Bible Commentaries
Genesis 34

Introduction

Overview

Genesis 34:1, Dinah is ravished by Shechem; Genesis 34:4, He sues to marry her; Genesis 34:13, The sons of Jacob offer the condition of circumcision to the Shechemites; Genesis 34:20, Hamor and Shechem persuade them to accept it; Genesis 34:25, The sons of Jacob upon that advantage slay them, and spoil their city; Genesis 34:30, Jacob reproves Simeon and Levi.

Verse 1

am 2272, bc 1732

Dinah: Genesis 30:21, Genesis 46:15

the daughter: Genesis 26:34, Genesis 27:46, Genesis 28:6, Genesis 30:13, Jeremiah 2:36, 1 Timothy 5:13, Titus 2:5

Reciprocal: Judges 14:1 - Timnath

Verse 2

Shechem: Genesis 10:17, Genesis 33:19

saw her: Genesis 6:2, Genesis 39:6, Genesis 39:7, Judges 14:1, 2 Samuel 11:2, Job 31:1, Job 31:9, Proverbs 13:20, Matthew 5:28

took her: Genesis 20:2

defiled her: Heb. humbled her, Deuteronomy 21:14, Deuteronomy 22:24, Deuteronomy 22:29, Judges 19:24, Judges 19:25, Ezekiel 22:10, Ezekiel 22:11

Reciprocal: Genesis 12:6 - Sichem Genesis 27:46 - because Genesis 34:27 - they Genesis 35:2 - clean Genesis 38:2 - saw Exodus 22:16 - a man entice Exodus 23:23 - thee in Joshua 9:7 - Hivites Joshua 17:7 - Shechem Judges 9:1 - Shechem Judges 9:28 - Hamor 2 Samuel 13:12 - force me 2 Samuel 13:20 - desolate Jeremiah 41:5 - Shechem John 4:18 - is not Acts 7:16 - Emmor

Verse 3

soul: Ruth 1:14, 1 Samuel 18:1

kindly unto the damsel: Heb. to the heart of the damsel, 2 Samuel 19:7, 2 Chronicles 30:22, Isaiah 40:2, Hosea 2:14, *marg.

Reciprocal: Genesis 34:8 - The soul Genesis 50:21 - kindly unto them Deuteronomy 21:11 - desire Joshua 23:12 - cleave Judges 19:3 - friendly unto her Ruth 2:13 - friendly 1 Samuel 18:20 - loved David 2 Samuel 13:1 - loved her 1 Kings 11:2 - Solomon 2 Chronicles 32:6 - comfortably to them Matthew 19:5 - cleave

Verse 4

Genesis 21:21, Judges 14:2, 2 Samuel 13:13

Reciprocal: Jeremiah 29:6 - take wives

Verse 5

now his: Genesis 30:35, Genesis 37:13, Genesis 37:14, 1 Samuel 10:27, 1 Samuel 16:11, 1 Samuel 17:15, 2 Samuel 13:22, Luke 15:25, Luke 15:29

held: Leviticus 10:3, Psalms 39:9

Reciprocal: Genesis 46:34 - Thy servants'

Verse 6

Reciprocal: Judges 9:28 - Hamor

Verse 7

were: Genesis 46:7, 2 Samuel 13:21

wrought: Exodus 19:5, Exodus 19:6, Deuteronomy 22:21, Joshua 7:15, Judges 19:22-25, Judges 20:6, 2 Samuel 13:12, 2 Samuel 13:13, Psalms 93:5, Proverbs 7:7, 1 Peter 2:9

thing: Genesis 20:9, Leviticus 4:2, Leviticus 4:13, Leviticus 4:27, Deuteronomy 23:17, 1 Corinthians 6:18, 1 Corinthians 10:8, Ephesians 5:3, Colossians 3:5, 1 Timothy 5:13, Hebrews 13:4, James 3:10

Reciprocal: Genesis 31:36 - was wroth Judges 19:23 - do not this folly 1 Chronicles 21:8 - I have done Psalms 85:8 - folly Ecclesiastes 7:9 - anger Ecclesiastes 7:25 - know John 4:18 - is not

