Genesis Chapter Thirty-Four Series

GENESIS CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR OVERVIEW

Overall what is happening in this chapter is that Dinah, the daughter of Jacob and Leah, is raped.

Daniel Whedon (1889) – Genesis 34

In this chapter we observe the first bitter fruits of Israel’s contact with the heathen.

Thomas Coke (1801) – Genesis 34

Dinah is ravished by Shechem, who sueth to marry her. The sons of Jacob consent, on condition of the Shechemites being circumcised: they accept the condition; when Simeon and Levi come armed upon the city, and destroy the inhabitants.

Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge (2010) – Genesis 34

Overview:

*Dinah is ravished by Shechem; (Genesis 34:1).

*He sues to marry her; (Genesis 34:4).

*The sons of Jacob offer the condition of circumcision to the Shechemites; (Genesis 34:13).

*Hamor and Shechem persuade them to accept it; (Genesis 34:20).

*The sons of Jacob upon that advantage slay them, and spoil their city; (Genesis 34:25).

*Jacob reproves Simeon and Levi; (Genesis 34:30).

Joseph Benson’s Commentary (1857) – Genesis 34

In this chapter we have:

(1) Dinah debauched, (Genesis 34:1-5).

(2) A treaty of marriage between her and Shechem, who had defiled her, (Genesis 34:6-19).

(3) The circumcision of the Shechemites, pursuant to their treaty, (Genesis 34:20-24).

(4) The perfidious and bloody revenge which Simeon and Levi took upon them, (Genesis 34:25-31).

Adam Clarke (1826) – Genesis 34

Dinah, the daughter of Jacob and Leah, going out to see the daughters of the land, is ravished by Shechem, the son of Hamor, (Genesis 34:1-2). He entreats his father to get her for him to wife, (Genesis 34:3). Jacob and his sons hear of the indignity offered to Dinah, (Genesis 34:5-7). Hamor proposes the suit of Shechem to Jacob and his sons, and offers them a variety of advantages, (Genesis 34:8-10). Shechem himself comes forward, begs to have Dinah to wife, and offers dowry to any extent, (Genesis 34:11-12). 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, (Genesis 34:13-17). Hamor and Shechem consent, (Genesis 34:18-19). 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, (Genesis 34:20-23). The elders consent, and all the males are circumcised, (Genesis 34:24). 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, (Genesis 34:25-29). Jacob is greatly displeased and alarmed at this treachery and cruelty of his sons, and lays before them the probable consequences, (Genesis 34:30). They endeavor to vindicate their conduct, (Genesis 34:31).

Matthew Henry (1714) – Genesis 34

At this chapter begins the story of Jacob's afflictions in his children, which were very great, and are recorded to show:

1. The vanity of this world. That which is dearest to us may prove our greatest vexation, and we may meet with the greatest crosses in those things of which we said, “This same shall comfort us.”

2. The common griefs of good people. Jacob's children were circumcised, were well taught, and prayed for, and had very good examples set them; yet some of them proved very untoward. “The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong.” Grace does not run in the blood, and yet the interrupting of the entail of grace does not cut off the entail of profession and visible church-privileges: nay, Jacob's sons, though they were his grief in some things, yet were all taken into covenant with God.

In this chapter we have:

I. Dinah debauched (Genesis 34:1-5).

II. A treaty of marriage between her and Shechem who had defiled her (Genesis 34:6-19).

III. The circumcision of the Shechemites, pursuant to that treaty (Genesis 34:20-24).

IV. The perfidious and bloody revenge which Simeon and Levi took upon them (Genesis 34:25-31).

KEY VERSE

Genesis 34:5 “And Jacob hath heard that he hath defiled Dinah his daughter, and his sons were with his cattle in the field, and Jacob kept silent till their coming.”

KEY EVENT

Dinah is raped.

KEY THOUGHT

God’s chosen people are not immune to bad situations in this world.

KEY CROSS-REFERENCE

John 16:33 "These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world."

KEY QUOTE

“The opposite of retaliation is to entrust ourselves to God, who judges justly.” Jerry Bridges