Genesis 34 summary meaning ai explained commentary

Genesis 34 meaning explained in AI Summary

Jacob moves to Bethel, where God appears to him again and renews his covenant with him. Rachel gives birth to Benjamin, but dies in childbirth. Jacob buries Rachel near Bethlehem and sets up a pillar to mark her grave.

Genesis 34 is a chapter in the Book of Genesis that recounts a tragic incident involving Dinah, the daughter of Jacob and Leah.

Dinah's Rape: Shechem, the son of Hamor, the ruler of the city of Shechem, rapes Dinah.
Simeon and Levi's Revenge: Dinah's brothers, Simeon and Levi, become enraged at this act of violence. They devise a plan to deceive Shechem and his people.
Deception and Massacre: Simeon and Levi offer peace to Shechem and his people on the condition that they all be circumcised. While they are recovering from the circumcision, Simeon and Levi attack the city, killing all the men.
Jacob's Condemnation: Jacob condemns his sons' actions, calling it a barbaric act that will bring trouble upon the Israelites.
Hamor's Plea and Jacob's Compromise: Hamor, the father of Shechem, pleads for peace. Jacob agrees to peace on the condition that the Shechemites circumcise themselves and pay a bride price for Dinah.
Jacob's Departure: Due to the fear of retaliation from the surrounding tribes, Jacob and his family leave Shechem and move to Bethel.

Genesis 34 Emphasizes on:

The Consequences of Sin: The chapter highlights the devastating consequences of sin, particularly sexual violence.
The Importance of Honor and Revenge: The actions of Simeon and Levi demonstrate the importance of honor and the desire for revenge in ancient cultures.
The Dangers of Violence: The chapter warns against the dangers of violence and the potential for it to escalate into further conflict.
The Need for Reconciliation: The eventual peace agreement between Jacob and Hamor suggests the possibility of reconciliation and forgiveness, even in the face of tragedy.

Genesis 34 bible study ai commentary

This chapter narrates the tragic story of Dinah's rape by Shechem, a Canaanite prince, and the subsequent brutal and deceptive revenge exacted by her brothers, Simeon and Levi. It is a grim account of violence, deceit, and the clash between family honor and moral law. The narrative highlights the profound flaws within Jacob's family, the failure of his leadership, and the devastating consequences of human vengeance, particularly the profaning of a divine covenant sign (circumcision) for treacherous ends. God is notably silent, allowing the consequences of human sin to unfold, serving as a cautionary tale against assimilation and unsanctioned retribution.

Genesis 34 Context

This event occurs after Jacob's return to Canaan and his settlement near the city of Shechem. In the Ancient Near East, honor and shame were paramount cultural values. A daughter's sexual violation was a profound public dishonor to her father and brothers, demanding a response to restore family honor. Marriage was a transaction between families, not just individuals, and intermarriage with outsiders was often discouraged to preserve tribal identity, wealth, and religious purity. The city gate was the center of civic life, where legal and business transactions were publicly ratified. Circumcision was the sacred sign of God's covenant with Abraham (Gen 17), making its use as a strategic tool for revenge a deep act of sacrilege.

Genesis 34:1-4

And Dinah the daughter of Leah, whom she had borne to Jacob, went out to see the women of the land. And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, the prince of the land, saw her, he took her and lay with her and violated her. And his soul was drawn to Dinah the daughter of Jacob. He loved the young woman and spoke tenderly to her. So Shechem spoke to his father Hamor, saying, “Get me this girl for my wife.”

In-depth-analysis

Dinah's action: "Went out to see the women" may suggest youthful curiosity or a desire for social connection, but it places her outside the family's protective sphere, making her vulnerable.
Sequence of Violence: The text uses a harsh, rapid sequence: "he saw her," "he took her," "he lay with her," and "he violated her." This emphasizes the force and non-consensual nature of the act.
Word - Violated: The Hebrew is 'anah, meaning to afflict, humble, or oppress. It denotes forceful degradation, not a consensual act.
Shechem's "Love": After the violation, his soul "was drawn to" (Hebrew: dabaq, meaning clung to) Dinah. While he may have developed genuine affection, it does not negate the initial crime of rape. His "love" is possessive.
Legal Recourse: Shechem seeks to legitimize his crime through marriage, following a cultural pattern, yet ignoring the severe breach against Dinah and her family.