Verse 8

The soul: Genesis 34:3, 1 Kings 11:2, Psalms 63:1, Psalms 84:2, Psalms 119:20

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 21:11 - desire Ecclesiastes 7:9 - anger John 4:18 - is not

Verse 9

Genesis 6:2, Genesis 19:14, Genesis 24:3, Genesis 26:34, Genesis 26:35, Genesis 27:46, Deuteronomy 7:3

Reciprocal: Genesis 28:1 - Thou shalt

Verse 10

and the land: Genesis 34:21-23, Genesis 13:9, Genesis 20:15, Genesis 42:34, Genesis 47:27

Reciprocal: Genesis 47:6 - is

Verse 11

Genesis 18:3, Genesis 33:15

Reciprocal: Genesis 30:27 - favour

Verse 12

Ask me: On the practice of purchasing wives, Deut. Lam. Roque says, "Properly speaking, a young man who would marry must purchase his wife; and fathers among the Arabs are never so happy as when they have many daughters. They form part of the riches of the house. Accordingly, when a young man would treat with a person whose daughter he is inclined to marry, he says to him, Will you give me your daughter for fifty sheep, for six camels, or for a dozen cows?' according to the rank of her family, and the circumstances of him who desires to marry her."

dowry: Genesis 24:53, Genesis 29:18, Genesis 31:41, Exodus 22:16, Exodus 22:17, Deuteronomy 22:28, Deuteronomy 22:29, 1 Samuel 18:25-27, 2 Samuel 3:14, Hosea 3:2, Matthew 14:17

Verse 13

deceitfully: Genesis 25:27-34, Judges 15:3, 2 Samuel 13:23-29, Job 13:4, Job 13:7, Psalms 12:2, Proverbs 12:13, Proverbs 12:18-20, Proverbs 24:28, Proverbs 24:29, Proverbs 26:24-26, Isaiah 59:13, Micah 7:2, Romans 12:19, 1 Thessalonians 5:15, Matthew 28:13

Reciprocal: Genesis 34:27 - General Genesis 34:31 - General Genesis 37:29 - he rent Joshua 9:4 - work wilily 1 Kings 21:9 - Proclaim a fast Daniel 11:23 - work

Verse 14

uncircumcised: Genesis 17:11, Joshua 5:2-9, 1 Samuel 14:6, 1 Samuel 17:26, 1 Samuel 17:36, 2 Samuel 1:20, 2 Samuel 15:7, 1 Kings 21:9, Matthew 2:8, Matthew 2:13, Matthew 23:1-39, Romans 4:11

Reciprocal: Genesis 29:8 - until Numbers 12:1 - married Joshua 5:9 - I rolled away Judges 14:3 - uncircumcised 1 Samuel 11:2 - reproach Psalms 5:6 - the bloody

Verse 15

Galatians 4:12

Reciprocal: Genesis 17:10 - Every Genesis 34:22 - General Numbers 12:1 - married

Verse 16

Reciprocal: Genesis 28:1 - Thou shalt

Verse 18

Reciprocal: Genesis 45:16 - it pleased Pharaoh well

Verse 19

because: Genesis 29:20, Song of Solomon 8:6, Isaiah 62:4

honourable: Genesis 41:20, Numbers 22:15, 1 Samuel 22:14, 2 Kings 5:1, 1 Chronicles 4:9, Isaiah 3:3-5, Isaiah 5:13, Isaiah 23:8, Isaiah 23:9, Acts 13:50, Acts 17:12

Reciprocal: Esther 2:14 - delighted Mark 10:21 - loved

Verse 20

the gate: Genesis 22:17, Genesis 23:10, Deuteronomy 17:5, Ruth 4:1, Job 29:7, Proverbs 31:23, Amos 5:10, Amos 5:12, Amos 5:15, Zechariah 8:16

Reciprocal: Genesis 23:18 - all

Verse 21

Reciprocal: Genesis 34:10 - and the land Genesis 42:34 - traffic

Verse 22

Genesis 34:15-17

Verse 23

Proverbs 1:12, Proverbs 1:13, Proverbs 23:4, Proverbs 23:5, Proverbs 28:20, John 2:16, John 6:26, John 6:27, Acts 19:24-26, 1 Timothy 6:6-10

