Gen. 34 Dinah going forth to see the daughters of the country, is abused and defiled by Shechem, son of Hamor, Gen. 34:1–2; who loves her, Gen. 34:3; desires to marry her, Gen. 34:4. Jacob hears it, Gen. 34:5. Hamor treats with Jacob and his sons, Gen. 34:6–12.

From her father’s house into the city, out of curiosity, there being then, as Josephus reports, a great concourse of people to a feast. Thus she put herself out of her father’s protection, and merely out of a vain humour exposed both herself and others to temptation; which was the worse, because it…

Perceiving her to be exceedingly enraged and perplexed at this horrid violence, he endeavours to appease and sweeten her, and to get her consent to marry him.

He desires both his father’s consent and assistance herein.

Being unable to punish the delinquent, and not knowing what to do, he waits for his sons’ coming and advice.

Because he had wrought folly; that is, wickedness; which howsoever vain men many times esteem their wisdom, by the sentence of the all-wise God is accounted and commonly in Scripture called folly, as Deut. 22:21, Josh. 7:15, Judg. 19:23, Judg. 20:6;c. In Israel, or, against Israel; either, 1.

Hamor communed with them; with Jacob’s sons, to whom Jacob committed the business, being himself oppressed with shame and grief, and fear for his daughter. Your daughter, the daughter of your family; or he thus speaketh to her brothers, because they transacted all in their father’s name.

Before you, i.e. in your power, to dwell where you please, and to have the same rights and privileges in it which we enjoy. See Gen. 20:15. Get you possessions therein; or, take possession in it, i.e.

Dowry to her for her portion, according to the ancient custom of men’s buying their wives; of which see Ex. 22:17; and gift to you, either for reparation of the past injury, or in testimony of my respect to you, and desire of her, as Gen. 24:53.

Deceitfully; pretending and promising marriages with them upon that condition which they never intended.

There was no such law yet in force, as the examples of Isaac and Jacob show, who married the daughters of uncircumcised persons; and therefore they do not here reject it as simply unlawful, but only as dishonourable and reproachful.

The gate of their city, the place where all public affairs were debated and concluded. See Poole on “Gen. 22:17”; see Poole on “Gen. 23:10”.

Shall not their substance be ours? Either for our use and benefit in the way of commerce and trade; or because they will descend to the issue of our children as well as theirs; or because we being more numerous and potent than they, can easily overrule them, and when we think meet, dispose all…

They yielded to circumcision, partly in compliance with their young prince, whom they either loved or feared; and partly for the prospect of their own advantage, for which men are frequently willing to expose themselves to great pains and hazards.

On the third day, when the pain and grief of wounds is the greatest, as physicians note, when they were sore, and therefore not well able to defend themselves; for circumcision caused great pain in children, which was the ground of that exclamation, Ex. 4:25, much more in grown men. See Josh. 5:8.

They, i.e. one of them, as ofttimes that which is done by one man is imputed to the whole body. See Josh. 7:1, Josh. 7:11–12, Josh. 22:20, Matt. 2:20. Or they impute Shechem’s fact to all, either invidiously and cunningly to take off from themselves the reproach of this cruel action; or because…

Thus they add to their cruelty theft and robbery, which doubtless Jacob disowned when they brought the spoil home, and returned back both the surviving people and their goods, though it be passed over in silence, as many other things are. See Poole on “Gen. 33:14”.

Either in the prince’s house, or in their several houses; or within doors, as the word signifies.

You have not only discomposed my mind, but perplexed my affairs, and brought me into such troubles and dangers as I am never likely to escape. You have made me odious to the inhabitants of the land, who will impute this perfidious and bloody fact to my contrivance. Few in number; Heb.

Shall we express no more resentment of this abominable abuse of our sister, than if she had been some common harlot, whose abuse no man either regardeth or revengeth? Thus they excuse one fault by committing another, and defend themselves by accusing their father of stupidity, and insensibleness of…