He's just heard an unbelievable story. A preposterous tale. Two men – just two – had laid waste to an entire city. A city filled with people who couldn’t defend themselves and were all killed or enslaved.
Jashub couldn't believe his ears. According to Legends of the Jews, this was unheard of, "not even from the remotest times, that two men should be able to destroy so large a city." This wasn't just any city, mind you. This was Shechem, and these weren’t just any men. They were the sons of Jacob. And Jashub, understandably, wanted revenge.
His initial reaction? War. He wanted to avenge the people of Shechem. But his advisors... they had a slightly different perspective.
"If two of them laid waste a whole city," they wisely pointed out, "surely if thou goest against them, they all will rise up against us, and destroy us." Fear, raw and palpable, gripping the hearts of these advisors. They weren't afraid of Jashub's army; they were terrified of what these sons of Jacob were capable of.
So, what did they suggest? A coalition. "Therefore, send to the kings round about, that we all together fight against the sons of Jacob, and prevail against them." In other words, they needed to band together, pool their resources, and attack as one massive force. Only then, they thought, would they stand a chance.
It’s a powerful image, isn’t it? The fear of the unknown, the respect (or perhaps terror) inspired by the seemingly impossible. And it all stems from the actions of just two men. It makes you wonder, doesn't it? What incredible feats are we capable of, even when the odds seem insurmountable? What actions might reverberate through history, shaping the fears and alliances of generations to come?