disgraceful thing: The Hebrew word nebalah means "outrage" or "deplorable act." It often refers to sexual crimes like rape and adultery (Genesis 34:7; Deuteronomy 22:21; Judges 20:6, 10; Jeremiah 29:23). The person responsible must pay with his life.
in Israel: The added phrase either shows outrage that such a crime took place among Israelites, or it describes the act as a serious violation of Israel’s standards for sexual behavior.