Bible references

Deuteronomy 22:28-29: "...he shall pay the young woman's father fifty shekels of silver, and she shall be his wife, because he has violated her..." (Prescribes a consequence for rape of an unbetrothed virgin, though here the offense is compounded by tribal and covenantal differences.)
2 Samuel 13:14-15: "But he would not listen to her... Then Amnon hated her with very great hatred..." (Contrasts Shechem's subsequent "love" with Amnon's post-rape hatred for his half-sister Tamar, another tragic biblical account of rape.)

Cross references

Judg 14:1-3 (Samson desiring a foreign wife), Gen 24:3-4 (Abraham seeking a wife for Isaac from his own kin), Song 8:6 (love described as strong).

Genesis 34:5-7

Now Jacob heard that he had defiled his daughter Dinah. But his sons were with his livestock in the field, so Jacob held his peace until they came. And Hamor the father of Shechem went out to Jacob to speak with him. The sons of Jacob had come in from the field when they heard what had happened, and the men were indignant and very angry, because he had done an outrageous thing in Israel by lying with Jacob's daughter, for such a thing must not be done.

In-depth-analysis

Word - Defiled: The word is tame', indicating she was made ritually and morally unclean, affecting the status of the entire family.
Jacob's Passivity: Jacob's response is silence and waiting. This inaction is a failure of leadership, contrasting with his sons' immediate and visceral anger. He seems more concerned with pragmatic consequences than with justice for his daughter.
Sons' Reaction: Their indignation and fury stem from the "outrageous thing" (nebalah). This term signifies a foolish, disgraceful act that violates the moral and social order of "Israel" (the family clan). It is a profound dishonor.
"In Israel": This phrase is likely anachronistic but highlights the perspective of the narrator, who sees this event as an offense against the future nation and its unique covenant identity.

Bible references

Joshua 7:15: "And he who is taken with the devoted things shall be burned with fire... because he has transgressed the covenant of the Lord and has done an outrageous thing in Israel." (Connects nebalah to violations of covenant and community.)
Judges 19:23-24: "And the man, the master of the house, went out to them and said... 'do not do this outrageous thing...'" (The story of the Levite's concubine, which uses the same term for a horrific sexual crime, leading to tribal war.)

Cross references

2 Sam 13:12 (Tamar's plea against nebalah), Deut 23:17-18 (laws against prostitution in Israel).

Genesis 34:8-12

But Hamor spoke with them, saying, “The soul of my son Shechem longs for your daughter. Please give her to him to be his wife. Make marriages with us. Give your daughters to us, and take our daughters for yourselves. You shall dwell with us, and the land shall be open to you. Dwell and trade in it, and get property in it.” Shechem also said to her father and to her brothers, “Let me find favor in your eyes, and whatever you say to me I will give. Ask me for as great a bride-price and gift as you will, and I will give whatever you say to me. Only give me the young woman to be my wife.”

In-depth-analysis

Hamor's Offer: His proposal is a diplomatic solution focused on assimilation: intermarriage, shared land, and economic partnership. This is a direct temptation for Jacob's family to abandon their distinct identity and merge with the Canaanites.
Shechem's Plea: He makes a desperate and unlimited offer, demonstrating the depth of his desire for Dinah. He attempts to use wealth to pay for his crime, reducing Dinah to a commodity that can be bought after being stolen.
The Temptation: The offer of peace, security, and prosperity is a powerful lure, threatening the entire covenant promise which depended on Israel remaining a people separate to God.

Bible references

Genesis 12:1-3: "Go from your country... and I will make of you a great nation..." (God's call to Abraham required separation, which this proposal directly undermines.)
Nehemiah 13:23-27: "I contended with them and... said, 'You shall not give your daughters to their sons... Did not Solomon king of Israel sin on account of such women?'" (Condemns intermarriage as a cause of apostasy.)

