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<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [Genesis, Chapter XXXIV].</TITLE>
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"This site is for those friends and family members who may or may not know Our Lord Jesus Christ, and if not, they may come to know Our Lord through His Prophets."> <meta name="author" content="Brian Duncalfe">
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"Prophecy, Rapture,hope,bible map,bible maps, God, tribulation,Second Coming,Christ,large print bible,commentary,complete">
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</HEAD>
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<body background="../sueback.jpg" bgproperties="fixed" >
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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1></center>
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<HR>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%">
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<TR>
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<TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP">
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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[<A HREF="MHC01033.HTM">Previous</A>]
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[<A HREF="MHC01035.HTM">Next</A>]<BR>
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<TD ALIGN="RIGHT" VALIGN="TOP">
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1706)
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</TD></TR></TABLE>
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<A NAME="Page200"> </A>
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>G E N E S I S</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. XXXIV.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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At this chapter begins the story of Jacob's afflictions in his children,
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which were very great, and are recorded to show,
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1. The
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vanity of this world. That which is dearest to us may prove
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our greatest vexation, and we may meet with the greatest crosses
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in those things of which we said, "This same shall comfort us."
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2. The common griefs of good people. Jacob's children were
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circumcised, were well taught, and prayed for, and had very
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good examples set them; yet some of them proved very untoward.
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"The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the
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strong." Grace does not run in the blood, and yet the interrupting
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of the entail of grace does not cut off the entail of profession
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and visible church-privileges: nay, Jacob's sons, though
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they were his grief in some things, yet were all taken into covenant
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with God. In this chapter we have,
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I. Dinah debauched,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+34:1-5">ver. 1-5</A>.
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II. A treaty of marriage between her and Shechem who
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had defiled her,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+34:6-19">ver. 6-19</A>.
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III. The circumcision of the Shechemites,
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pursuant to that treaty,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+34:20-24">ver. 20-24</A>.
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IV. The perfidious
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and bloody revenge which Simeon and Levi took upon
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them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+34:25-31">ver. 25-31.</A></P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Ge34_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge34_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge34_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge34_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge34_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Dinah Dishonoured.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1732.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 And Dinah the daughter of Leah,
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which she bare unto Jacob, went
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out to see the daughters of the land.
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2 And when Shechem the son of Hamor
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the Hivite, prince of the country,
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saw her, he took her, and lay with her,
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and defiled her.
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3 And his soul clave
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unto Dinah the daughter of Jacob,
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and he loved the damsel, and spake
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kindly unto the damsel.
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4 And Shechem
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spake unto his father Hamor,
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saying, Get me this damsel to wife.
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5 And Jacob heard that he had
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defiled Dinah his daughter: now his sons
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were with his cattle in the field: and
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Jacob held his peace until they were
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come.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Dinah was, for aught that appears, Jacob's
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only daughter, and we may suppose her
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<A NAME="Page201"> </A>
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therefore the mother's fondling and the darling
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of the family, and yet she proves neither
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a joy nor a credit to them; for those children
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seldom prove either the best or the happiest
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that are most indulged. She is reckoned
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now but fifteen or sixteen years of age when
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she here occasioned so much mischief. Observe,
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1. Her vain curiosity, which exposed
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her. She went out, perhaps unknown to her
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father, but by the connivance of her mother,
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<I>to see the daughters of the land</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+34:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>);
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probably it was at a ball, or on some public day.
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Being an only daughter, she thought herself
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solitary at home, having none of her own
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age and sex to converse with; and therefore
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she must needs go abroad to divert herself,
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to keep off melancholy, and to accomplish
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herself by conversation better than she could
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in her father's tents. Note, It is a very
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good thing for children to love home; it is
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parents' wisdom to make it easy to them,
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and children's duty then to be easy in it.
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Her pretence was <I>to see the daughters of the
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land,</I> to see how they dressed, and how they
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danced, and what was fashionable among
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them. She went to <I>see,</I> yet that was not all,
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she went to be <I>seen</I> too; she went to see the
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daughters of the land, but, it may be, with
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some thoughts of the sons of the land too. I
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doubt she went to get an acquaintance with
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those Canaanites, and to learn their way.
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Note, The pride and vanity of young people
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betray them into many snares.
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2. The loss
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of her honour by this means
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+34:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>):
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<I>Shechem,
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the prince of the country,</I> but a slave to his
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own lusts, took her, and lay with her, it
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should seem, not so much by force as by
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surprise. Note, Great men think they may
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do any thing; and what more mischievous
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than untaught and ungoverned youth? See
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what came of Dinah's gadding: young
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women must learn to be <I>chaste, keepers at
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home;</I> these properties are put together,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Tit+2:5">Tit. ii. 5</A>,
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for those that are not keepers at home
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expose their chastity. Dinah went abroad
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to look about her; but, if she had looked
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about her as she ought, she would not have
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fallen into this snare. Note, The beginning
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of sin is as the letting forth of water. How
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great a matter does a little fire kindle! We
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should therefore carefully avoid all occasions
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of sin and approaches to it.
