Definition: The sons of Jacob came upon the slain, and spoiled the city, because they had defiled their sister.
Explanation: Okay, letโs break down this verse from Genesis 34:27. Itโs a really important and somewhat complex story about betrayal and consequences. Hereโs what it means in simpler terms: The Basic Story: Jacob is a man: In the Old Testament, Jacob is a patriarch โ a very important leader โ of the Israelites. Heโs traveling with Simeon: Heโs traveling with his brother Simeon to Egypt. They find a dead man: They stumble upon a dead man who was being guarded by a young man named Esau. The young man is tricked: The young man, fearing Jacob, tricks him into killing the man. Jacob and his brothers take over: After the murder, Jacob and his brothers decide to take over the city (a settlement) that the dead man was guarding. They then spoile it โ they ruin it, destroy it, and make it worthless. What does "Spoiled" mean? It means they treated the city with disrespect and disregard. They took advantage of it, didn't respect it, and made it a place of waste. The Key Point: Defiling a Sister This verse is particularly significant because it highlights a crucial point: the act of betrayal is connected to the defilement of a sister. This isnโt just about a casual disagreement; it's about a deliberate and harmful action against Jacob's wife, Rachel. The word โsisterโ here refers to Rachel, who was very important to Jacob. Why is this story important? It shows the consequences of sin: It demonstrates that when we betray our loved ones โ especially those close to us โ it has serious repercussions. Itโs about responsibility: Jacob and his brothers are shown to be responsible for what happened. They weren't just unlucky; they caused a significant loss through their actions. Itโs a lesson about respect: It emphasizes the importance of treating others with respect, even those who seem less important than us. In short, this verse tells us that betrayal and disrespect can have devastating results, especially when it involves damaging someone's relationships or property. --- Do you want me to: Explain a specific part of the story in more detail? Give you another Bible verse related to this topic?