Cross references

1 Kgs 11:1-4 (Solomon's foreign wives), Exod 34:15-16 (warnings against marriage covenants with Canaanites), Num 25:1-3 (Israel's sin with Moabite women).

Genesis 34:13-17

The sons of Jacob answered Shechem and his father Hamor deceitfully, because he had defiled their sister Dinah. They said to them, “We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one who is uncircumcised, for that would be a disgrace to us. Only on this condition will we agree with you: that you will become as we are by every male among you being circumcised. Then we will give our daughters to you, and we will take your daughters to ourselves..."

In-depth-analysis

Deceit: The Hebrew mirmāh (deceit, guile) is used. The sons mirror their father Jacob's earlier use of deceit (Gen 27). The sin of the father is revisited in his children.
Weaponizing the Covenant: They use the sacred sign of circumcision as a tool of military strategy. This is a profound act of profanity, twisting a symbol of belonging to God into a prerequisite for slaughter.
Pious Language: Their argument sounds religiously and culturally valid, appealing to their honor and a key marker of their identity. This pious facade makes their deception all the more heinous.

Bible references

Genesis 17:10-11: "This is my covenant, which you shall keep... Every male among you shall be circumcised... it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you." (The origin and sacred nature of the practice they are profaning.)
Romans 2:28-29: "For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart..." (Paul explains that the physical sign without a change of heart is meaningless, a principle the brothers exploit.)

Cross references

Gen 27:35 (Isaac calling Jacob's action deceit), Josh 5:2-9 (circumcision renewed before entering the land), Gal 5:6 (circumcision avails nothing).

Genesis 34:18-24

Their words pleased Hamor and Shechem... And the young man did not delay... because he delighted in Jacob's daughter... And Hamor and his son Shechem came to the gate of their city and spoke to the men of their city... "Will not their livestock and their property and all their beasts be ours? Only let us agree with them, and they will dwell with us.” And all who went out of the gate of his city listened to Hamor and his son Shechem, and every male was circumcised...

In-depth-analysis

Dual Motivations: Shechem is driven by his desire for Dinah ("he delighted in Jacob's daughter"), while Hamor and the men of the city are swayed by greed. The appeal at the city gate focuses entirely on economic gain ("their livestock and their property... be ours").
The City Gate: As the center of public and legal life, the men's collective agreement here seals the city's fate. Their decision is based not on justice for the crime but on avarice.
Corporate Guilt: The entire city becomes complicit, not in the rape itself, but in the attempt to cover it up for material gain, leaving them vulnerable to the brothers' plot.

Bible references

Proverbs 1:19: "Such are the ways of everyone who is greedy for unjust gain; it takes away the life of its possessors." (The greed of the Shechemites directly leads to their destruction.)
1 Timothy 6:10: "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils..." (The Shechemites' love of money made them ignore the moral injustice and accept the deadly deal.)

Cross references

Ruth 4:1 (legal proceedings at the city gate), Deut 21:19 (elders judging at the gate).

Genesis 34:25-29

On the third day, when they were sore, two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah's brothers, took their swords and came against the city while it felt secure and killed every male... They took Dinah out of Shechem's house and went away. The sons of Jacob came upon the slain and plundered the city, because they had defiled their sister. They took their flocks and their herds... and all their wealth... they captured and plundered.

In-depth-analysis

Third Day: This was strategically chosen as the time of greatest pain, fever, and incapacitation following adult circumcision.
Simeon and Levi: The text specifies that these two full brothers of Dinah (both sons of Leah) are the ringleaders of the massacre. Their "zeal" is violent and uncontrolled.
Escalation: The violence escalates from targeted revenge against the perpetrators (Shechem and Hamor) to a full-scale massacre of every male. Then it escalates again as the other sons join in for plunder, revealing their motive as a mixture of rage and greed.
"Rescuing" Dinah: She has been in Shechem's house this entire time. Her retrieval is an afterthought to the slaughter.

