14 And they said H559 unto them, We cannot H3808 H3201 do H6213 this thing, H1697 to give H5414 our sister H269 to one H376 that is uncircumcised; H6190 for that were a reproach H2781 unto us:
And ye shall circumcise H5243 the flesh H1320 of your foreskin; H6190 and it shall be a token H226 of the covenant H1285 betwixt me and you.
And the uncircumcised H6189 man child H2145 whose H834 flesh H1320 of his foreskin H6190 is not circumcised, H4135 that soul H5315 shall be cut off H3772 from his people; H5971 he hath broken H6565 my covenant. H1285
At that time H6256 the LORD H3068 said H559 unto Joshua, H3091 Make H6213 thee sharp H6697 knives, H2719 and circumcise H4135 again H7725 the children H1121 of Israel H3478 the second time. H8145 And Joshua H3091 made H6213 him sharp H6697 knives, H2719 and circumcised H4135 the children H1121 of Israel H3478 at the hill H1389 of the foreskins. H6190 And this is the cause H1697 why Joshua H3091 did circumcise: H4135 All the people H5971 that came out H3318 of Egypt, H4714 that were males, H2145 even all the men H582 of war, H4421 died H4191 in the wilderness H4057 by the way, H1870 after they came out H3318 of Egypt. H4714 Now H3588 all the people H5971 that came out H3318 were circumcised: H4135 but all the people H5971 that were born H3209 in the wilderness H4057 by the way H1870 as they came forth H3318 out of Egypt, H4714 them they had not circumcised. H4135 For the children H1121 of Israel H3478 walked H1980 forty H705 years H8141 in the wilderness, H4057 till all the people H1471 that were men H582 of war, H4421 which came out H3318 of Egypt, H4714 were consumed, H8552 because they obeyed H8085 not the voice H6963 of the LORD: H3068 unto whom the LORD H3068 sware H7650 that he would not shew H7200 them the land, H776 which the LORD H3068 sware H7650 unto their fathers H1 that he would give H5414 us, a land H776 that floweth H2100 with milk H2461 and honey. H1706 And their children, H1121 whom he raised up H6965 in their stead, them Joshua H3091 circumcised: H4135 for they were uncircumcised, H6189 because they had not circumcised H4135 them by the way. H1870 And it came to pass, when they had done H8552 circumcising H4135 all the people, H1471 that they abode H3427 in their places in the camp, H4264 till they were whole. H2421 And the LORD H3068 said H559 unto Joshua, H3091 This day H3117 have I rolled away H1556 the reproach H2781 of Egypt H4714 from off you. Wherefore the name H8034 of the place H4725 is called H7121 Gilgal H1537 unto this day. H3117
And Jonathan H3083 said H559 to the young man H5288 that bare H5375 his armour, H3627 Come, H3212 and let us go over H5674 unto the garrison H4673 of these uncircumcised: H6189 it may be that the LORD H3068 will work H6213 for us: for there is no restraint H4622 to the LORD H3068 to save H3467 by many H7227 or by few. H4592
And David H1732 spake H559 to the men H582 that stood H5975 by him, saying, H559 What shall be done H6213 to the man H376 that killeth H5221 this H1975 Philistine, H6430 and taketh away H5493 the reproach H2781 from Israel? H3478 for who is this uncircumcised H6189 Philistine, H6430 that he should defy H2778 the armies H4634 of the living H2416 God? H430
Tell H5046 it not in Gath, H1661 publish H1319 it not in the streets H2351 of Askelon; H831 lest the daughters H1323 of the Philistines H6430 rejoice, H8055 lest the daughters H1323 of the uncircumcised H6189 triumph. H5937
And G2532 he sent G3992 them G846 to G1519 Bethlehem, G965 and said, G2036 Go G4198 and search G1833 diligently G199 for G4012 the young child; G3813 and G1161 when G1875 ye have found G2147 him, bring G518 me G3427 word again, G518 that G3704 I may come G2064 and worship G4352 him G846 also. G2504
And G1161 when they G846 were departed, G402 behold, G2400 the angel G32 of the Lord G2962 appeareth G5316 to Joseph G2501 in G2596 a dream, G3677 saying, G3004 Arise, G1453 and take G3880 the young child G3813 and G2532 his G846 mother, G3384 and G2532 flee G5343 into G1519 Egypt, G125 and G2532 be thou G2468 there G1563 until G2193 I G302 bring G2036 thee G4671 word: G2036 for G1063 Herod G2264 will G3195 seek G2212 the young child G3813 to destroy G622 him. G846