Reciprocal: Exodus 10:24 - flocks Exodus 20:17 - thy neighbour's house Job 1:3 - substance 1 Timothy 6:10 - the love

Verse 24

hearkened: In thus falling into this measure, the Shechemites must either have had great affection for their chief and his son, or have been under the influence of the most passive obedience. The petty princes of Asia have always been absolute and despotic; their subjects paying them the most prompt and blind obedience. The following instance will sufficiently illustrate and confirm this statement: Abu Thaher, chief of the Carmathians, about the year 930, with only 500 horse, went to lay siege to Bagdad: the khalif's general marched out to seize him; but before the attack, sent an officer to summon him to surrender. "How many men has the khalif's general?" said Abu Thaher; "30,000," replied the officer. "Among them all," says the Carmathian chief, "has he got three like mine?" Then ordering his followers to approach, he commanded one to stab himself, another to throw himself from a precipice, and a third to plunge into the Tigris: all three instantly obeyed, and perished! Then turning to the officer, he said, "He who has such troops need not value the number of his enemies!"

went out: Genesis 23:10, Genesis 23:18

every male: Genesis 17:23, Isaiah 1:10-16, Matthew 7:6, Romans 2:28, Romans 2:29, 1 Corinthians 7:19

Reciprocal: Genesis 35:2 - clean 1 Timothy 6:10 - the love

Verse 25

sore: Joshua 5:6, Joshua 5:8

Simeon: Genesis 29:33, Genesis 29:34, Genesis 49:5, Genesis 49:7, Numbers 31:7, Numbers 31:17, Proverbs 4:16, Proverbs 6:34, Proverbs 6:35

slew: Genesis 49:6, 2 Chronicles 32:25

Reciprocal: Genesis 35:2 - clean Genesis 37:12 - in Shechem Genesis 42:24 - Simeon Genesis 44:7 - General Genesis 46:10 - Simeon Numbers 1:22 - General Psalms 5:6 - the bloody Proverbs 27:3 - but Ecclesiastes 7:9 - anger

Verse 26

edge: Heb. mouth, Deuteronomy 32:42, 2 Samuel 2:26, Isaiah 31:8

Reciprocal: Genesis 30:21 - and called Genesis 49:6 - a man Psalms 5:6 - the bloody Proverbs 27:3 - but Ecclesiastes 7:9 - anger

Verse 27

Genesis 34:13

spoiled: Esther 9:10, Esther 9:16, 1 Timothy 6:10

they: Genesis 34:2, Genesis 34:31, Exodus 2:14, Joshua 7:1, Joshua 7:21

Verse 28

Numbers 31:17, Deuteronomy 8:17, Deuteronomy 8:18, Job 1:15, Job 1:16, Job 20:5

Reciprocal: Genesis 48:22 - Amorite

Verse 29

Reciprocal: Genesis 31:26 - carried

Verse 30

Ye have: Genesis 49:5-7, Joshua 7:25, 1 Kings 18:18, 1 Chronicles 2:7, Proverbs 11:17, Proverbs 11:29, Proverbs 15:27

to stink: Exodus 5:21, 1 Samuel 13:4, 1 Samuel 27:12, 1 Chronicles 19:6

and I being: Deuteronomy 4:17, Deuteronomy 7:7, 1 Chronicles 16:12, Psalms 105:12

and I shall: Genesis 12:2, Genesis 12:12, Genesis 28:13, Genesis 28:14, 1 Samuel 16:2, 1 Samuel 27:1, Romans 4:18-20

Reciprocal: Genesis 13:7 - Canaanite Genesis 29:33 - called Genesis 35:5 - General Genesis 46:10 - Simeon Genesis 49:6 - come Genesis 50:11 - the Canaanites 2 Samuel 10:6 - stank 2 Samuel 16:21 - abhorred 1 Kings 11:25 - abhorred 1 Chronicles 16:19 - a few Ecclesiastes 7:9 - anger

Verse 31

Genesis 34:13, Genesis 49:7, Proverbs 6:34

Reciprocal: Genesis 34:27 - they Genesis 38:24 - played the harlot Genesis 49:5 - instruments Ecclesiastes 7:9 - anger John 4:18 - is not 1 Corinthians 6:16 - an harlot