Bible references

Genesis 49:5-7: "Simeon and Levi are brothers; weapons of violence are their swords. Let my soul not come into their council... for in their anger they killed men... Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce, and their wrath, for it is cruel! I will divide them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel." (Jacob's deathbed prophecy directly condemns this act.)
Exodus 32:26-29: "...all the sons of Levi gathered around him... and they did as Moses told them, and that day about three thousand of the people fell." (Levi's violent zeal is redirected for God's glory, leading to their selection as the priestly tribe, a form of redemption for their earlier misdirected violence.)

Cross references

Num 35:33 (blood pollutes the land), Rom 12:19 (vengeance belongs to God).

Genesis 34:30-31

Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, “You have brought trouble on me by making me stink among the inhabitants of the land... My numbers are few, and if they gather themselves against me and attack me, I shall be destroyed, both I and my household.” But they said, “Should he treat our sister like a prostitute?”

In-depth-analysis

Jacob's Concern: Jacob's rebuke is not based on the immorality of the massacre, the deceit, or the profaned covenant. His concern is purely pragmatic: his reputation ("making me stink") and his security ("I shall be destroyed"). It's a self-centered complaint.
Brothers' Justification: Their retort is a sharp, rhetorical question that deflects from the method of their revenge and focuses on the reason for it. They justify their extreme violence by reframing Dinah's rape as treating her like a prostitute (zonah), an act that strips her of all honor and value within the family.
Ambiguous Ending: The chapter ends with their raw, unanswered question. The narrative does not explicitly side with either Jacob's cowardice or his sons' brutality, leaving the reader to condemn both. It is a story with no heroes.

Bible references

Genesis 49:5-7: Jacob's final word on the matter is an unambiguous curse on their anger, showing his ultimate judgment went far beyond mere pragmatism.
Romans 12:19: "Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.'" (The New Testament principle violated by the brothers.)

Cross references

Prov 25:8 (do not hastily bring a dispute to court), Lev 19:18 (do not take vengeance).

Genesis Chapter 34 analysis

A Chapter Without God: God is conspicuously silent throughout this entire chapter. No divine commands are given, and no divine judgment is explicitly rendered. It stands as a stark portrayal of humanity left to its own sinful devices, showing how Jacob's family handles a crisis without seeking God. The outcome is deceit, sacrilege, mass murder, and plunder.
The Sins of Everyone: Every party in the narrative is guilty.
- Shechem: Rape.
- Hamor: Enabling the crime and appealing to greed.
- The Men of Shechem: Complicity through greed.
- Jacob: Passivity and self-centered fear.
- Simeon & Levi: Deceit, disproportionate revenge, and profaning a covenant.
- The other brothers: Greed and plunder.
The Redemption of Levi's Legacy: The curse placed on Levi in Genesis 49 seems final. However, in Exodus 32:25-29, the tribe of Levi's fierce zeal, the very trait condemned here, is redirected. They rally to Moses and execute God's judgment against the idolaters of the golden calf. This act of faithfulness "ordained" them for the priesthood, redeeming their violent nature by dedicating it to God's service. Simeon's tribe, however, was scattered and absorbed into Judah, fulfilling Jacob's prophecy literally (Joshua 19:1, 9).
A Commentary on Assimilation: The story is a powerful warning against the dangers of assimilating with the Canaanites. Hamor's offer of intermarriage and shared land threatened the Abrahamic covenant's demand for separateness. While the brothers' response was evil, the underlying threat of losing their unique identity was real and a consistent theme throughout the Old Testament.

Genesis 34 summary

Dinah, Jacob's daughter, is raped by Shechem, a Canaanite prince. His father attempts to resolve the crime by proposing marriage and assimilation. Dinah's brothers, Simeon and Levi, feign agreement, deceitfully demanding that all the Shechemite men be circumcised. On the third day, when the men are incapacitated, the brothers massacre the entire city, rescue Dinah, and the other brothers plunder the city. Jacob rebukes them out of fear for his safety, but they justify their brutal revenge by pointing to the dishonor done to their sister. The chapter is a dark narrative of sin compounding sin, with no party emerging righteous.

