And Dinah the daughter of Leah, which she bare unto Jacob, went out to see the daughters of the land. Ver. 1. _Went out to see the daughters of the land._] Who went abroad at this time, with timbrels, to play, say the Hebrews; kept a solemn feast, saith Josephus. Hence Dinah's desire to see them. B... [ Continue Reading ]
And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he took her, and lay with her, and defiled her. Ver. 2. _Saw her, he look her, and lay with her._] _Ut vidit, periit._ By those windows of the eyes and ears, sin and death often enter: through them the devil throws balls... [ Continue Reading ]
And his soul clave unto Dinah the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the damsel, and spake kindly unto the damsel. Ver. 3. _And his soul clave unto Dinah._] He kicked her not out of doors, as Amnon did Tamar, far sweeter to him in the ambition, than in the fruition; but to make amends, as they call it... [ Continue Reading ]
And Shechem spake unto his father Hamor, saying, Get me this damsel to wife. Ver. 4: Get me this damsel to wife.] This is praise worthy in Shechem, as bad as he was, that he correcteth his base-born love, or lust rather, by seeking to make her his wife; not without consent of parents on both sides;... [ Continue Reading ]
And Jacob heard that he had defiled Dinah his daughter: now his sons were with his cattle in the field: and Jacob held his peace until they were come. Ver. 5. _And Jacob heard._] To his very great grief and regret: for she was his only daughter; a damsel of not more than fifteen years of age. The H... [ Continue Reading ]
And Hamor the father of Shechem went out unto Jacob to commune with him. Ver. 6. _And Hamor the father of Shechem,_] Unruly youth put their aged parents, many times, to much travail and trouble; as Samson, Shechem, Paris, &c. Green wood is ever shrinking and warping; whereas the well-seasoned holds... [ Continue Reading ]
And the sons of Jacob came out of the field when they heard [it]: and the men were grieved, and they were very wroth, because he had wrought folly in Israel in lying with Jacob's daughter; which thing ought not to be done. Ver. 7. _The men were grieved, and very wroth._] A pair of unruly passions,... [ Continue Reading ]
And Hamor communed with them, saying, The soul of my son Shechem longeth for your daughter: I pray you give her him to wife. Ver. 8. _And Hamor communed with them._] A fond father seeks to satisfy the lust of a loose son, whom he should severely have punished; such parents are _peremptores potius q... [ Continue Reading ]
And make ye marriages with us, [and] give your daughters unto us, and take our daughters unto you. Ver. 9. _And make ye marriages with us._] The world thinks we may do as they; and what need we be so scrupulous and straitlaced? But saints must "walk accurately" _a_ Eph 5:15 by line, and by rule; no... [ Continue Reading ]
And ye shall dwell with us: and the land shall be before you; dwell and trade ye therein, and get you possessions therein. Ver. 10. _And ye shall dwell with us, &c._] Thus the world tempts the saints, by offer of profits, pleasures, and preferments. _Sed surdo cantilenam._ For they answer the world... [ Continue Reading ]
And Shechem said unto her father and unto her brethren, Let me find grace in your eyes, and what ye shall say unto me I will give. Ver. 11, 12. _Ask me never so much dowry._] Heb., Multiply ye upon me, vehemently. Unbridled affection spares for no cost, so it may be satisfied. Judah parted with his... [ Continue Reading ]
Ask me never so much dowry and gift, and I will give according as ye shall say unto me: but give me the damsel to wife. Ver. 12. _See Trapp on "_ Gen 34:11 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
And the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father deceitfully, and said, because he had defiled Dinah their sister: Ver. 13. _Deceitfully, and said, Because he had, &c._] Therefore they thought they had reason to do as they did. Satan doth so bemist men, many times, that they think they h... [ Continue Reading ]
And they said unto them, We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one that is uncircumcised; for that [were] a reproach unto us: Ver. 14. _That were a reproach unto us._] And yet the world reproached them with nothing more than with their circumcision; as it is to be seen in Horace, Juvenal,... [ Continue Reading ]
But in this will we consent unto you: If ye will be as we [be], that every male of you be circumcised; Ver. 15. _That every male of you be circumcised._] Lo, herein was their deceit. How often is religion pretended, made a stale and stalking-horse to worldly and wicked aims and respects! A horrible... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then will we give our daughters unto you, and we will take your daughters to us, and we will dwell with you, and we will become one people._ Ver. 16. _Then will we give our daughters._] Whether Jacob were present at this whole conference, it is not certain. It is probable that he was not. For sure... [ Continue Reading ]
