The story of Dinah and of the destruction of Shechem presents numerous difficulties which are hard to explain. (1) The reader is surprised at finding that Jacob and his sons, who had fled from Laban and had been at the mercy of Esau, are now able, though dwelling in the midst of strangers, to seize... [ Continue Reading ]
_Dinah_ See Genesis 30:21; Genesis 31:41, from which passages the age of Dinah at the time of Jacob's flight from Haran may be computed. She was nearly the last of Jacob's children born in Haran.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Hivite_ See Genesis 10:17. The name of a Canaanite tribe. In Joshua 9:7 the Hivites are found in Gibeon; but, from Judges 3:3 and Joshua 11:3, their dwelling-place was traditionally connected with Lebanon. LXX has "Horite," as in Joshua 9:7. "Hamor," as the name of an animal, means "he-ass." _the... [ Continue Reading ]
_his soul_ i.e. his affections. Heb. _nephesh_. Cf. Genesis 12:13; Genesis 27:4. _kindly_, &c. Heb. _to the heart of the damsel_. The same phrase, sometimes rendered "comfortably," occurs in Genesis 50:21; 2 Samuel 19:7; Isaiah 40:2; Hosea 2:14.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Get me_ The parents were accustomed to obtain a wife for their son: see Genesis 21:21; Genesis 24:3-4; Judges 14:2.... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Hamor_ This verse continues Genesis 34:4. The intervening Genesis 34:5 is continued in Genesis 34:7.... [ Continue Reading ]
_wrought folly_ The word _nebâlah_denotes "senseless wickedness," an offence against honour and morality: cf. the use of the word in Deuteronomy 22:21; Joshua 7:15; Judges 19:23-24; 2 Samuel 13:12. _in Israel_ The addition of these words (as in Deuteronomy 22:21; Judges 20:6; Judges 20:10;... [ Continue Reading ]
_make ye marriages with us_ Hamor's proposition is to the effect that the Israelites and the Shechemites should be amalgamated on the basis of (1) intermarriage, (2) trading rights, (3) rights of occupation of land. For the detestation of intermarriage with the Canaanites, see Deuteronomy 7:3; Joshu... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Shechem_ Here, and in Genesis 34:12, Shechem makes his own) overtures to Jacob and his sons. In Genesis 34:6_; Genesis 34:8_, Hamor has been negotiating on behalf of Shechem.... [ Continue Reading ]
_dowry and gift_ The "dowry," or _mohar_, is the present made to the parents or relations, cf. Genesis 24:53; Exo 22:16; 1 Samuel 18:25. The rendering "dowry" hardly, therefore, gives the correct idea to English readers. The "gift," on the other hand, was the present made by the bridegroom to the br... [ Continue Reading ]
_the sons of Jacob_ In Genesis 34:13 we have the treacherous proposal, made by the sons of Jacob, by which they would be able to revenge themselves upon the Shechemites, and attack them, when they would be incapacitated for defence.... [ Continue Reading ]
_uncircumcised_ The passage contains the interesting and early tradition, that circumcision was not practised by the Canaanite dwellers in Shechem. On the widespread prevalence of this rite, see note on ch. 15. In J and E, Israelite circumcision is specially connected with the names of Moses and Jos... [ Continue Reading ]
_to do the thing_ This verse describes Shechem's eagerness to fulfil some condition required by Jacob. We cannot say for certain, whether this personal requirement was the same as that contained above, i.e. the obligation of circumcision (Genesis 34:15). _honoured above all_ These words must have h... [ Continue Reading ]
_the gate of their city_ The place for the transaction of public business: see note on Genesis 19:1; Genesis 23:10.... [ Continue Reading ]
_cattle … substance_ It would be a good business transaction.... [ Continue Reading ]
_all that went out of the gate_ i.e. all the citizens: cf. "all that went in at the gate," Genesis 23:10; Genesis 23:18.... [ Continue Reading ]
_And it came to pass_ In this verse the Compiler has combined the two versions: (1) that which ascribes the treacherous deed to the sons of Jacob generally; and (2) that in which Simeon and Levi alone are the perpetrators of the massacre. _when they were sore_ The effects of the operation rendered... [ Continue Reading ]
_slew Hamor and Shechem … took Dinah … went forth_ In this verse we have the narrative in which Simeon and Levi (cf. Genesis 34:25_; Genesis 34:30_) alone entered the city, slew Hamor and Shechem, took Dinah from Shechem's house, and made off with her. Their act is one of family vengeance for the ho... [ Continue Reading ]
_The sons of Jacob_ This verse and Genesis 34:28 record the version in which all the sons of Jacob united to massacre the males of Shechem, carried away captive the wives and children, and took possession of the wealth and property of the inhabitants: cf. Numbers 31:9; Numbers 31:11.... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Jacob_, &c. This and the following verse continue the narrative of Genesis 34:26. Jacob reproaches his two sons for the murder, on account of which the people of the land will be infuriated with Jacob and his house. Cf. Genesis 49:5-7. _troubled_ The same word used in the story of Achan (Joshu... [ Continue Reading ]
_Should he deal_ Simeon and Levi regard the incident as one in which the honour of the clan was involved, and as if they had only one course of action to follow with regard to Shechem and Hamor.... [ Continue Reading ]