Genesis 33 AI Genesis 35 AI

Genesis 34 AI Image Audio and Video

Genesis chapter 34 kjv

¹ And Dinah the daughter of Leah, which she bare unto Jacob, went out to see the daughters of the land.
² 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.
³ And his soul clave unto Dinah the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the damsel, and spake kindly unto the damsel.
⁴ And Shechem spake unto his father Hamor, saying, Get me this damsel to wife.
⁵ 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.
⁶ And Hamor the father of Shechem went out unto Jacob to commune with him.
⁷ 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.
⁸ And Hamor communed with them, saying, The soul of my son Shechem longeth for your daughter: I pray you give her him to wife.
⁹ And make ye marriages with us, and give your daughters unto us, and take our daughters unto you.
¹⁰ And ye shall dwell with us: and the land shall be before you; dwell and trade ye therein, and get you possessions therein.
¹¹ 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.
¹² 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.
¹³ And the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father deceitfully, and said, because he had defiled Dinah their sister:
¹⁴ 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:
¹⁵ But in this will we consent unto you: If ye will be as we be, that every male of you be circumcised;
¹⁶ 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.
¹⁷ But if ye will not hearken unto us, to be circumcised; then will we take our daughter, and we will be gone.
¹⁸ And their words pleased Hamor, and Shechem Hamor's son.
¹⁹ And the young man deferred not to do the thing, because he had delight in Jacob's daughter: and he was more honorable than all the house of his father.
²⁰ And Hamor and Shechem his son came unto the gate of their city, and communed with the men of their city, saying,
²¹ 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.
²² 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.
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.
²⁴ 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.
²⁵ 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.
²⁶ 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.
²⁷ The sons of Jacob came upon the slain, and spoiled the city, because they had defiled their sister.
²⁸ They took their sheep, and their oxen, and their asses, and that which was in the city, and that which was in the field,
²⁹ And all their wealth, and all their little ones, and their wives took they captive, and spoiled even all that was in the house.
³⁰ 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.
³¹ And they said, Should he deal with our sister as with an harlot?

Genesis chapter 34 nkjv

¹ Now Dinah the daughter of Leah, whom she had borne to Jacob, went out to see the daughters of the land.
² And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he took her and lay with her, and violated her.
³ His soul was strongly attracted to Dinah the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the young woman and spoke kindly to the young woman.
⁴ So Shechem spoke to his father Hamor, saying, "Get me this young woman as a wife."
⁵ And Jacob heard that he had defiled Dinah his daughter. Now his sons were with his livestock in the field; so Jacob held his peace until they came.
⁶ Then Hamor the father of Shechem went out to Jacob to speak with him.
⁷ And the sons of Jacob came in from the field when they heard it; and the men were grieved and very angry, because he had done a disgraceful thing in Israel by lying with Jacob's daughter, a thing which ought not to be done.
⁸ But Hamor spoke with them, saying, "The soul of my son Shechem longs for your daughter. Please give her to him as a wife.
⁹ And make marriages with us; give your daughters to us, and take our daughters to yourselves.
¹⁰ So you shall dwell with us, and the land shall be before you. Dwell and trade in it, and acquire possessions for yourselves in it."
¹¹ Then Shechem said to her father and her brothers, "Let me find favor in your eyes, and whatever you say to me I will give.
¹² Ask me ever so much dowry and gift, and I will give according to what you say to me; but give me the young woman as a wife."
¹³ But the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father, and spoke deceitfully, because he had defiled Dinah their sister.
¹⁴ And they said to them, "We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one who is uncircumcised, for that would be a reproach to us.
¹⁵ But on this condition we will consent to you: If you will become as we are, if every male of you is circumcised,
¹⁶ then we will give our daughters to you, and we will take your daughters to us; and we will dwell with you, and we will become one people.
¹⁷ But if you will not heed us and be circumcised, then we will take our daughter and be gone."
¹⁸ And their words pleased Hamor and Shechem, Hamor's son.
¹⁹ So the young man did not delay to do the thing, because he delighted in Jacob's daughter. He was more honorable than all the household of his father.
²⁰ And Hamor and Shechem his son came to the gate of their city, and spoke with the men of their city, saying:
²¹ "These men are at peace with us. Therefore let them dwell in the land and trade in it. For indeed the land is large enough for them. Let us take their daughters to us as wives, and let us give them our daughters.
²² Only on this condition will the men consent to dwell with us, to be one people: if every male among us is circumcised as they are circumcised.
²³ Will not their livestock, their property, and every animal of theirs be ours? Only let us consent to them, and they will dwell with us."
²⁴ And all who went out of the gate of his city heeded Hamor and Shechem his son; every male was circumcised, all who went out of the gate of his city.
²⁵ Now it came to pass on the third day, when they were in pain, that two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah's brothers, each took his sword and came boldly upon the city and killed all the males.
²⁶ And they killed Hamor and Shechem his son with the edge of the sword, and took Dinah from Shechem's house, and went out.
²⁷ The sons of Jacob came upon the slain, and plundered the city, because their sister had been defiled.
²⁸ They took their sheep, their oxen, and their donkeys, what was in the city and what was in the field,
²⁹ and all their wealth. All their little ones and their wives they took captive; and they plundered even all that was in the houses.
³⁰ Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, "You have troubled me by making me obnoxious among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites; and since I am few in number, they will gather themselves together against me and kill me. I shall be destroyed, my household and I."
³¹ But they said, "Should he treat our sister like a harlot?"

