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Bible Notes - Tabernacle Commentaries
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Genesis 34:7
Comments
Some think that Hamon did not reach Jacob but ran into sons on the way, but more likely he met Jacob and then the sons came along afterwards, and Jacob withdrew. He holds discussions with sons in addition to those with Jacob. The sons are beside themselves. This was a disgrace to the family, and they were right to be angry, but they could not control their passions and feel the pain and the horror of the situation, without giving way to extreme thoughts of vengeance and destruction. What had happened was a folly in Israel. It was completely against the principles by which the family lived that their sister should be abused in this way. ‘Which thing ought not to be done.’ Some say this means, ‘Which thing ought not to be suffered’, that is, should not take lying down. That is Calvin’s interpretation, and it may be right.
Application
The Christian is responsible for how he conducts himself even when he is overcome by righteous indignation. Anger can so easily cause us to go out of control, and make us overreact. It craves the satisfaction of revenge. But while the believer may seek justice according to the law, he knows that vengeance belongs to the Lord, and when God executes vengeance it will be in a much wiser and more comprehensive form than anything we could do. We must not allow our anger to make us more guilty than those who have wronged us. Especially when we suffer for the Lord’s sake, we must be willing to resign everything into the hands of the Lord.
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