Genesis 34:4-12 NIV

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

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 34:7

And the sons of Jacob came out of the field, when they heard it ,..... Either by a messenger Jacob sent to them, to acquaint them with it, or by some other hand: however, be it as it will, as soon as they heard of the abuse of their sister, they immediately left their flocks to the care of their servants, and came to their father's tent: and the men were grieved and were very wroth ; they were grieved for the sin committed against God, very probably, as well as for the injury done to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 34:8

And Hamor communed with them ,.... With Jacob and his sons, who came in just at that time: saying, the soul of my son Shechem longeth for your daughter : the daughter of the family, and the only daughter in it; for her Shechem had a vehement affection, a strong desire to marry her, and could not be satisfied without her: I pray you, give her him to wife ; he not only requests the consent of the parents of the damsel, but of her brothers also, which in those times and countries seems... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 34:9

And make ye marriages with us ,.... There was no objection on their side, it lay on the other; Abraham's servant was charged by him not to take a wife of the Canaanites to his son Isaac; and the same charge was given Jacob by Isaac, Genesis 24:3 ; and therefore Jacob would never agree that his children should marry any of that nation; and marriages with them were afterwards forbidden by the law of Moses, Deuteronomy 7:3 , and give your daughters unto us, and take our daughters unto... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 34:10

And ye shall dwell with us ,..... Peaceably and quietly, not as sojourners only, but as inhabitants: and the land shall be before you ; to choose what part of it they pleased to dwell in, and which they should have in their own power and possession: dwell and trade you therein ; in any sort of traffic and commerce the land would admit of, and they should best choose: and get you possessions therein ; buy houses and land, and enjoy them, they and their posterity; these are the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 34:11

And Shechem said unto her father and unto her brethren ,.... To the father and brethren of Dinah; he addressed them after his father Hamor had done speaking: let me find grace in your eyes ; forgive the offence committed, the injury done to Dinah, and grant the request of her marriage, and it will be considered as a great favour: and what ye shall say unto me, I will give ; to her, to her parents, to her brethren and relations; let what will be fixed, shall be given; which showed... read more

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

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

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 34:7

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 34:8

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 34:9

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 34:10

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 34:11

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