Genesis 34:13

13 Jacob's sons answered Shechem and his father with cunning. Their sister, after all, had been raped.

Genesis 34:13 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 34:13

And the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor deceitfully,
&c.] Proposing the marriage of their sister on terms after mentioned, when they never intended it should ever be: Onkelos, Jonathan, and Jarchi interpret it, "with wisdom", as if they answered wisely and prudently, but the word is never used in a good sense; and if it was wisdom, it was carnal wisdom and wicked cunning, and was disapproved of by plain hearted Jacob:

and said:
or spoke in this deceitful manner:

because he had defiled Dinah their sister;
and therefore were filled with indignation at him, and fired with resentment against him, and vowed within themselves revenge upon him.

Genesis 34:13 In-Context

11 Shechem then spoke for himself, addressing Dinah's father and brothers: "Please, say yes. I'll pay anything.

12 Set the bridal price as high as you will - the sky's the limit! Only give me this girl for my wife."

13 Jacob's sons answered Shechem and his father with cunning. Their sister, after all, had been raped.

14 They said, "This is impossible. We could never give our sister to a man who was uncircumcised. Why, we'd be disgraced.

15 The only condition on which we can talk business is if all your men become circumcised like us.