Gen 33:18-34:31 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Gen 33:18-20: 33:18-20 These verses form an epilogue to Jacob’s adventures outside the land. He returned in peace with a large family and many possessions. • Jacob , like Abraham, built an altar at Shechem (see 12:6-8 ) and purchased land from the family of Hamor .

Summary for Gen 33:18-20: 33:18-20 ^a These verses form an epilogue to Jacob’s adventures outside the land. He returned in peace with a large family and many possessions.

• Jacob, like Abraham, built an altar at Shechem (see 12:6-8 ^b) and purchased land from the family of Hamor.
33:20 ^c El-Elohe-Israel: The name of the altar (“God, the God of Israel”) commemorated Jacob’s relationship with God. Jacob publicly proclaimed that God was his God, and that God had led him back to the land he would inherit.

‏ Genesis 34

Summary for Gen 34:1-31: 34:1-31 ^d Once Jacob and his family settled in the land, the Canaanite presence became a threat. This account is a stern warning to the Israelites about the possibility of their being defiled by the Canaanites. The nation of Israel was later commanded not to intermarry or make treaties with them, for they were a corrupt and corrupting people. This chapter implicitly warns against becoming familiar with the way they lived (34:1-2 ^e). It also taught Israel that in dealing with the Canaanites, they were to keep their integrity and not use the holy things of the covenant for deception and slaughter (34:13 ^f); Israel’s reputation was at stake in the land (34:30 ^g). For their ruthless violence, Simeon and Levi were passed over in the birthright blessing (49:5-7 ^h).
Summary for Gen 34:1-2: 34:1-2 ⁱ As far as we know, Dinah was Jacob’s only daughter (30:21 ^j).

• Shechem ... seized her and raped her: Shechem violated and debased Dinah, so she had no chance for a proper marriage.
Summary for Gen 34:3-4: 34:3-4 ^k While Shechem’s intense feelings for Dinah made him willing to undergo significant hardship (34:11-12 ^l, 17-18 ^m, 24 ⁿ), the way he showed his “love” for her was selfish, impetuous, and in violation of customary decency (cp. Judg 14:2 ^o; see 1 Cor 13:4-7 ^p; 1 Jn 4:10 ^q). His character illustrated why Israel needed to remain separate from the Canaanites.
Summary for Gen 34:5-7: 34:5-7 ^r Jacob’s response to this crime is surprising. When he heard that Dinah had been defiled, he said nothing about it until his sons came home. Because Jacob did not act, his sons did, though without the wisdom and integrity necessary for justice. Dinah’s full brothers were shocked and furious that Shechem had done such a disgraceful thing to Jacob’s family (literally in Israel; this is the first use of the name Israel to describe the family). This sexual crime was an outrage against the community of God’s people and deserved punishment, but the leader of the clan did nothing.
Summary for Gen 34:8-10: 34:8-10 ^s Hamor proposed an alliance of intermarriage with the prospect of mutual economic benefit, but God had already promised Jacob everything, including the land (34:10 ^t; see 14:21-24 ^u). Hamor wanted to gain control of Israel’s wealth (34:23 ^v); no good could come of trusting the defiling Canaanites. For some of these reasons, intermarriage with Canaanites was not allowed under the law (see Exod 23:27-33 ^w; Deut 7:1-5 ^x)—unless, of course, they came to faith (see Josh 2:1-15 ^y; 6:23-25 ^z; Matt 1:5 ^aa).
Summary for Gen 34:13-17: 34:13-17 ^ab Dinah’s brothers responded to the proposal without waiting for Jacob to respond, and they acted deceitfully. They may not have thought that Shechem and his people would ever agree to the rite of circumcision, but they knew what they would do if the Canaanites accepted (34:25 ^ac).
Summary for Gen 34:18-24: 34:18-24 ^ad The Canaanites accepted the stipulation and every male in the town was circumcised. This was not just to allow Shechem to marry Dinah, but to give them the opportunity to acquire everything that Jacob possessed (34:23 ^ae).
Summary for Gen 34:25-29: 34:25-29 ^af When Simeon and Levi used circumcision to deceive and slaughter the Canaanites, they showed disdain for the sign of the covenant. Their slaughter of all the males and their plunder of the city was not justice, but brutal and excessive revenge. In their moral outrage and desire to right the wrong, they should have demanded compensation (see Exod 22:16-17 ^ag; Deut 22:28-29 ^ah). Instead, their passionate act of rage cost them their birthright blessing (Gen 49:5-7 ^ai).
34:30 ^aj Jacob responded again out of fear of what would happen to him, but God caused the people of this land to fear him instead (35:5 ^ak).