Genesis 34:20-25

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 34:20

And Hamor and Shechem his son went unto the gate of their city ,.... Where courts of judicature were held, and all public affairs respecting the common interest of the city were transacted: here, no doubt, Hamor their prince summoned them to come, by the usual method in which the citizens were convened on certain occasions: and communed with the men of their city ; upon the subject of entering into an alliance with Jacob's family, of admitting them to be fellow citizens with them, and of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 34:21

These men are peaceable with us ,.... Meaning Jacob and his sons, pointing to their tents which were near their city; and no doubt more was said than is here expressed, and that these words were introduced with a preface, in which notice was taken of Jacob and his family, and their names mentioned, as here their character is given; that they were men of peaceable dispositions, harmless and inoffensive, as appeared they had been ever since they came into these parts; and there was a great... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 34:22

Only herein will the men consent unto us ,.... The only term or condition insisted upon, to come into an alliance and affinity with us, and for to dwell with us, to be one people , to become one body politic, is the following one: if every male among us be circumcised, as they are circumcised ; submitting to this rite, they agree to take up their residence with us, and be incorporated among us, and become one people. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 34:23

Shall not their cattle, and their substance, and every beast of theirs, be ours ?.... Which would in course come into their families in process of time, by intermarrying with them, or, being more numerous and powerful than they, could seize upon them when they pleased, and take all they had: thus they argue from the profit and advantage that would accrue to them by admitting them among them, upon their terms; and this argument, taken from worldly interest, they knew would have great... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 34:24

And unto Hamor and unto Shechem his son hearkened all that went out of the gate of his city ,.... That is, all the inhabitants of the city who came to the gate of it, upon the summons given them, and departed from thence to their habitations, having a great opinion of their prince and his son; and moved either with awe of them or love to them, and influenced both by their arguments and example, they agreed to what was proposed to them: and every male was circumcised, all that went out of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 34:25

And it came to pass on the third day, when they were sore ,.... Or in "pain" F11 כאבים "dolore affecti", Pagninus, Schmidt, "essent in dolore", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Drusius. , when their pains were strong upon them, as the Targum of Onkelos; or when they were weak through the pain of circumcision, as the Targum of Jonathan; for it seems that the pain of circumcision was more intense on the third day F12 Pirke Eliezer, c. 29. , and the part the more inflamed, and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 34:23

Shall not their cattle and their substance - be ours? - This was a bait held out for the poor unsuspecting people of Hamor by their prince and his son, who were not much less deceived than the people themselves. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 34:24

Every male was circumcised - These simple people must have had very great affection for their chief and his son, or have been under the influence of the most passive obedience, to have come so readily into this measure, and to have submitted to this rite. But the petty princes in Asiatic countries have ever been absolute and despotic, their subjects paying them the most prompt and blind obedience. I shall give a few examples from Mr. Richardson's Dissertations - "Abu Thaher, chief of the... read more

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