1 And Dinah the daughter of Leah, which she bare unto Jacob, went out to see the daughters of the land.
2 And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he took her, and lay with her, and defiled her.
3 And his soul clave unto Dinah the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the damsel, and spake kindly unto the damsel.
4 And Shechem spake unto his father Hamor, saying, Get me this damsel to wife.
5 And Jacob heard that he had defiled Dinah his daughter: now his sons were with his cattle in the field: and Jacob held his peace until they were come.
6 And Hamor the father of Shechem went out unto Jacob to commune with him.
7 And the sons of Jacob came out of the field when they heard [it]: and the men were grieved, and they were very wroth, because he had wrought folly in Israel in lying with Jacob’s daughter; which thing ought not to be done.
8 And Hamor communed with them, saying, The soul of my son Shechem longeth for your daughter: I pray you give her him to wife.
9 And make ye marriages with us, [and] give your daughters unto us, and take our daughters unto you.
10 And ye shall dwell with us: and the land shall be before you; dwell and trade ye therein, and get you possessions therein.
11 And Shechem said unto her father and unto her brethren, Let me find grace in your eyes, and what ye shall say unto me I will give.
12 Ask me never so much dowry and gift, and I will give according as ye shall say unto me: but give me the damsel to wife.
13 And the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father deceitfully, and said, because he had defiled Dinah their sister:
14 And they said unto them, We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one that is uncircumcised; for that [were] a reproach unto us:
15 But in this will we consent unto you: If ye will be as we [be], that every male of you be circumcised;
16 Then will we give our daughters unto you, and we will take your daughters to us, and we will dwell with you, and we will become one people.
17 But if ye will not hearken unto us, to be circumcised; then will we take our daughter, and we will be gone.
18 And their words pleased Hamor, and Shechem Hamor’s son.
19 And the young man deferred not to do the thing, because he had delight in Jacob’s daughter: and he [was] more honourable than all the house of his father.
20 And Hamor and Shechem his son came unto the gate of their city, and communed with the men of their city, saying,
21 These men [are] peaceable with us; therefore let them dwell in the land, and trade therein; for the land, behold, [it is] large enough for them; let us take their daughters to us for wives, and let us give them our daughters.
22 Only herein will the men consent unto us for to dwell with us, to be one people, if every male among us be circumcised, as they [are] circumcised.
23 [Shall] not their cattle and their substance and every beast of theirs [be] ours? only let us consent unto them, and they will dwell with us.
24 And unto Hamor and unto Shechem his son hearkened all that went out of the gate of his city; and every male was circumcised, all that went out of the gate of his city.
25 And it came to pass on the third day, when they were sore, that two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brethren, took each man his sword, and came upon the city boldly, and slew all the males.
26 And they slew Hamor and Shechem his son with the edge of the sword, and took Dinah out of Shechem’s house, and went out.
27 The sons of Jacob came upon the slain, and spoiled the city, because they had defiled their sister.
28 They took their sheep, and their oxen, and their asses, and that which [was] in the city, and that which [was] in the field,
29 And all their wealth, and all their little ones, and their wives took they captive, and spoiled even all that [was] in the house.
30 And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, Ye have troubled me to make me to stink among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites: and I [being] few in number, they shall gather themselves together against me, and slay me; and I shall be destroyed, I and my house.
31 And they said, Should he deal with our sister as with an harlot?
Summary of Genesis Chapter 34
Genesis Chapter 34 recounts a significant and troubling episode in the life of Jacob’s family, focusing on the events surrounding the violation of Dinah, Jacob’s daughter, and the subsequent actions taken by her brothers. The chapter highlights themes of honor, revenge, and the complexities of family dynamics.
Key Characters
- Dinah: The daughter of Jacob and Leah, whose story is central to this chapter.
- Shem: The son of Hamor, the Hivite, who violates Dinah.
- Hamor: The father of Shem, who seeks to negotiate with Jacob’s family.
- Jacob: The father of Dinah, who reacts to the events surrounding his daughter.
- Simeon and Levi: Dinah’s brothers, who take decisive and violent action in response to the violation of their sister.
Plot Overview
- Dinah’s Violation: The chapter opens with Dinah going out to visit the women of the land. She is seen by Shem, who takes her and lies with her, violating her.
- Shem’s Proposal: After the act, Shem falls in love with Dinah and desires to marry her. He approaches his father, Hamor, to negotiate a marriage arrangement with Jacob’s family.
- Jacob’s Reaction: Jacob learns of the incident but remains silent until his sons return from the fields. He waits for their input before responding.
- Negotiation and Deceit: Hamor and Shem come to Jacob to propose the marriage. They suggest that Dinah be given to Shem as a wife and that intermarriage between their peoples could be beneficial. Jacob’s sons deceitfully agree to the proposal under the condition that all the males of the city be circumcised.
- The Attack: After the men of the city are circumcised, Simeon and Levi attack while they are in pain and incapacitated, killing all the males and rescuing Dinah.
- Aftermath and Consequences: Jacob expresses fear of retaliation from neighboring tribes due to the violent actions of his sons. He is concerned about the potential repercussions on his family.
Thematic Analysis
- Honor and Shame: The chapter illustrates the cultural significance of honor and shame in ancient societies, particularly concerning family reputation and the treatment of women.
- Revenge and Justice: The actions of Simeon and Levi raise questions about justice and revenge. Their violent response to Dinah’s violation reflects a deep sense of familial loyalty but also poses moral dilemmas.
- Family Dynamics: The chapter highlights the complexities of Jacob’s family relationships, particularly how Dinah’s violation affects the unity and decisions of her brothers and father.
- Deception: The use of deceit by Jacob’s sons to achieve their ends raises ethical questions about the means used to attain justice or revenge.
Historical and Cultural Context
This chapter provides insight into the cultural practices of the time, including the significance of circumcision as a covenantal sign and the practices surrounding marriage and intermarriage among different peoples. The violent actions of Simeon and Levi can also be viewed in the context of tribal warfare and the protection of family honor, which were paramount in ancient Near Eastern societies.
Conclusion
Genesis Chapter 34 serves as a complex narrative that explores themes of honor, revenge, and family loyalty. It raises important questions about morality, justice, and the consequences of actions taken in the name of family honor. The chapter foreshadows the ongoing struggles and challenges that Jacob’s family will face as they navigate their identity and relationships in a foreign land.