Genesis chapter 34 niv

¹ Now Dinah, the daughter Leah had borne to Jacob, went out to visit the women of the land.
² When Shechem son of Hamor the Hivite, the ruler of that area, saw her, he took her and raped her.
³ His heart was drawn to Dinah daughter of Jacob; he loved the young woman and spoke tenderly to her.
⁴ And Shechem said to his father Hamor, "Get me this girl as my wife."
⁵ When Jacob heard that his daughter Dinah had been defiled, his sons were in the fields with his livestock; so he did nothing about it until they came home.
⁶ Then Shechem's father Hamor went out to talk with Jacob.
⁷ Meanwhile, Jacob's sons had come in from the fields as soon as they heard what had happened. They were shocked and furious, because Shechem had done an outrageous thing in Israel by sleeping with Jacob's daughter?a thing that should not be done.
⁸ But Hamor said to them, "My son Shechem has his heart set on your daughter. Please give her to him as his wife.
⁹ Intermarry with us; give us your daughters and take our daughters for yourselves.
¹⁰ You can settle among us; the land is open to you. Live in it, trade in it, and acquire property in it."
¹¹ Then Shechem said to Dinah's father and brothers, "Let me find favor in your eyes, and I will give you whatever you ask.
¹² Make the price for the bride and the gift I am to bring as great as you like, and I'll pay whatever you ask me. Only give me the young woman as my wife."
¹³ Because their sister Dinah had been defiled, Jacob's sons replied deceitfully as they spoke to Shechem and his father Hamor.
¹⁴ They said to them, "We can't do such a thing; we can't give our sister to a man who is not circumcised. That would be a disgrace to us.
¹⁵ We will enter into an agreement with you on one condition only: that you become like us by circumcising all your males.
¹⁶ Then we will give you our daughters and take your daughters for ourselves. We'll settle among you and become one people with you.
¹⁷ But if you will not agree to be circumcised, we'll take our sister and go."
¹⁸ Their proposal seemed good to Hamor and his son Shechem.
¹⁹ The young man, who was the most honored of all his father's family, lost no time in doing what they said, because he was delighted with Jacob's daughter.
²⁰ So Hamor and his son Shechem went to the gate of their city to speak to the men of their city.
²¹ "These men are friendly toward us," they said. "Let them live in our land and trade in it; the land has plenty of room for them. We can marry their daughters and they can marry ours.
²² But the men will agree to live with us as one people only on the condition that our males be circumcised, as they themselves are.
²³ Won't their livestock, their property and all their other animals become ours? So let us agree to their terms, and they will settle among us."
²⁴ All the men who went out of the city gate agreed with Hamor and his son Shechem, and every male in the city was circumcised.
²⁵ Three days later, while all of them were still in pain, two of Jacob's sons, Simeon and Levi, Dinah's brothers, took their swords and attacked the unsuspecting city, killing every male.
²⁶ They put Hamor and his son Shechem to the sword and took Dinah from Shechem's house and left.
²⁷ The sons of Jacob came upon the dead bodies and looted the city where their sister had been defiled.
²⁸ They seized their flocks and herds and donkeys and everything else of theirs in the city and out in the fields.
²⁹ They carried off all their wealth and all their women and children, taking as plunder everything in the houses.
³⁰ Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, "You have brought trouble on me by making me obnoxious to the Canaanites and Perizzites, the people living in this land. We are few in number, and if they join forces against me and attack me, I and my household will be destroyed."
³¹ But they replied, "Should he have treated our sister like a prostitute?"