_But if ye will not hearken unto us, to be circumcised; then will we take our daughter, and we will be gone._ Ver. 17. _But if ye will not hearken._] How often have men found treason in trust, and murder under show of marriage! as in 1 Samuel 18:17; 1Sa 18:25 Daniel 11:17, and in the massacre of Pa... [ Continue Reading ]
And their words pleased Hamor, and Shechem Hamor's son. Ver. 18. _And their words._] See the force of love, and hope of profit!... [ Continue Reading ]
And the young man deferred not to do the thing, because he had delight in Jacob's daughter: and he [was] more honourable than all the house of his father. Ver. 19. _And the young man deferred not, &c._] Heb., _Neque distulit puer; _ The lad deferred not. He is called a lad or a child, that is, a fo... [ Continue Reading ]
And Hamor and Shechem his son came unto the gate of their city, and communed with the men of their city, saying, Ver. 20. _And Hamor and Shechem, &c._] These great men easily persuaded and prevailed with the people to have what they would. Great need have we to pray for good governors. When Crispus... [ Continue Reading ]
These men [are] peaceable with us; therefore let them dwell in the land, and trade therein; for the land, behold, [it is] large enough for them; let us take their daughters to us for wives, and let us give them our daughters. Ver. 21. _These men are peaceable, &c._] Nothing more ordinary, with poli... [ Continue Reading ]
Only herein will the men consent unto us for to dwell with us, to be one people, if every male among us be circumcised, as they [are] circumcised. Ver. 22. _If every male among us be circumcised._] _See Trapp on "_ Gen 34:26 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
Genesis 34:23 [Shall] not their cattle and their substance and every beast of theirs [be] ours? only let us consent unto them, and they will dwell with us. Ver. 23. _Shall not their cattle, &c._] Profit persuades mightily with the multitude. They all look to their own way; "Every one for his gain f... [ Continue Reading ]
And unto Hamor and unto Shechem his son hearkened all that went out of the gate of his city; and every male was circumcised, all that went out of the gate of his city. Ver. 24. _And every male was circumcised._] Many have lost their blood, and suffered so much trouble for their lusts, as, had it be... [ Continue Reading ]
_And it came to pass on the third day, when they were sore, that two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah's brethren, took each man his sword, and came upon the city boldly, and slew all the males._ Ver. 25. _On the third day._] Which is the worst day to those that are wounded; the critical... [ Continue Reading ]
And they slew Hamor and Shechem his son with the edge of the sword, and took Dinah out of Shechem's house, and went out. Ver. 26. _And they slew Hamor and Shechem._] This is commended in apocryphal Judith _Jdt 9:2_ for zeal; which the canonical Scripture condemneth for self-will; and Jacob, on his... [ Continue Reading ]
The sons of Jacob came upon the slain, and spoiled the city, because they had defiled their sister. Ver. 27. _Because they had defiled their sister._] So it was just in God, though unjust in the instruments; who were therefore cursed by Jacob; Gen 49:7 but yet not rejected by God. His election is o... [ Continue Reading ]
They took their sheep, and their oxen, and their asses, and that which [was] in the city, and that which [was] in the field, Ver. 28. _They took their sheet, &c._] One only sinned; all suffered. "A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump". 1 Corinthians 5:2 _; _ 1Co 5:6 All the Corinthians were tack... [ Continue Reading ]
And all their wealth, and all their little ones, and their wives took they captive, and spoiled even all that [was] in the house. Ver. 29. _And all their wealth,_] Or, Power: for in a man's wealth is his power; yea, it is his "tower of strength," Pro 18:11 and so much he is valued at, as he is able... [ Continue Reading ]
And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, Ye have troubled me to make me to stink among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites: and I [being] few in number, they shall gather themselves together against me, and slay me; and I shall be destroyed, I and my house. Ver. 30. _Are... [ Continue Reading ]
_And they said, Should he deal with our sister as with an harlot?_ Ver. 31. _Should he deal with our sister as with an harlot?_] Why, no: but should you therefore speak so boldly to your father, and deal so cruelly with your confederates; whom you first cheated into a covenant, and then basely butc... [ Continue Reading ]