Genesis 34

Dinah and the Shechemites

34:1 Now Dinah, Leah’s daughter whom she bore to Jacob, went to meet1 the young women2 of the land. 34:2 When Shechem son of Hamor the Hivite, who ruled that area, saw her, he grabbed her, forced himself on her,3 and sexually assaulted her.4 34:3 Then he became very attached5 to Dinah, Jacob’s daughter. He fell in love with the young woman and spoke romantically to her.6 34:4 Shechem said to his father Hamor, “Acquire this young girl as my wife.”7 34:5 When8 Jacob heard that Shechem9 had violated his daughter Dinah, his sons were with the livestock in the field. So Jacob remained silent10 until they came in.

34:6 Then Shechem’s father Hamor went to speak with Jacob about Dinah.11 34:7 Now Jacob’s sons had come in from the field when they heard the news.12 They13 were offended14 and very angry because Shechem15 had disgraced Israel16 by sexually assaulting17 Jacob’s daughter, a crime that should not be committed.18

34:8 But Hamor made this appeal to them: “My son Shechem is in love with your daughter.19 Please give her to him as his wife. 34:9 Intermarry with us.20 Let us marry your daughters, and take our daughters as wives for yourselves.21 34:10 You may live22 among us, and the land will be open to you.23 Live in it, travel freely in it,24 and acquire property in it.”

34:11 Then Shechem said to Dinah’s25 father and brothers, “Let me find favor in your sight, and whatever you require of me26 I’ll give.27 34:12 You can make the bride price and the gift I must bring very expensive,28 and I’ll give29 whatever you ask30 of me. Just give me the young woman as my wife!”

34:13 Jacob’s sons answered Shechem and his father Hamor deceitfully when they spoke because Shechem31 had violated their sister Dinah. 34:14 They said to them, “We cannot give32 our sister to a man who is not circumcised, for it would be a disgrace33 to us. 34:15 We will give you our consent on this one condition: You must become34 like us by circumcising35 all your males. 34:16 Then we will give36 you our daughters to marry,37 and we will take your daughters as wives for ourselves, and we will live among you and become one people. 34:17 But if you do not agree to our terms38 by being circumcised, then we will take39 our sister40 and depart.”

34:18 Their offer pleased Hamor and his son Shechem.41 34:19 The young man did not delay in doing what they asked42 because he wanted Jacob’s daughter Dinah43 badly. (Now he was more important44 than anyone in his father’s household.)45 34:20 So Hamor and his son Shechem went to the gate46 of their city and spoke to the men of their city, 34:21 “These men are at peace with us. So let them live in the land and travel freely in it, for the land is wide enough47 for them. We will take their daughters for wives, and we will give them our daughters to marry.48 34:22 Only on this one condition will these men consent to live with us and become one people: They demand49 that every male among us be circumcised just as they are circumcised. 34:23 If we do so,50 won’t their livestock, their property, and all their animals become ours? So let’s consent to their demand, so they will live among us.”

34:24 All the men who assembled at the city gate51 agreed with52 Hamor and his son Shechem. Every male who assembled at the city gate53 was circumcised. 34:25 In three days, when they were still in pain, two of Jacob’s sons, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brothers, each took his sword54 and went to the unsuspecting city55 and slaughtered every male. 34:26 They killed Hamor and his son Shechem with the sword, took Dinah from Shechem’s house, and left. 34:27 Jacob’s sons killed them56 and looted the city because their sister had been violated.57 34:28 They took their flocks, herds, and donkeys, as well as everything in the city and in the surrounding fields.58 34:29 They captured as plunder59 all their wealth, all their little ones, and their wives, including everything in the houses.

34:30 Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, “You have brought ruin60 on me by making me a foul odor61 among the inhabitants of the land – among the Canaanites and the Perizzites. I62 am few in number; they will join forces against me and attack me, and both I and my family will be destroyed!” 34:31 But Simeon and Levi replied,63 “Should he treat our sister like a common prostitute?”

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