Genesis 34:1

CHAPTER XXXIV.

Dinah, the daughter of Jacob and Leah, going out to

see the daughters of the land, is ravished by Shechem,

the son of Hamor, 1, 2.

He entreats his father to get her for him to wife, 3.

Jacob and his sons hear of the indignity offered to Dinah, 5-7.

Hamor proposes the suit of Shechem to Jacob and his sons, and

offers them a variety of advantages, 8-10.

Shechem himself comes forward, begs to have Dinah to wife, and

offers dowry to any extent, 11, 12.

The sons of Jacob pretend scruples of conscience to give their

sister to one who was uncircumcised; and require, as a condition

of this marriage, and of intermarriages in general, that all the

Shechemites should be circumcised, 13-17.

Hamor and Shechem consent, 18, 19.

They lay the business before the elders of their city, dwell on

the advantages of a connection with Jacob and his family, and

propose to them the condition required by the sons of Jacob, 20-23.

The elders consent, and all the males are circumcised, 24.

While the Shechemites are incapable of defending themselves, on

the third day after their circumcision, Simeon and Levi, the

brothers of Dinah, came upon the city, slew all the males,

sacked the city, took the women and children captives, and

seized on all the cattle belonging to the Shechemites, 25-29.

Jacob is greatly displeased and alarmed at this treachery and

cruelty of his sons, and lays before them the probable

consequences, 30.

They endeavour to vindicate their conduct, 31.

NOTES ON CHAP. XXXIV

Verse Genesis 34:1. And Dinah - went out to see the daughters of the land.] It is supposed that Jacob had been now about seven or eight years in the land, and that Dinah, who was about seven years of age when Jacob came to Canaan, was now about fourteen or fifteen. Why or on what occasion she went out we know not, but the reason given by Josephus is very probable, viz., that it was on one of their festivals.