John Calvin Commentary Genesis 35:5

"And they journeyed: and a terror of God was upon the cities that were round about them, and they did not pursue after the sons of Jacob." — Genesis 35:5 (ASV)

And the terror of God was upon the cities. It now clearly appears that deliverance was not promised in vain by God to the holy man, since, amid so many hostile swords, he goes out not only safely but also undisturbed. By the destruction of the Shechemites, all the neighboring people were inflamed with enmity against a single family, yet no one moves to take vengeance.

Moses explains the reason: the terror of God had fallen upon them, which repressed their violent assaults. From this we may learn that the hearts of men are in the hands of God: He can inspire with fortitude those who are weak in themselves and, on the other hand, soften their iron-hardness whenever He pleases.

Sometimes, indeed, He allows many to display the foam of their pride, against whom He afterward opposes His power. But He often weakens with fear those who were naturally as bold as lions. Thus we find these giants, who could have devoured Jacob a hundred times, so struck with terror that they faint.

Therefore, whenever we see the wicked furiously bent on our destruction, so that our hearts do not fail with fear and are not broken by desperation, let us remember this terror of God, by which the rage of the whole world, however furious, can be easily subdued.