Observations Upon the Old Testament, Genesis · Chapter 34
CHAP. XXXIV.
Verse 1. ANd Dinah] Ch. 30. 21, 22. This must needs be about six yeares after Jacobs coming from Laban, and Dinah at this time but thirteen years old at most; because of Benjamins birth a while after this, ch. 35. 16, 17, 18. who, if borne the next yeare, yet can be but twenty six yeares old, when he went with his father into Egypt, and had then ten sons, ch. 46. 21.
went out to see] Likely upon some festival day, and also her self alone, Tit. 2. 5.
V. 2. Hamor] Acts 7. 16. Emor or Emmor.
V. 3. And s…ake kindly] To comfort her, being afflicted for the injury done her, as Tamar in like case was, 2 Sam. 13. 13, 19.
V. 5. Jacob held his peace] Though sorrowful enough. So Aaron, Lev 10. 3. and David, Psal. 39. 9. Thus Jacob ruling his own spirit, did better then his sonnes that took the City, Prov. 16. 32.
until] As fittest to comfort and counsel him.
V. 7. And the sonnes of Jacob] Reuben being born the first yeare of Jacobs coming to Laban, was now about twenty five yeares old, Simeon twenty foure, Levi twenty three.
wroth] In hatred of the sin, and for the disgrace and reproach of the Church.
folly] So the rape, Judg. 20. 6. and Achans sacriledge, Josh. 7. 15. are called folly, Rom. 1. 22. Folly in offending God, losing the soule, forfeiting heaven, gaining hell.
in Israel] This name given him first, ch. 32. 28. Therefore these words likely are the words, not of Jacobs sonnes, but of Moses, who writeth this story, according to the phrase of speech used in his time, and suitable to the words of the Law, delivered by him afterwards, Deut. 23. 17. See, Deut. 21. 21. Josh. 7. 15. Judg. 20. 6.
V. 8. With them] Likely apart from their father.
Your daughter] They treating in their fathers name as well as in their own. So, v. 17.
V. 11. I will give] See, Annot on ch. 29. 18. Amnon did far worse with Tamar, 2 Sam. 13. Exod. 22. 16, 17. and, Deut. 22. 28, 29, is in satisfaction for wrong done; not upon a free and equal motion and proceeding in marriage.
V. 13. And the sonnes of Jacob] Without their fathers consent.
deceitfully] Without their fathers knowledge. He was a plain man and sincere, ch. 25. 27.
V. 14. Uncircumcised] Superfluous. Though Isaac and Jacob were married to women of Bethael and Labans family, where circumcision of the males in all likelihood was not in use.
V. 15. But in this will we] Jacob would not have the holy Sacrament prophaned, and obtruded upon unbelievers, nor his holy seed to be mingled with the cursed Canaanites, (Deut. 7. 3, 4) Neither did Jacobs sons here deal otherwise then deceitfully, v. 25.
be circumcised] Thus they abuse and prostitute the holy Sacrament to their bloody purpose, and under colour of Religion cover their deceipt; so did Jozebel, 1 Kings 21, 9, 10. and Absalom, 2 Sam. 15. 7, 8.
V. 16. Our daughters] Which we have or shall have.
V. 17. Our daughter] As, v. 8. using the name of their father.
V. 19. More honourable] His great esteem was one ground of his present prevailing so much with all the men, in so strange a request.
V. 20. The gate of their City] Where were the publick Assemblies and Courts of justice. See, Annotat. on chap. 23. 10.
V. 23. And every beast of theirs be ours?] Not as a spoile from them, but by commerce, marriages and the like.
V. 25. On the third day] The Critical day, by Physicians, for wounds.
Simeon and Levi, Dinahs brethren] By father and mother, Reuben was of a more milde nature, ch. 37. 29. They only the chief Authours and Actors, others also both brethren and servants like to be Assistants, v 13, 27.
boldly] Because the wounded men could not resist them; and the City was secure.
slew all the males] A male had done the wrong. Their wives and little ones they took captives, v. 29. God might justly suffer this for the Shechemites own sins, and take occasion for it from the sin of their Prince, 1 Chron. 32. 25. 2 Sam 24. 1, 15, 17.
V. 27. The sons of Jacob] The rest likely.
and spoiled the City] V. 28, 29. of murderers become robbers.
they had defiled their sister] One of them had, and the other repressed it not, nor judged him for it; So, Josh. 7. 1, 11, 12. 22. 20.
V. 29. Captive] What they did after with them we reade not.
in the house] In every house, chiefly Shechems house wherein Dinah was, v. 2….
V. 30. Unto Simeon and Levi] As the chief offenders.
ye have troubled me] He then was neither privy to, nor approver of this massacre. And therefore, ch. 49. 5, 6, 7. he doth by the spirit of prophecie curse them for it, Josh. 6. 18. 7. 25. 1 Kings 18. 18. For this fact likely he deprives them of their birth-right, as Reuben for his sinne, and conferres it on Judah, chap. 49. Prov. 11 29.
to make me] Though he were in no fault.
to stink] Cruelty and treachery are odious crimes, Ex. 5. 22. 1 Chron. 19 6.
V. 31. As with an harlot] A stubborne answer. In the Hebrew Zonah, the first letter is extraordinarily great. In ch. 23. 2. There is a little letter to note Abrahams moderation without excesse in weeping.