seized them. 18 And the Lord hearkened to the prayer of Jacob, and the Lord impressed the hearts of all the kings and their hosts with the terror and awe of the sons of Jacob. 19 For the Lord caused them to hear the voice of chariots, and the voice of mighty horses from the sons of Jacob, and the voice of a great army accompanying them. 20 And these kings were seized with great terror at the sons of Jacob, and whilst they were standing in their quarters, behold the sons of Jacob advanced upon them, with one hundred and twelve men, with a great and tremendous shouting. 21 And when the kings saw the sons of Jacob advancing toward them, they were still more panic struck, and they were inclined to retreat from before the sons of Jacob as at first, and not to fight with them. 22 But they did not retreat, saying, It would be a disgrace to us thus twice to retreat from before the Hebrews. 23 And the sons of Jacob came near and advanced against all these kings and their armies, and they saw, and behold it was a very mighty people, numerous as the sand of the sea. 24 And the sons of Jacob called unto the Lord and said, Help us O Lord, help us and answer us, for we trust in thee, and let us not die by the hands of these uncircumcised men, who this day have come against us. 25 And the sons of Jacob girt on their weapons of war, and they took in their hands each man his shield and his javelin, and they approached to battle. 26 And Judah, the son of Jacob, ran first before his brethren, and ten of his servants with him, and he went toward these kings. 27 And Jashub, king of Tapnach, also came forth first with his army before Judah, and Judah saw Jashub and his army coming toward him, and Judah's wrath was kindled, and his anger burned within him, and he approached to battle in which Judah ventured his life. 28 And Jashub and all his army were advancing toward Judah, and he was riding upon a very strong and powerful horse, and Jashub was a very valiant man, and covered with iron and brass from head to foot. 29 And whilst he was upon the horse, he shot arrows with both hands from before and behind, as was his manner in all his battles, and he never missed the place to which he aimed his arrows. 30 And when Jashub came to fight with Judah, and was darting many arrows against Judah, the Lord bound the hand of Jashub, and all the arrows that he shot rebounded upon his own men. 31 And notwithstanding this, Jashub kept advancing toward Judah, to challenge him with the arrows, but the distance between them was about thirty cubits, and when Judah saw Jashub darting forth his arrows against him, he ran to him with his wrath-excited might. 32 And Judah took up a large stone from the ground, and its weight was sixty shekels, and Judah ran toward Jashub, and with the stone struck him on his shield, that Jashub was stunned with the blow, and fell off from his horse to the ground. 33 And the shield burst asunder out of the hand of Jashub, and through the force of the blow sprang to the distance of about fifteen cubits, and the shield fell before the second camp. 34 And the kings that came with Jashub saw at a distance the strength of Judah, the son of Jacob, and what he had done to Jashub, and they were terribly afraid of Judah. 35 And they assembled near Jashub's camp, seeing his confusion, and Judah drew his sword and smote forty-two men of the camp of Jashub, and the whole of Jashub's camp fled before Judah, and no man stood against him, and they left Jashub and fled from him, and Jashub was still prostrate upon the ground. 36 And Jashub seeing that all the men of his camp had fled from him, hastened and rose up with terror against Judah, and stood upon his legs opposite Judah. 37 And Jashub had a single combat with Judah, placing shield toward shield, and Jashub's men all fled, for they were greatly afraid of Judah. 38 And Jashub took his spear in his hand to strike Judah upon his head, but Judah had quickly placed his shield to his head against Jashub's spear, so that the shield of Judah received the blow from Jashub's spear, and the shield was split in too. 39 And when Judah saw that his shield was split, he hastily drew his sword and smote Jashub at his ankles, and cut off his feet that Jashub fell upon the ground, and the spear fell from his hand. 40 And Judah hastily picked up Jashub's spear, with which he severed his head and cast it next to his feet. 41 And when the sons of Jacob saw what Judah had done to Jashub, they all ran into the ranks of the other kings, and the sons of Jacob fought with the army of Jashub, and the armies of all the kings that were there. 42 And the sons of Jacob caused fifteen thousand of their men to fall, and they smote them as if smiting at gourds, and the rest fled for their lives. 43 And Judah was still standing by the body of Jashub, and stripped Jashub of his coat of mail. 44 And Judah also took off the iron and brass that was about Jashub, and behold nine men of the captains of Jashub came along to fight against Judah. 45 And Judah hastened and took up a stone from the ground, and with it smote one of them upon the head, and his skull was fractured, and the body also fell from the horse to the ground. 46 And the eight captains that remained, seeing the strength of Judah, were greatly afraid and they fled, and Judah with his ten men pursued them, and they overtook them and slew them. 47 And the sons of Jacob were still smiting the armies of the kings, and they slew many of them, but those kings daringly kept their stand with their captains, and did not retreat from their places, and they exclaimed against those of their armies that fled from before the sons of Jacob, but none would listen to them, for they were afraid of their lives lest they should die. 48 And all the sons of Jacob, after having smitten the armies of the kings, returned and came before Judah, and Judah was still slaying the eight captains of Jashub, and stripping off their garments. 49 And Levi saw Elon, king of Gaash, advancing toward him, with his fourteen captains to smite him, but Levi did not know it for certain. 50 And Elon with his captains approached nearer, and Levi looked back and saw that battle was given him in the rear, and Levi ran with twelve of his servants, and they went and slew Elon and his captains with the edge of the sword.