Then G5119 spake G2980 Jesus G2424 to the multitude, G3793 and G2532 to his G846 disciples, G3101 Saying, G3004 The scribes G1122 and G2532 the Pharisees G5330 sit G2523 in G1909 Moses' G3475 seat: G2515 All G3956 therefore G3767 whatsoever G302 G3745 they bid G2036 you G5213 observe, G5083 that observe G5083 and G2532 do; G4160 but G1161 do G4160 not G3361 ye after G2596 their G846 works: G2041 for G1063 they say, G3004 and G2532 do G4160 not. G3756 For G1063 they bind G1195 heavy G926 burdens G5413 and G2532 grievous to be borne, G1419 and G2532 lay G2007 them on G1909 men's G444 shoulders; G5606 but G1161 they themselves will G2309 not G3756 move G2795 them G846 with one of their G846 fingers. G1147 But G1161 all G3956 their G846 works G2041 they do G4160 for G4314 to be seen G2300 of men: G444 G1161 they make broad G4115 their G846 phylacteries, G5440 and G2532 enlarge G3170 the borders G2899 of their G846 garments, G2440 And G5037 love G5368 the uppermost rooms G4411 at G1722 feasts, G1173 and G2532 the chief seats G4410 in G1722 the synagogues, G4864 And G2532 greetings G783 in G1722 the markets, G58 and G2532 to be called G2564 of G5259 men, G444 Rabbi, G4461 Rabbi. G4461 But G1161 be G2564 not G3361 ye G5210 called G2564 Rabbi: G4461 for G1063 one G1520 is G2076 your G5216 Master, G2519 even Christ; G5547 and G1161 all G3956 ye G5210 are G2075 brethren. G80 And G2532 call G2564 no G3361 man your G5216 father G3962 upon G1909 the earth: G1093 for G1063 one G1520 is G2076 your G5216 Father, G3962 which G3588 is in G1722 heaven. G3772 Neither G3366 be ye called G2564 masters: G2519 for G1063 one G1520 is G2076 your G5216 Master, G2519 even Christ. G5547 But G1161 he that is greatest G3187 among you G5216 shall be G2071 your G5216 servant. G1249 And G1161 whosoever G3748 shall exalt G5312 himself G1438 shall be abased; G5013 and G2532 he G3748 that shall humble G5013 himself G1438 shall be exalted. G5312 But G1161 woe G3759 unto you, G5213 scribes G1122 and G2532 Pharisees, G5330 hypocrites! G5273 for G3754 ye shut up G2808 the kingdom G932 of heaven G3772 against G1715 men: G444 for G1063 ye G5210 neither G3761 go in G1525 yourselves, neither G3756 suffer ye G863 them that are entering G1525 to go in. G1525 Woe G3759 unto you, G5213 scribes G1122 and G2532 Pharisees, G5330 hypocrites! G5273 for G3754 ye devour G2719 widows' G5503 houses, G3614 and G2532 for a pretence G4392 make G4336 long G3117 prayer: G4336 therefore G1223 G5124 ye shall receive G2983 the greater G4055 damnation. G2917 Woe G3759 unto you, G5213 scribes G1122 and G2532 Pharisees, G5330 hypocrites! G5273 for G3754 ye compass G4013 sea G2281 and G2532 land G3584 to make G4160 one G1520 proselyte, G4339 and G2532 when G3752 he is made, G1096 ye make G4160 him G846 twofold more G1362 the child G5207 of hell G1067 than yourselves. G5216 Woe G3759 unto you, G5213 ye blind G5185 guides, G3595 which G3588 say, G3004 Whosoever G3739 G302 shall swear G3660 by G1722 the temple, G3485 it is G2076 nothing; G3762 but G1161 whosoever G3739 G302 shall swear G3660 by G1722 the gold G5557 of the temple, G3485 he is a debtor! G3784 Ye fools G3474 and G2532 blind: G5185 for G1063 whether G5101 is G2076 greater, G3187 the gold, G5557 or G2228 the temple G3485 that sanctifieth G37 the gold? G5557 And, G2532 Whosoever G3739 G1437 shall swear G3660 by G1722 the altar, G2379 it is G2076 nothing; G3762 but G1161 whosoever G3739 G302 sweareth G3660 by G1722 the gift G1435 that is upon G1883 it, G846 he is guilty. G3784 Ye fools G3474 and G2532 blind: G5185 for G1063 whether G5101 is greater, G3187 the gift, G1435 or G2228 the altar G2379 that sanctifieth G37 the gift? G1435 Whoso therefore G3767 shall swear G3660 by G1722 the altar, G2379 sweareth G3660 by G1722 it, G846 and G2532 by G1722 all things G3956 thereon. G1883 G846 And G2532 whoso shall swear G3660 by G1722 the temple, G3485 sweareth G3660 by G1722 it, G846 and G2532 by G1722 him that dwelleth G2730 therein. G846 And G2532 he that shall swear G3660 by G1722 heaven, G3772 sweareth G3660 by G1722 the throne G2362 of God, G2316 and G2532 by G1722 him that sitteth G2521 thereon. G1883 G846 Woe G3759 unto you, G5213 scribes G1122 and G2532 Pharisees, G5330 hypocrites! G5273 for G3754 ye pay tithe G586 of mint G2238 and G2532 anise G432 