_A.M. 2272. B.C. 1732._ In this chapter we have, (1,) _ Dinah debauched, Genesis 34:1._ (2,) _ A treaty of marriage between her and Shechem, who had defiled her, Genesis 34:6._ (3,) _ The circumcision of the Shechemites, pursuant to their treaty, Genesis 34:20._ (4,) _ The perfidious and bloody... [ Continue Reading ]
_Dinah, the daughter of Leah, went out_ From her father's house into the city, out of curiosity, there being then, as Josephus asserts, (_Ant._, lib. 50. c. 20,) a great concourse of people to a feast. It does not appear that she asked, much less obtained, her father's consent in this: but, to grati... [ Continue Reading ]
_Shechem took her, and defiled her_ Hebrew, _humbled her._ “The word,” says Bishop Kidder, “intimates _his violence_, as well as _her dissent.”_ Young women may learn from this to be “chaste, keepers at home,” (Titus 2:5,) which qualities have a closer connection than many are willing to believe. Th... [ Continue Reading ]
_He spake kindly unto the damsel_ Desiring not only to comfort her after the ignominy he had brought upon her, but to conciliate her mind, and get her consent to marry him, that he might thereby repair, as far as possible, the injury he had done her. So that, though his behaviour had been very sinfu... [ Continue Reading ]
_His_ (Jacob's) _sons were in the field_ Probably at a very considerable distance; for it was usual to drive their flocks many miles for pasture. _Jacob held his peace till they were come_ Oppressed with grief and shame, on account of his daughter's disgrace, and being unable to determine himself wh... [ Continue Reading ]
_Hamor went to commune with Jacob_ It seems that Jacob would have acted wisely if he had followed his own judgment in this affair, instead of consulting his sons, who were young, rash, and violent. But it is evident that they had gained a considerable degree of influence with him: and on this occasi... [ Continue Reading ]
_He had wrought folly_ All sin is folly: but some sinful actions are attended with such circumstances of ignorance and thoughtlessness, and are so inimical to our temporal as well as eternal interests, that they peculiarly merit the name of _folly._ Shechem's sin is termed folly _in Israel_, accordi... [ Continue Reading ]
_Hamor communed with them_ Not only with Jacob, but with his sons, to whom Jacob had imprudently referred him. And here we have a particular account of the treaty, in which, it is a shame to say, the Canaanites were more honest than the Israelites.... [ Continue Reading ]
_The land shall be before you_ That is, in your power, to dwell where you please, and to have the same rights and privileges in it which we have. _Get you possessions therein_ Or _take possession in it_, that is, in any vacant part of it: use it for pasture or tillage, as you think good, and take th... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ask me never so much dowry and gift_ Dowry to her for her portion, according to the ancient custom of men's buying their wives, Exodus 22:17; and _gift_ to you, either for reparation of the past injury, or in testimony of my respect to you, and desire of her. _The sons of Jacob answered deceitfully... [ Continue Reading ]
_We cannot give our sister to one who is uncircumcised_ They were not prohibited from doing this by any law yet in force, as the examples of Isaac and Jacob show, who both married the daughters of uncircumcised persons; and therefore they do not here reject the proposal as simply unlawful, but only... [ Continue Reading ]
Hamor and Shechem gave consent themselves to be circumcised. To this perhaps they were moved, not only by the strong desire they had to bring about this match, but by what they might have heard of the sacred and honourable intentions of this sign, in the family of Abraham, which it is probable they... [ Continue Reading ]
_Shall not their cattle and substance be ours_? Either for our use and benefit in the way of trade and commerce, or because they will descend to the issue of our children as well as theirs. Thus they cover their private designs with the specious show of public good.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Unto Hamor and Shechem hearkened all_, &c. They consented to be circumcised, partly in compliance with their young prince, whom they either feared or loved; and partly in prospect of their own advantage; for which men are frequently willing to expose themselves to great pains and hazards.... [ Continue Reading ]
_They slew all the males_ Nothing can excuse this execrable villany. It was true Shechem had wrought _folly in Israel_, in defiling Dinah: but it ought to have been considered how far Dinah herself had been accessary to it. Had Shechem abused her in her mother's tent, it had been another matter; but... [ Continue Reading ]
_Their little ones and their wives took they captive_ No mention is made of these captives afterward: nor is it easy to conjecture what became of them. Perhaps the most probable supposition is, that Jacob restored both them and the property taken by his sons to their surviving relatives and countrym... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ye have troubled me, to make me to stink_ That is, you have rendered me and my family odious among the inhabitants of the land. Abraham and Isaac had been much respected, though strangers in the country, and their wise, righteous, and benevolent conduct, and that of their families, had gained honou... [ Continue Reading ]
_Should he deal with our sister as with a harlot?_ No, he should not; but, if he do, must they be their own avengers? and nothing less than so many lives, and the ruin of a whole city, serve to atone for the abuse?... [ Continue Reading ]