Genesis 34:13-23

13 Da antworteten Jakobs Söhne dem Sichem und seinem Vater Hemor betrüglich, darum daß ihre Schwester Dina geschändet war, {~}

14 und sprachen zu ihnen: Wir können das nicht tun, daß wir unsere Schwester einem unbeschnittenem Mann geben; denn das wäre uns eine Schande.

15 Doch dann wollen wir euch zu Willen sein, so ihr uns gleich werdet und alles, was männlich unter euch ist, beschnitten werde;

16 dann wollen wir unsere Töchter euch geben und eure Töchter uns nehmen und bei euch wohnen und ein Volk sein.

17 Wo ihr aber nicht darein willigen wollt, euch zu beschneiden, so wollen wir unsere Tochter nehmen und davonziehen.

18 Die Rede gefiel Hemor und seinem Sohn wohl. {~}

19 Und der Jüngling verzog nicht, solches zu tun; denn er hatte Lust zu der Tochter Jakobs. Und er war herrlich gehalten über alle in seines Vaters Hause.

20 Da kamen sie nun, Hemor und sein Sohn Sichem, unter der Stadt Tor und redeten mit den Bürgern der Stadt und sprachen:

21 Diese Leute sind friedsam bei uns und wollen im Lande wohnen und werben; so ist nun das Land weit genug für sie. Wir wollen uns ihre Töchter zu Weibern nehmen und ihnen unser Töchter geben.

22 Aber dann wollen sie uns zu Willen sein, daß sie bei uns wohnen und ein Volk mit uns werden, wo wir alles, was männlich unter uns ist, beschneiden, gleich wie sie beschnitten sind.

23 Ihr Vieh und ihre Güter und alles, was sie haben, wird unser sein, so wir nur ihnen zu Willen werden, daß sie bei uns wohnen.

Genesis 34:13-23 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 34

This chapter gives an account of the ravishment of Dinah by Shechem, Ge 34:1-5; of his father Hamor and him treating with Jacob and his sons about the marriage of her, Ge 34:6-12; of the condition proposed by Jacob's sons, circumcision of all the males in Shechem, which was agreed to by Shechem and his father, Ge 34:13-19; of the men of Shechem being persuaded to yield to it, Ge 34:20-24; and of the destruction of them on the third day by Simeon and Levi, and of the plunder of their city and field, and of the captivity of their wives and children by Jacob's sons, which gave Jacob great offence, and in which they justified themselves, Ge 34:25-31.

Who is supposed to be at this time about fourteen or fifteen years of age: for that she was but about nine or ten years old is not to be credited, as some compute it {z}: she is observed to be the daughter of Leah, partly that the following miscarriage might bring to mind her forwardness to intrude herself into Jacob's bed, and be a rebuke unto her; and partly to account for Simeon and Levi being so active in revenging her abuse, they being Leah's sons: of Dinah it is said, that she

\\went out to see the daughters of the land\\; of the land of Canaan, to visit them, and contract an acquaintance with them; and she having no sisters to converse with at home, it might be a temptation to her to go abroad. According to the Targum of Jonathan, she went to see the manners, customs, and fashions of the women of that country, to learn them, as the Septuagint version renders the word; or to see their habit and dress, and how they ornamented themselves, as Josephus {a} observes; and who also says it was a festival day at Shechem, and therefore very probably many of the young women of the country round about might come thither on that occasion; and who being dressed in their best clothes would give Dinah a good opportunity of seeing and observing their fashions; and which, with the diversions of the season, and shows to be seen, allured Dinah to go out of her mother's tent into the city, to gratify her curiosity. Aben Ezra's note is, that she went of herself, that is, without the leave of either of her parents: according to other Jewish writers {b} there was a snare laid for her by Shechem, who observing that Jacob's daughter dwelt in tents, and did not go abroad, he brought damsels out of the city dancing and playing on timbrels; and Dinah went forth to see them playing, and he took her, and lay with her, as follows.

{z} R. Ganz. Tzemach David, par. l. fol. 6. 2. {a} Antiqu. l. 1. c. 21. sect. 1. {b} Pirke Eliezer, c. 38. fol. 42. 2. 08940-950104-0921-Ge34.2