Genesis 34:1-31 KJV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 34:1-5

Dinah was, for aught that appears, Jacob's only daughter, and we may suppose her therefore the mother's fondling and the darling of the family, and yet she proves neither a joy nor a credit to them; for those children seldom prove either the best or the happiest that are most indulged. She is reckoned now but fifteen or sixteen years of age when she here occasioned so much mischief. Observe, 1. Her vain curiosity, which exposed her. She went out, perhaps unknown to her father, but by the... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 34:6-17

Jacob's sons, when they heard of the injury done to Dinah, showed a very great resentment of it, influenced perhaps rather by jealousy for the honour of their family than by a sense of virtue. Many are concerned at the shamefulness of sin that never lay to heart the sinfulness of it. It is here called folly in Israel (Gen. 34:7), according to the language of after-times; for Israel was not yet a people, but a family only. Note, 1. Uncleanness is folly; for it sacrifices the favour of God,... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 34:18-24

I. Hamor and Shechem fairly propose this match, in order to a coalition in trade. Shechem is deeply in love with Dinah; he will have her upon any terms, Gen. 34:11, 12. His father not only consents, but solicits for him, and gravely insists upon the advantages that would follow from the union of the families, Gen. 34:9, 10. He shows no jealousy of Jacob, though he was a stranger, but rather an earnest desire to settle a correspondence with him and his family, making him that generous offer,... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 34:25-31

Here, we have Simeon and Levi, two of Jacob's sons, young men not much above twenty years old, cutting the throats of the Shechemites, and thereby breaking the heart of their good father. I. Here is the barbarous murder of the Shechemites. Jacob himself was used to the sheep-hook, but his sons had got swords by their sides, as if they had been the seed of Esau, who was to live by his sword; we have them here, 1. Slaying the inhabitants of Shechem?all the males, Hamor and Shechem particularly,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 34:1

And Dinah the daughter of Leah, which she bare unto Jacob ,.... Who is supposed to be at this time about fourteen or fifteen years of age: for that she was but about nine or ten years old is not to be credited, as some compute it F26 R. Ganz. Tzemach David, par. l. fol. 6. 2. : she is observed to be the daughter of Leah, partly that the following miscarriage might bring to mind her forwardness to intrude herself into Jacob's bed, and be a rebuke unto her; and partly to account for... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 34:2

And when Shechem the son of Hamor ,.... From whom the city had its name, near which Jacob and his family now were: the Hivite, prince of the country ; Hamor was an Hivite, which was one of the nations of the land of Canaan, and this man was the prince or a principal man of that nation, as well as of Shechem. Josephus F3 Ut supra. (Antiqu. l. 1. c. 21. sect. 1.) calls him a king: when the son of this man saw her ; that is, Dinah, what a beautiful person she was, and was... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 34:3

And his soul clave unto Dinah the daughter of Jacob ,.... His inclination was to her, she was always in his thoughts; it was not a mere lustful desire that was suddenly raised, and soon over, but a constant and continued affection he bore to her, as follows: and he loved the damsel ; sincerely and heartily: and spake kindly unto the damsel ; or "to the heart" F7 על לב "ad cor", Pagninus, Vatablus, Drusius, Schmidt; super cor, Montanus, Munster; "cordi", Junius &... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 34:4

And Shechem spake unto his father Hamor ,.... And told him the whole affair, at least what a strong affection he had for Dinah: saying, get me this damsel to wife ; by which he meant not only that he would give his consent that he might marry her, but that he would get her parents' consent unto it, and settle the matter with them; by which it appears how early, and that even among Heathen nations, consent of parents on both sides was judged necessary to marriage. It seems by this as if... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 34:5

And Jacob heard that he had defiled Dinah his daughter ,.... That is, that Shechem had defiled her; the report of this was brought him very probably by one of the maids which attended her to the city; for it was hardly to be thought that she should go thither alone, and which must be very distressing to Jacob to hear of: this was his first affliction in his own family, but it was not the only one, nor the last, others quickly followed: now his sons were with his cattle in the field ; he... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 34:6

And Hamor, the father of Shechem, went out unto Jacob ,.... Unto the tent of Jacob without the city: to commune with him ; to talk with him about the affair of Dinah, to pacify him, and endeavour to gain his consent, that his son might marry her, and to settle the, terms and conditions of the marriage. read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 34:1-5

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 34:6-17

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 34:18-24

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 34:25-31

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 34:1

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 34:2

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 34:3

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 34:4

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 34:5

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 34:6

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