Genesis chapter 34 esv

¹ Now Dinah the daughter of Leah, whom she had borne to Jacob, went out to see the women of the land.
² And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, the prince of the land, saw her, he seized her and lay with her and humiliated her.
³ And his soul was drawn to Dinah the daughter of Jacob. He loved the young woman and spoke tenderly to her.
⁴ So Shechem spoke to his father Hamor, saying, "Get me this girl for my wife."
⁵ Now Jacob heard that he had defiled his daughter Dinah. But his sons were with his livestock in the field, so Jacob held his peace until they came.
⁶ And Hamor the father of Shechem went out to Jacob to speak with him.
⁷ The sons of Jacob had come in from the field as soon as they heard of it, and the men were indignant and very angry, because he had done an outrageous thing in Israel by lying with Jacob's daughter, for such a thing must not be done.
⁸ But Hamor spoke with them, saying, "The soul of my son Shechem longs for your daughter. Please give her to him to be his wife.
⁹ Make marriages with us. Give your daughters to us, and take our daughters for yourselves.
¹⁰ You shall dwell with us, and the land shall be open to you. Dwell and trade in it, and get property in it."
¹¹ Shechem also said to her father and to her brothers, "Let me find favor in your eyes, and whatever you say to me I will give.
¹² Ask me for as great a bride-price and gift as you will, and I will give whatever you say to me. Only give me the young woman to be my wife."
¹³ The sons of Jacob answered Shechem and his father Hamor deceitfully, because he had defiled their sister Dinah.
¹⁴ They said to them, "We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one who is uncircumcised, for that would be a disgrace to us.
¹⁵ Only on this condition will we agree with you ? that you will become as we are by every male among you being circumcised.
¹⁶ Then we will give our daughters to you, and we will take your daughters to ourselves, and we will dwell with you and become one people.
¹⁷ But if you will not listen to us and be circumcised, then we will take our daughter, and we will be gone."
¹⁸ Their words pleased Hamor and Hamor's son Shechem.
¹⁹ And the young man did not delay to do the thing, because he delighted in Jacob's daughter. Now he was the most honored of all his father's house.
²⁰ So Hamor and his son Shechem came to the gate of their city and spoke to the men of their city, saying,
²¹ "These men are at peace with us; let them dwell in the land and trade in it, for behold, the land is large enough for them. Let us take their daughters as wives, and let us give them our daughters.
²² Only on this condition will the men agree to dwell with us to become one people ? when every male among us is circumcised as they are circumcised.
²³ Will not their livestock, their property and all their beasts be ours? Only let us agree with them, and they will dwell with us."
²⁴ And all who went out of the gate of his city listened to Hamor and his son Shechem, and every male was circumcised, all who went out of the gate of his city.
²⁵ On the third day, when they were sore, two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah's brothers, took their swords and came against the city while it felt secure and killed all the males.
²⁶ They killed Hamor and his son Shechem with the sword and took Dinah out of Shechem's house and went away.
²⁷ The sons of Jacob came upon the slain and plundered the city, because they had defiled their sister.
²⁸ They took their flocks and their herds, their donkeys, and whatever was in the city and in the field.
²⁹ All their wealth, all their little ones and their wives, all that was in the houses, they captured and plundered.
³⁰ Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, "You have brought trouble on me by making me stink to the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites and the Perizzites. My numbers are few, and if they gather themselves against me and attack me, I shall be destroyed, both I and my household."
³¹ But they said, "Should he treat our sister like a prostitute?"

