Genesis 34:1-31
Q.1. How did Jacob’s sons react to the rape of their sister? What offer did the Hivites make to Jacob’s sons? How did they deceive the sons of Hamor? – (Gen.34:1-17)
Prince Shechem and his father, Hamor, were Hivites who descended from Canaan, son of Ham, the son of Noah (Gen.10:15-17; 1 Chr.1:13-15). Shechem was besotted with Jacob’s daughter, Dinah. He raped and humbled her (Gen.34:1-3). Jacob waited until his sons came home from their shepherding duties before he told them. At the news – … the men were grieved, and they were very angry because he had done a disgraceful thing in Israel by lying with Jacob’s daughter, for such a thing ought not to be done (Gen.34:7). Shechem wanted Dinah for his wife, so his father made a plea – 9 Intermarry with us; give your daughters to us and take our daughters for yourselves. 10 Thus you shall live with us, and the land shall be open before you; live and trade in it and acquire property in it (Gen.34:9-10). Shechem also offered to do anything in order to have Dinah (Gen.34:11-12). Jacob’s sons hid their rage. Simeon and Levi hatched a plan to take out their vengeance on these Hivites (Gen.34:13). They claimed that it would be a disgrace for them to intermarry unless every male was circumcised (Gen.34:14-17).
Q.2. How did Hamor and Shechem persuade their people to submit to the plan? What treachery did Simeon and Levi inflict upon these Hivites? Was Jacob happy? – (Gen.34:18-31)
Hamor and Shechem quickly persuaded their tribe to be circumcised, arguing -These men are friendly with us; therefore, let them live in the land and trade in it, for behold, the land is large enough for them. Let us take their daughters in marriage and give our daughters to them (Gen.32:21). However, it was a trap – Now it came about on the third day, when they were in pain, that two of Jacob’s sons, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brothers, each took his sword and came upon the city unawares and killed every male … from Hamor and Shechem down (Gen.34:25-26). Moreover, they looted the city, took all their flocks and herds, including all the women and children (Gen.34:27-29). Jacob chided Simeon and Levi, stating they had made him a stench to the Canaanites and had placed him and his family under threat of extermination (Gen.34:30). In fact, the opposite was true – As they journeyed, there was a great terror upon the cities which were around them, and they did not pursue the sons of Jacob (c.f. Gen.35:5). The action of Jacob’s sons did guarantee that the descendants of Israel would not easily intermingle and intermarry with the godless Canaanites. God overruled to achieve His purposes, although the conduct of Jacob’s sons was inexcusable. They claimed that their extreme action was justified because Shechem treated their sister as a harlot (Gen.34:31). Jacob never forgot the outrageous action of his sons (c.f. Gen.49:5-7).