Genesis 34

King James Version

Full text for Genesis Chapter 34

1¶ And Dinah the daughter of Leah, which she bare unto Jacob, went out to see the daughters of the land.

2And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he took her, and lay with her, and defiled her.

3And his soul clave unto Dinah the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the damsel, and spake kindly unto the damsel.

4And Shechem spake unto his father Hamor, saying, Get me this damsel to wife.

5And 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.

7And 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.

8And Hamor communed with them, saying, The soul of my son Shechem longeth for your daughter: I pray you give her him to wife.

9And make ye marriages with us, [and] give your daughters unto us, and take our daughters unto you.

10And ye shall dwell with us: and the land shall be before you; dwell and trade ye therein, and get you possessions therein.

11And 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.

12Ask 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.

13And the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father deceitfully, and said, because he had defiled Dinah their sister:

14And 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:

15But in this will we consent unto you: If ye will be as we [be], that every male of you be circumcised;

16Then 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.

17But 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.

19And the young man deferred not to do the thing, because he had delight in Jacob's daughter: and he [was] more honourable than all the house of his father.

20And Hamor and Shechem his son came unto the gate of their city, and communed with the men of their city, saying,

21These 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.

22Only 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.

24And 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.

26And they slew Hamor and Shechem his son with the edge of the sword, and took Dinah out of Shechem's house, and went out.

27The sons of Jacob came upon the slain, and spoiled the city, because they had defiled their sister.

28They took their sheep, and their oxen, and their asses, and that which [was] in the city, and that which [was] in the field,

29And all their wealth, and all their little ones, and their wives took they captive, and spoiled even all that [was] in the house.

30And 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.

31And they said, Should he deal with our sister as with an harlot?

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Dinah, Jacob's daughter, is defiled by Shechem, son of Hamor the Hivite prince. Shechem and Hamor propose marriage and intermarriage with Jacob's family, to which Jacob's sons deceitfully agree on the condition that all Hivite males be circumcised. After the Hivites comply, Simeon and Levi, Dinah's brothers, attack the city, slaying all males and plundering their possessions, leading to Jacob's concern about their reputation and safety.

Medium Summary

The chapter begins with Dinah, Jacob's daughter, venturing out and being defiled by Shechem, the son of Hamor, prince of the land. Shechem, however, loves Dinah and desires her for his wife, prompting his father Hamor to approach Jacob for marriage and a broader alliance of intermarriage and cohabitation. Jacob's sons, upon hearing of their sister's defilement, are greatly angered and respond deceitfully to Hamor and Shechem's proposal. They declare that they cannot give their sister to an uncircumcised man, but would consent if all males in Shechem's city were circumcised, thereby becoming "one people." Hamor and Shechem agree and persuade their city's men to undergo circumcision, emphasizing the potential for wealth and unity. On the third day, while the men of the city are sore from the circumcision, Simeon and Levi, Dinah's brothers, take their swords and slay all the males in the city, including Hamor and Shechem. The other sons of Jacob then plunder the city, taking their wealth, livestock, wives, and children captive. Jacob expresses dismay, fearing that their actions will make them abhorred among the inhabitants of the land, but Simeon and Levi defend their vengeance.

Long Summary

Genesis chapter 34 recounts the defilement of Dinah, Jacob's daughter, by Shechem, the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, after she went out to see the daughters of the land. Shechem, despite his act, developed a strong affection for Dinah and desired her as his wife, prompting him and his father Hamor to approach Jacob and his sons. Hamor proposed a comprehensive alliance, suggesting intermarriage between their peoples and inviting Jacob's family to dwell and trade freely in their land. Shechem, eager for Dinah, offered to pay any requested dowry or gift. Jacob's sons, however, were deeply grieved and angered by the defilement of their sister, which they considered a great folly and a reproach in Israel. They responded to Hamor and Shechem with a deceitful condition: they would only consent to intermarriage and becoming one people if every male among the Hivites were circumcised, as they were. Hamor and Shechem found this proposal agreeable, believing it would lead to mutual benefit and the acquisition of Jacob's family's wealth. They presented the condition to the men of their city at the gate, emphasizing the peaceable nature of Jacob's family and the potential for shared prosperity, convincing all the males to undergo circumcision. On the third day, while the Hivite men were still in great pain from the circumcision, Simeon and Levi, Dinah's full brothers, took their swords and boldly entered the city. They slew every male inhabitant, including Hamor and Shechem, and rescued Dinah from Shechem's house. Following this act of vengeance, the other sons of Jacob came upon the slain and plundered the city, taking all their sheep, oxen, asses, wealth, and even their little ones and wives captive. Jacob, upon learning of their actions, expressed grave concern to Simeon and Levi, fearing that their violent deed would make his family abhorred among the Canaanites and Perizzites, potentially leading to their destruction due to their small numbers. Simeon and Levi, however, justified their actions by retorting, "Should he deal with our sister as with an harlot?"

Core Concepts

  • Dinah's DefilementDinah, Jacob's daughter, goes out to see the women of the land and is taken and defiled by Shechem, the prince of the country. This act of sexual violence sets in motion the subsequent events of the chapter.
  • Shechem's Desire and ProposalDespite his initial act, Shechem's soul cleaves unto Dinah, and he loves her, desiring her as his wife. He and his father Hamor approach Jacob and his sons to arrange a marriage and propose a broader alliance of intermarriage and cohabitation.
  • The Sons' Deceitful ConditionJacob's sons, enraged by Dinah's defilement, respond deceitfully to Hamor and Shechem's proposal. They state they cannot give their sister to an uncircumcised man, but will consent if all Hivite males are circumcised, intending this as a trap.
  • Circumcision of the HivitesHamor and Shechem agree to the condition and persuade the men of their city to undergo circumcision, believing it will lead to a peaceful alliance and shared prosperity with Jacob's family. All the males of the city comply with the request.
  • Simeon and Levi's VengeanceOn the third day, while the Hivite men are sore from circumcision, Simeon and Levi, Dinah's full brothers, attack the city. They slay all the males, including Hamor and Shechem, in an act of extreme vengeance for their sister's defilement.
  • Plunder and CaptivityFollowing the slaughter, the other sons of Jacob come upon the slain and plunder the city. They take all their livestock, wealth, and even the women and children captive, completely despoiling the Hivite community.
  • Jacob's Rebuke and Sons' JustificationJacob expresses dismay to Simeon and Levi, fearing that their actions will make his family abhorred and vulnerable to attack from surrounding peoples due to their small numbers. However, Simeon and Levi justify their actions by asserting that their sister should not have been treated as a harlot.