Genesis chapter 34 nlt

¹ One day Dinah, the daughter of Jacob and Leah, went to visit some of the young women who lived in the area.
² But when the local prince, Shechem son of Hamor the Hivite, saw Dinah, he seized her and raped her.
³ But then he fell in love with her, and he tried to win her affection with tender words.
⁴ He said to his father, Hamor, "Get me this young girl. I want to marry her."
⁵ Soon Jacob heard that Shechem had defiled his daughter, Dinah. But since his sons were out in the fields herding his livestock, he said nothing until they returned.
⁶ Hamor, Shechem's father, came to discuss the matter with Jacob.
⁷ Meanwhile, Jacob's sons had come in from the field as soon as they heard what had happened. They were shocked and furious that their sister had been raped. Shechem had done a disgraceful thing against Jacob's family, something that should never be done.
⁸ Hamor tried to speak with Jacob and his sons. "My son Shechem is truly in love with your daughter," he said. "Please let him marry her.
⁹ In fact, let's arrange other marriages, too. You give us your daughters for our sons, and we will give you our daughters for your sons.
¹⁰ And you may live among us; the land is open to you! Settle here and trade with us. And feel free to buy property in the area."
¹¹ Then Shechem himself spoke to Dinah's father and brothers. "Please be kind to me, and let me marry her," he begged. "I will give you whatever you ask.
¹² No matter what dowry or gift you demand, I will gladly pay it ? just give me the girl as my wife."
¹³ But since Shechem had defiled their sister, Dinah, Jacob's sons responded deceitfully to Shechem and his father, Hamor.
¹⁴ They said to them, "We couldn't possibly allow this, because you're not circumcised. It would be a disgrace for our sister to marry a man like you!
¹⁵ But here is a solution. If every man among you will be circumcised like we are,
¹⁶ then we will give you our daughters, and we'll take your daughters for ourselves. We will live among you and become one people.
¹⁷ But if you don't agree to be circumcised, we will take her and be on our way."
¹⁸ Hamor and his son Shechem agreed to their proposal.
¹⁹ Shechem wasted no time in acting on this request, for he wanted Jacob's daughter desperately. Shechem was a highly respected member of his family,
²⁰ and he went with his father, Hamor, to present this proposal to the leaders at the town gate.
²¹ "These men are our friends," they said. "Let's invite them to live here among us and trade freely. Look, the land is large enough to hold them. We can take their daughters as wives and let them marry ours.
²² But they will consider staying here and becoming one people with us only if all of our men are circumcised, just as they are.
²³ But if we do this, all their livestock and possessions will eventually be ours. Come, let's agree to their terms and let them settle here among us."
²⁴ So all the men in the town council agreed with Hamor and Shechem, and every male in the town was circumcised.
²⁵ But three days later, when their wounds were still sore, two of Jacob's sons, Simeon and Levi, who were Dinah's full brothers, took their swords and entered the town without opposition. Then they slaughtered every male there,
²⁶ including Hamor and his son Shechem. They killed them with their swords, then took Dinah from Shechem's house and returned to their camp.
²⁷ Meanwhile, the rest of Jacob's sons arrived. Finding the men slaughtered, they plundered the town because their sister had been defiled there.
²⁸ They seized all the flocks and herds and donkeys ? everything they could lay their hands on, both inside the town and outside in the fields.
²⁹ They looted all their wealth and plundered their houses. They also took all their little children and wives and led them away as captives.
³⁰ Afterward Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, "You have ruined me! You've made me stink among all the people of this land ? among all the Canaanites and Perizzites. We are so few that they will join forces and crush us. I will be ruined, and my entire household will be wiped out!"
³¹ "But why should we let him treat our sister like a prostitute?" they retorted angrily.