and G2532 cummin, G2951 and G2532 have omitted G863 the weightier G926 matters of the law, G3551 judgment, G2920 G2532 mercy, G1656 and G2532 faith: G4102 these G5023 ought ye G1163 to have done, G4160 and not G3361 to leave G863 the other G2548 undone. G863 Ye blind G5185 guides, G3595 which strain at G1368 a gnat, G2971 and G1161 swallow G2666 a camel. G2574 Woe G3759 unto you, G5213 scribes G1122 and G2532 Pharisees, G5330 hypocrites! G5273 for G3754 ye make clean G2511 the outside G1855 of the cup G4221 and G2532 of the platter, G3953 but G1161 within G2081 they are full G1073 of G1537 extortion G724 and G2532 excess. G192 Thou blind G5185 Pharisee, G5330 cleanse G2511 first G4412 that which is within G1787 the cup G4221 and G2532 platter, G3953 that G2443 the outside G1622 of them G846 may be G1096 clean G2513 also. G2532 Woe G3759 unto you, G5213 scribes G1122 and G2532 Pharisees, G5330 hypocrites! G5273 for G3754 ye are like G3945 unto whited G2867 sepulchres, G5028 which G3748 indeed G3303 appear G5316 beautiful G5611 outward, G1855 but G1161 are within G2081 full G1073 of dead G3498 men's bones, G3747 and G2532 of all G3956 uncleanness. G167 Even so G3779 ye G5210 also G2532 G3303 outwardly G1855 appear G5316 righteous G1342 unto men, G444 but G1161 within G2081 ye are G2075 full G3324 of hypocrisy G5272 and G2532 iniquity. G458 Woe G3759 unto you, G5213 scribes G1122 and G2532 Pharisees, G5330 hypocrites! G5273 because G3754 ye build G3618 the tombs G5028 of the prophets, G4396 and G2532 garnish G2885 the sepulchres G3419 of the righteous, G1342 And G2532 say, G3004 If G1487 we had been G2258 in G1722 the days G2250 of our G2257 fathers, G3962 we would G302 not G3756 have been G2258 partakers G2844 with them G846 in G1722 the blood G129 of the prophets. G4396 Wherefore G5620 ye be witnesses G3140 unto yourselves, G1438 that G3754 ye are G2075 the children G5207 of them which killed G5407 the prophets. G4396 Fill G4137 ye G5210 up G4137 then G2532 the measure G3358 of your G5216 fathers. G3962 Ye serpents, G3789 ye generation G1081 of vipers, G2191 how G4459 can ye G5343 escape G575 the damnation G2920 of hell? G1067 Wherefore, G1223 G5124 behold, G2400 I G1473 send G649 unto G4314 you G5209 prophets, G4396 and G2532 wise men, G4680 and G2532 scribes: G1122 and G2532 some of G1537 them G846 ye shall kill G615 and G2532 crucify; G4717 and G2532 some of G1537 them G846 shall ye scourge G3146 in G1722 your G5216 synagogues, G4864 and G2532 persecute G1377 them from G575 city G4172 to G1519 city: G4172 That G3704 upon G1909 you G5209 may come G2064 all G3956 the righteous G1342 blood G129 shed G1632 upon G1909 the earth, G1093 from G575 the blood G129 of righteous G1342 Abel G6 unto G2193 the blood G129 of Zacharias G2197 son G5207 of Barachias, G914 whom G3739 ye slew G5407 between G3342 the temple G3485 and G2532 the altar. G2379 Verily G281 I say G3004 unto you, G5213 All G3956 these things G5023 shall come G2240 upon G1909 this G5026 generation. G1074 O Jerusalem, G2419 Jerusalem, G2419 thou that killest G615 the prophets, G4396 and G2532 stonest G3036 them which are sent G649 unto G4314 thee, G846 how often G4212 would I G2309 have gathered G1996 thy G4675 G3739 children G5043 together, G1996 even as G5158 a hen G3733 gathereth G1996 her G1438 chickens G3556 under G5259 her wings, G4420 and G2532 ye would G2309 not! G3756 Behold, G2400 your G5216 house G3624 is left G863 unto you G5213 desolate. G2048 For G1063 I say G3004 unto you, G5213 Ye shall G1492 not G3364 see G1492 me G3165 henceforth, G575 G737 till G2193 G302 ye shall say, G2036 Blessed G2127 is he that cometh G2064 in G1722 the name G3686 of the Lord. G2962
And G2532 he received G2983 the sign G4592 of circumcision, G4061 a seal G4973 of the righteousness G1343 of the faith G4102 which G3588 he had yet being G1722 uncircumcised: G203 that G1519 he G846 might be G1511 the father G3962 of all G3956 them that believe, G4100 though G1223 they be not circumcised; G203 that G1519 righteousness G1343 might be imputed G3049 unto them G846 also: G2532
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Genesis 34
Commentary on Genesis 34 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 34
Ge 34:1-31. The Dishonor of Dinah.
