Genesis 34:3-13

3 Und sein Herz hing an ihr, und er hatte die Dirne lieb und redete freundlich mit ihr. {~} {~}

4 Und Sichem sprach zu seinem Vater Hemor: Nimm mir das Mägdlein zum Weibe. {~}

5 Und Jakob erfuhr, daß seine Tochter Dina geschändet war; und seine Söhne waren mit dem Vieh auf dem Felde, und Jakob schwieg bis daß sie kamen.

6 Da ging Hemor, Sichems Vater, heraus zu Jakob, mit ihm zu reden.

7 Indes kamen die Söhne Jakobs vom Felde. Und da sie es hörten, verdroß es die Männer, und sie wurden sehr zornig, daß er eine Torheit an Israel begangen und bei Jakobs Tochter gelegen hatte, denn so sollte es nicht sein.

8 Da redete Hemor mit ihnen und sprach: Meines Sohnes Sichem Herz sehnt sich nach eurer Tochter; gebt sie ihm doch zum Weibe.

9 Befreundet euch mit uns; gebt uns eure Töchter und nehmt ihr unsere Töchter

10 und wohnt bei uns. Das Land soll euch offen sein; wohnt und werbet und gewinnet darin.

11 Und Sichem sprach zu ihrem Vater und ihren Brüdern: Laßt uns Gnade bei euch finden; was ihr mir sagt, das will ich euch geben.

12 Fordert nur getrost von mir Morgengabe und Geschenk, ich will's geben, wie ihr heischt; gebt mir nur die Dirne zum Weibe.

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

Genesis 34:3-13 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