OET-RV GEN Chapter 34

34 One day, Yacob and Le’ah’s daughter Dinah, went out to visit some of the local women, 2 but Shekem, the son of Hamor the Hivite, the ruler of the land, saw her and he grabbed her and raped her. 3 Shekem admired Dinah so much that he fell in love with her and spoke sweetly to her to try to cultivate a relationship. 4 Then he asked Hamor his father, “Get this girl for me as a wife.”

5 When Yacob heard that Shekem had dishonoured his daughter Dinah, his sons were out in the fields with his livestock, so Yacob waited quietly until they got home. 6 Meanwhile Shekem’s father Hamor took Shekem to negotiate with Yacob. 7 In due course Yacob’s sons came home from the fields. When they heard what had happened, then they were very angry and upset, because Shekem had done something disgraceful to Yisra’el by taking advantage of Yacob’s daughter. Something like that should never have happened. 8 But Hamor spoke with them, saying, “My son Shekem my son is madly in love with your daughter. Please give her to him as a wife. 9 In fact, why don’t you allow us to marry your daughters, and you people could have our daughters to marry, 10 then you could settle here permanently with us. This region would open up to you all so settle in it and trade with us and you could buy more land around here.”

11 Then Shekem spoke to Dinah’s father and brothers, “Look kindly on my request and I’ll give whatever you ask for. 12 Set any very high amount for the bride-price and gifts from me, and I’ll give whatever you ask—just give the young woman to me as a wife.”

13 But because Shekem had abused their sister Dinah, Yacob’s sons gave a false answer to Shekem and his father, 14 stating, “Sorry, we can’t do that because it would be a disgrace in our culture to allow a man with a foreskin to marry her. 15 We’d only consent to your proposal if you’d become like us by circumcising every male among you, 16 Then we’d give our daughters to you to marry, and we’d take your daughters for us to marry. And we’d settle among you, and we all would become one united people. 17 But if you all won’t agree to get circumcised, then we’ll just take Dinah and go.”

18 This idea pleased Hamor and his son, 19 so Shekem didn’t delay implementing the plan because he was the most honoured son in his father’s household, and he was so delighted with Yacob’s daughter.

20 So Hamor and Shekem went to the city elders at the gate of their city, and they spoke to them, saying, 21 “These men are peaceful towards us, so let them settle in the land, and let them trade in it. And look, the land is plenty wide enough for them as well. We can take their daughters for ourselves as wives, and we can give our daughters to them to marry. 22 But they’ll only consent to settle among us and unite with us on this condition: we would need to circumcise all of the males amongst us, just like they’re circumcised. 23 Won’t all of their livestock and their property and all their animals then belong to us? So let’s agree with their condition and then they’ll settle among us.” 24 All the elders at the city gate agreed with Hamor and his son Shekem, and so every male who passed through the city gate was circumcised.

25 Three days later when all those men were in pain from the cutting, two of Yacob’s sons, Simeon and Levi who were Dinah’s brothers, took their swords and boldly attacked the city and slaughtered every male, 26 including Hamor and his son Shekem. Then they retrieved Dinah from Shekem’s house and left the city. 27 Then when Yacob’s other sons discovered that a slaughter had taken place, they looted the city because their sister had been violated— 28 taking flocks and herds and donkeys—anything the was in the city or out in the fields. 29 They captured their women and children and took all their wealth and everything that was in their houses.

30 Afterwards, Yacob scolded Simeon and Levi, saying, “You two have made trouble for me by destroying my reputation with those who live in the land—the Canaanites and the Perizzites. There’s only a few of us, and if they gather together to attack me and my household, then we’ll be destroyed—me and all my household.”

31 But they responded, “Should he have gotten away with treating our sister like a prostitute?”