GEN1418 In the case of [this verse], a J account of the capture of Shechem, J employs the word meerma (guile) to describe the form of deception employed by Jacob’s sons to gain the confidence of Hamor and Shechem after the rape of their sister Dinah. Here again, meerma seems to be a justifiable form of deception. Since Dinah had been the victim of Shechem, “guile” was a permissible form of deception to achieve compensation for the wrong. This form of deception is seen as permissible and perhaps laudable but at no time does J employ the idea of it being “lying” even though J does have a category of lying which involves an extremely deceptive action or words involving Israelite and non-Israelites. See Exodus 5:9 The deceptions of the sons of Jacob do, however, have some type of retribution attached to them, as is revealed in J’s version of the blessings of Jacob’s sons. See Genesis 49:5-7.