Chapter 34:
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Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 Revelation Exodus
Genesis 34
In this chapter we have,
I. Dinah debauched, ver. 1, 2-5.
II. A treaty of marriage between her and Shechem who had defiled
her, ver. 6-19.
III. The circumcision of the Shechemites, pursuant to that treaty,
ver. 20-24.
IV. The perfidious and bloody revenge which Simeon and Levi
took upon them, ver. 25-31.
Verse 1. Dinah was then about fifteen or sixteen years of age when she
went out to see the daughters of the land - Probably on some
public day. She went to see; yet that was not all, she went to be
seen too: she went to see the daughters of the land, but it may be
with some thoughts of the sons of the land too.
Verse
7. It is called folly in Israel - According to the language of after-
times, for Israel was not yet a people, but a family only.
Verse
8. Hamor communed - That is, talked. He came to treat with Jacob
himself, but he turns them over to his sons. And here we have a
particular account of the treaty, in which it is a shame to say the
Canaanites were more honest than the Israelites.
Verse
18. Hamor and Shechem gave consent themselves to be
circumcised. To this perhaps they were moved not only by the
strong desire they had to bring about, this match, but by what they
might have heard of the sacred and honourable intentions of this
sign, in the family of Abraham, which it is probable they had
some confused notions of, and of the promises confirmed by it;
which made them the more desirous to incorporate with the
family of Jacob.
Verse
23. Shall not their cattle and their substance be ours? - They
observed that Jacob's sons were industrious, thriving people, and
promised themselves and their neighbours advantage by an
alliance with them: it would improve ground and trade, and bring
money into their country.
Verse
25. They slew all the males - Nothing can excuse this execrable
villainy. It was true Shechem had wrought folly in Israel, in
defiling Dinah: but it ought to have been considered how far
Dinah herself had been accessary to it. Had Shechem abused her
in her mother's tent, it had been another matter; but she went upon
his ground, and struck the spark which began the fire. When we
are severe upon the sinner, we ought to consider who was the
tempter. It was true that Shechem had done ill; but he was
endeavouring to atone for it, and was as honest and honourable
afterwards as the case would admit. It was true that Shechem had
done ill, but what was that to all the Shechemites? Doth one man
sin, and must the innocent fall with the guilty? This was barbarous
indeed. But that which above all aggravated the cruelty, was the
most perfidious treachery that was in it. The Shechemites had
submitted to their conditions, and had done that upon which they
had promised to become one people with them. Yet they act as
sworn enemies to those to whom they were lately become sworn
friends, making as light of their covenant as they did of the laws
of humanity. And these are the sons of Israel? Cursed be their
anger, for it was fierce.
Verse
27. Tho' Simeon and Levi only were the murderers, yet others of
the sons of Jacob came upon the slain, and spoiled the city - And
so became accessary to the murder.
Verse
30. Ye have troubled me, to make me to stink among the
inhabitants of the land - That is, You have rendered my family
odious among them. And what could be expected but that the
Canaanites, who were numerous and formidable, would
confederate against him, and he and his little family would
become an easy prey to them? I shall be destroyed, I and my
house - Jacob knew indeed that God had promised to preserve his
house; but he might justly fear that these vile practices of his
children would amount to a forfeiture, and cut off the entail.
When sin is in the house, there is reason to fear ruin at the door.
Verse
31. Should he deal with our sister as with an harlot? - No, he
should not; but, if he do, Must they be their own avengers? And
nothing less than so many lives, and the ruin of a whole city, serve
to atone for the abuse.
Chapter 34:
| Calvin
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 Revelation Exodus
This version of Wesley's Notes on the Bible is a derivative of an electronic version, Copyright 1997, by Sulu D. Kelley. All rights reserved. Used by permission. It may not be modified or used commercially without permission of Wesleyan Heritage Publishing and Sulu Kelley. A special thanks to Mr. Kelley and Wesleyan Heritage Publishing for permission to create and post this version of Wesley's Notes on the Bible.
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