1-4. Though freed from foreign troubles, Jacob met with a great domestic calamity in the fall of his only daughter. According to Josephus, she had been attending a festival; but it is highly probable that she had been often and freely mixing in the society of the place and that she, being a simple, inexperienced, and vain young woman, had been flattered by the attentions of the ruler's son. There must have been time and opportunities of acquaintance to produce the strong attachment that Shechem had for her.
5. Jacob held his peace—Jacob, as a father and a good man, must have been deeply distressed. But he could do little. In the case of a family by different wives, it is not the father, but the full brothers, on whom the protection of the daughters devolves—they are the guardians of a sister's welfare and the avengers of her wrongs. It was for this reason that Simeon and Levi, the two brothers of Dinah by Leah [Ge 34:25], appear the chief actors in this episode; and though the two fathers would have probably brought about an amicable arrangement of the affair, the hasty arrival of these enraged brothers introduced a new element into the negotiations.
6. Hamor—that is, "ass"; and it is a striking proof of the very different ideas which, in the East, are associated with that animal, which there appears sprightly, well proportioned, and of great activity. This chief is called Emmor (Ac 7:16).
7. the men were grieved, and … very wroth—Good men in such a case could not but grieve; but it would have been well if their anger had been less, or that they had known the precept "let not the sun go down upon your wrath" [Eph 4:26]. No injury can justify revenge (De 32:35; Ro 12:9); but Jacob's sons planned a scheme of revenge in the most deceitful manner.
8-10. Hamor communed with them—The prince and his son seem at first sight to have acted honestly, and our feelings are enlisted on their side. They betray no jealousy of the powerful shepherds; on the contrary, they show every desire to establish friendly intercourse. But their conduct was unjustifiable in neither expressing regret nor restoring Dinah to her family; and this great error was the true cause of the negotiations ending in so unhappy a manner.
11. Shechem said unto her father … and brethren—The consideration of the proposal for marriage belonged to Jacob, and he certainly showed great weakness in yielding so much to the fiery impetuosity of his sons. The sequel shows the unhappy consequences of that concession.
12. Ask me never so much dowry and gift—The gift refers to the presents made at betrothal, both to the bride elect and her relations (compare Ge 24:53), the dowry to a suitable settlement upon her.
13. The sons of Jacob answered—The honor of their family consisted in having the sign of the covenant. Circumcision was the external rite by which persons were admitted members of the ancient Church. But that outward rite could not make the Shechemites true Israelites; and yet it does not appear that Jacob's sons required anything more. Nothing is said of their teaching the people to worship the true God, but only of their insisting on their being circumcised; and it is evident that they did not seek to convert Shechem, but only made a show of religion—a cloak to cover their diabolical design. Hypocrisy and deceit, in all cases vicious, are infinitely more so when accompanied with a show of religion; and here the sons of Jacob, under the pretense of conscientious scruples, conceal a scheme of treachery as cruel and diabolical as was, perhaps, ever perpetrated.
20. Hamor and Shechem … came unto the gate of their city—That was the place where every public communication was made; and in the ready obsequious submission of the people to this measure we see an evidence either of the extraordinary affection for the governing family, or of the abject despotism of the East, where the will of a chief is an absolute command.
30. Jacob said … Ye have troubled me—This atrocious outrage perpetrated on the defenseless citizens and their families made the cup of Jacob's affliction overflow. We may wonder that, in speaking of it to his sons, he did not represent it as a heinous sin, an atrocious violation of the laws of God and man, but dwelt solely on the present consequences. It was probably because that was the only view likely to rouse the cold-blooded apathy, the hardened consciences of those ruffian sons. Nothing but the restraining power of God saved him and his family from the united vengeance of the people (compare Ge 35:5). All his sons had not been engaged in the massacre. Joseph was a boy, Benjamin not yet born, and the other eight not concerned in it. Simeon and Levi alone, with their retainers, had been the guilty actors in the bloody tragedy. But the Canaanites would not be discriminating in their vengeance; and if all the Shechemites were put to death for the offense of their chief's son, what wonder if the natives should extend their hatred to all the family of Jacob; and who probably equalled, in number, the inhabitants of that village.