Génesis 34:11-21

11 El propio Siquem también habló con el padre de Dina y con sus hermanos:
—Por favor, sean bondadosos conmigo y permitan que me case con ella —les suplicó—. Yo les daré cualquier cosa que me pidan.

12 Sea cual fuere la dote o el regalo que exijan, lo pagaré de buena gana; solo les pido que me entreguen a la muchacha como esposa.

13 Pero como Siquem había deshonrado a la hermana de ellos, Dina, los hijos de Jacob respondieron con engaño a Siquem y a Hamor, su padre.

14 Les dijeron:
—De ninguna manera podemos permitirlo, porque tú no has sido circuncidado. ¡Sería una vergüenza para nuestra hermana casarse con un hombre como tú!

15 Pero hay una solución. Si todos los varones entre ustedes se circuncidan, como lo hicimos nosotros,

16 entonces les entregaremos a nuestras hijas y tomaremos a las hijas de ustedes para nosotros. Viviremos entre ustedes y seremos un solo pueblo;

17 pero si no aceptan circuncidarse, tomaremos a nuestra hermana y nos marcharemos.

18 Hamor y su hijo Siquem aceptaron la propuesta.

19 Siquem no demoró en cumplir con el requisito, porque deseaba con desesperación a la hija de Jacob. Siquem era un miembro muy respetado de su familia,

20 y acompañó a su padre, Hamor, a presentar la propuesta a los líderes que estaban a las puertas de la ciudad.

21 Les dijeron: «Esos hombres son nuestros amigos. Invitémoslos a vivir entre nosotros y comerciemos libremente. Miren, hay suficiente tierra para mantenerlos. Podemos tomar a sus hijas como esposas y permitir que ellos se casen con las nuestras.

Génesis 34:11-21 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