Genesi 34:14-24

14 E disser loro: Noi non possiam far questa cosa, di dar la nostra sorella ad un uomo incirconciso; perciocchè il prepuzio ci è cosa vituperosa.

15 Ma pur vi compiaceremo con questo, che voi siate come noi, circoncidendosi ogni maschio d’infra voi.

16 Allora noi vi daremo le nostre figliuole, e ci prenderemo le vostre, ed abiteremo con voi, e diventeremo uno stesso popolo.

17 Ma se voi non ci acconsentite di circoncidervi, noi prenderemo la nostra fanciulla, e ce ne andremo.

18 E le lor parole piacquero ad Hemor, ed a Sichem figliuolo d’Hemor.

19 E quel giovane non indugiò il far questa cosa; perciocchè egli portava affezione alla figliuola di Giacobbe; ed egli era il più onorato di tutta la casa di suo padre.

20 Ed Hemor, e Sichem suo figliuolo, vennero alla porta della città, e parlarono agli uomini della lor città, dicendo:

21 Questi uomini vivono pacificamente con noi, e dimoreranno nel paese, e vi trafficheranno; ed ecco il paese è ampio assai per loro; e noi ci prenderemo le lor figliuole per mogli, e daremo loro le nostre.

22 Ma pure a questi patti ci compiaceranno di abitar con noi, per diventare uno stesso popolo, che ogni maschio d’infra noi sia circonciso, siccome essi son circoncisi.

23 Il lor bestiame, e le lor facoltà, e tutte le lor bestie non saranno elle nostre? compiacciamo pur loro, ed essi abiteranno con noi.

24 E tutti quelli che uscivano per la porta della lor città, acconsentirono loro; e ogni maschio d’infra tutti quelli che uscivano per la porta della lor città, fu circonciso.

Genesi 34:14-24 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