Genesis 34

The Defiling of Dinah

1Now Dinah, the daughter Leah had borne to Jacob, went out to visit the daughters of the land. 2When Shechem son of Hamor the Hivite, the prince of the region, saw her, he took her and lay with her by force. 3And his soul was drawn to Dinah, the daughter of Jacob. He loved the young girl and spoke to her tenderly. 4So Shechem told his father Hamor, “Get me this girl as a wife.”

5Jacob heard that Shechem had defiled his daughter Dinah, but since his sons were with his livestock in the field, he remained silent about it until they returned. 6Meanwhile, Shechem’s father Hamor came to speak with Jacob. 7When Jacob’s sons heard what had happened, they returned from the field. They were filled with grief and fury, because Shechem had committed an outrage in Israel #34:7 Or against Israel by lying with Jacob’s daughter—a thing that should not be done.

8But Hamor said to them, “My son Shechem longs for your daughter. Please give her to him as his wife. 9Intermarry with us; give us your daughters, and take our daughters for yourselves. 10You may settle among us, and the land will be open to you. Live here, move about freely, and acquire your own property.”

11Then Shechem said to Dinah’s father and brothers, “Grant me this favor, and I will give you whatever you ask. 12Demand a high dowry and an expensive gift, and I will give you whatever you ask. Only give me the girl as my wife!”

The Revenge of Dinah’s Brothers

13But because Shechem had defiled their sister Dinah, Jacob’s sons answered him and his father Hamor deceitfully. 14“We cannot do such a thing,” they said. “To give our sister to an uncircumcised man would be a disgrace to us. 15We will consent to this on one condition, that you become circumcised like us—every one of your males. 16Then we will give you our daughters and take your daughters for ourselves. We will dwell among you and become one people. 17But if you will not agree to be circumcised, then we will take our sister and go.”

18Their offer seemed good to Hamor and his son Shechem. 19The young man, who was the most respected of all his father’s household, did not hesitate to fulfill this request, because he was delighted with Jacob’s daughter.

20So Hamor and his son Shechem went to the gate of their city and addressed the men of their city: 21“These men are at peace with us. Let them live and trade in our land; indeed, it is large enough for them. Let us take their daughters in marriage and give our daughters to them. 22But only on this condition will the men agree to dwell with us and be one people: if all our men are circumcised as they are. 23Will not their livestock, their possessions, and all their animals become ours? Only let us consent to them, and they will dwell among us.”

24All the men who went out of the city gate listened to Hamor and his son Shechem, and every male of the city was circumcised.

25Three days later, while they were still in pain, two of Jacob’s sons (Dinah’s brothers Simeon and Levi) took their swords, went into the unsuspecting city, and slaughtered every male. 26They killed Hamor and his son Shechem with their swords, took Dinah out of Shechem’s house, and went away.

27Jacob’s other sons came upon the slaughter and looted the city, because their sister had been defiled. 28They took their flocks and herds and donkeys, and everything else in the city or in the field. 29They carried off all their possessions and women and children, and they plundered everything in their houses.

30Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, “You have brought trouble upon me by making me a stench to the Canaanites and Perizzites, the people of this land. We are few in number; if they unite against me and attack me, I and my household will be destroyed.”

31But they replied, “Should he have treated our sister like a prostitute?”

Genesis 34

1And Dina the daughter of Lia went out to see the women of that country.

2And when Sichem, the son of Hemor the Hevite, the prince of that land, saw her, he was in love with her: and took her away, and lay with her, ravishing the virgin.

3And his soul was fast knit unto her: and, whereas she was sad, he comforted her with sweet words.

4And going to Hemor his father, he said: Get me this damsel to wife.

5But when Jacob had heard this, his sons being absent, and employed in feeding the cattle, he held his peace till they came back.

6And when Hemor, the father of Sichem, was come out to speak to Jacob,

7Behold, his sons came from the field: and hearing what had passed, they were exceeding angry, because he had done a foul thing in Israel, and committed an unlawful act, in ravishing Jacob's daughter.

8And Hemor spoke to them; The soul of my son Sichem has a longing for your daughter; give her him to wife:

9And let us contract marriages one with another: give us your daughters, and take you our daughters,

10And dwell with us: the land is at your command, till, trade, and possess it.

11Sichem also said to her father and to her brethren: Let me find favor in your sight: and whatsoever you shall appoint I will give.

12Raise the dowery, and ask gifts, and I will gladly give what you shall demand: only give me this damsel to wife.

13The sons of Jacob answered Sichem and his father deceitfully, being enraged at the deflowering of their sister:

14We cannot do what you demand, nor give our sister to one that is uncircumcised, which with us is unlawful and abominable.

15But in this way may we be allied with you, if you will be like us, and all the male sex among you be circumcised:

16Then will we mutually give and take your daughters, and ours: and we will dwell with you, and will be one people:

17But if you will not be circumcised, we will take our daughter and depart.

18Their offer pleased Hemor, and Sichem his son.

19And the young man made no delay, but forthwith fulfilled what was required: for he loved the damsel exceedingly, and he was the greatest man in all his father's house.

20And going into the gate of the city, they spoke to the people:

21These men are peaceable and willing to dwell with us: let them trade in the land, and till it, which being large and wide wanteth men to till it. We shall take their daughters for wives, and we will give them ours.

22One thing there is for which so great a good is deferred: We must circumcise every male among us, following the manner of the nation.

23And their substance, and cattle, and all that they possess, shall be ours: only in this let us condescend, and by dwelling together, we shall make one people.

24And they all agreed, and circumcised all the males.

25And, behold, the third day, when the pain of the wound was greatest, two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, the brothers of Dina, taking their swords, entered boldly into the city, and slew all the men:

26And they killed also Hemor and Sichem, and took away their sister Dina, out of Sichem's house.

27And when they were gone out, the other sons of Jacob came upon the slain; and plundered the city in revenge of the rape.

28And they took their sheep and their herds and their asses, wasting all they had in their houses and in the fields.

29And their children and wives they took captive,

30And when they had boldly perpetrated these things, Jacob said to Simeon and Levi: You have troubled me, and made me hateful to the Chanaanites and Pherezites, the inhabitants of this land. We are few: they will gather themselves together and kill me; and both I, and my house, shall be destroyed.

31They answered: Should they abuse our sister as a strumpet?

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Genesis 34

Genesis 34