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3. The court
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Shechem made to her, after he had defiled
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her. This was fair and commendable, and
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made the best of what was bad; he loved her
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(not as Amnon,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+13:15">2 Sam. xiii. 15</A>),
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and he engaged
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his father to make a match for him
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with her,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+34:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>.
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4. The tidings brought to
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poor Jacob,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+34:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>.
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As soon as his children
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grew up they began to be a grief to him.
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Let not godly parents, that are lamenting the
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miscarriages of their children, think their
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case singular or unprecedented. The good
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man <I>held his peace,</I> as one astonished, that
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knows not what to say: or he said nothing,
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for fear of saying amiss, as David
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+39:1,2">Ps. xxxix. 1, 2</A>);
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he smothered his resentments, lest, if
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he had suffered them to break out, they
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should have transported him into any indecencies.
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Or, it should seem, he had left the
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management of his affairs very much (too
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much I doubt) to his sons, and he would do
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nothing without them: or, at least, he knew
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they would make him uneasy if he did, they
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having shown themselves, of late, upon all
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occasions, bold, forward, and assuming.
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Note, Things never go well when the authority
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of a parent runs low in a family. Let
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every man <I>bear rule in his own house, and
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have his children in subjection with all gravity.</I></P>
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<A NAME="Ge34_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge34_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge34_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge34_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge34_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge34_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge34_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge34_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge34_14"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge34_15"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge34_16"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge34_17"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Treachery of Dinah's Brethren.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1732.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>6 And Hamor the father of Shechem
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went out unto Jacob to commune with
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him.
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7 And the sons of Jacob came
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out of the field when they heard <I>it:</I>
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and the men were grieved, and they
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were very wroth, because he had
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wrought folly in Israel in lying with
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Jacob's daughter; which thing ought
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not to be done.
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8 And Hamor communed
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with them, saying, The soul of
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my son Shechem longeth for your
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daughter: I pray you give her him
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to wife.
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9 And make ye marriages
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with us, <I>and</I> give your daughters unto
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us, and take our daughters unto you.
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10 And ye shall dwell with us: and
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the land shall be before you; dwell
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and trade ye therein, and get you possessions
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therein.
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11 And Shechem said
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unto her father and unto her brethren,
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Let me find grace in your eyes, and
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what ye shall say unto me I will give.
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12 Ask me never so much dowry and
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gift, and I will give according as ye
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shall say unto me: but give me the
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damsel to wife.
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13 And the sons of Jacob
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answered Shechem and Hamor his
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father deceitfully, and said, because he
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had defiled Dinah their sister:
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14 And they said unto them, We cannot
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do this thing, to give our sister to one
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that is uncircumcised; for that <I>were</I>
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a reproach unto us:
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15 But in this
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will we consent unto you: If ye will
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be as we <I>be,</I> that every male of you
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be circumcised;
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16 Then will we give
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our daughters unto you, and we will
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take your daughters to us, and we will
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dwell with you, and we will become
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one people.
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17 But if ye will not
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hearken unto us, to be circumcised;
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then will we take our daughter, and we
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will be gone.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Jacob's sons, when they heard of the
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<A NAME="Page202"> </A>
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injury done to Dinah, showed a very great
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resentment of it, influenced perhaps rather
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by jealousy for the honour of their family
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than by a sense of virtue. Many are concerned
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at the shamefulness of sin that never
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lay to heart the sinfulness of it. It is here
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called <I>folly in Israel</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+34:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>),
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according to the
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language of after-times; for Israel was not
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yet a people, but a family only. Note,
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1. Uncleanness is folly; for it sacrifices
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the favour of God, peace of conscience, and all
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the soul can pretend to that is sacred and
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honourable, to a base and brutish lust.
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2. This folly is most shameful in <I>Israel,</I> in a
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family of Israel, where God is known and
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worshipped, as he was in Jacob's tents, by
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the name of <I>the God of Israel.</I> Folly in
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Israel is scandalous indeed.
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3. It is a good
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thing to have sin stamped with a bad name:
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uncleanness is here proverbially called <I>folly
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in Israel,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+13:12">2 Sam. xiii. 12</A>.
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Dinah is here
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called <I>Jacob's daughter,</I> for warning to all
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the daughters of Israel, that they betray not
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themselves to this folly.</P>
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<P>
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Hamor came to treat with Jacob himself,
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but he turns him over to his sons; and here
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we have a particular account of the treaty, in
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which, it is a shame to say, the Canaanites
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were more honest than the Israelites.</P>
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<P>
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I. Hamor and Shechem fairly propose this
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match, in order to a coalition in trade. Shechem
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|
|
is deeply in love with Dinah; he will
|
||
|
|
have her upon any terms,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+34:11,12"><I>v.</I> 11, 12</A>.
|
||
|
|
His
|
||
|
|
father not only consents, but solicits for him,
|
||
|
|
and gravely insists upon the advantages that
|
||
|
|
would follow from the union of the families,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+34:9,10"><I>v.</I> 9, 10</A>.
|
||
|
|
He shows no jealousy of Jacob,
|
||
|
|
though he was a stranger, but rather an
|
||
|
|
earnest desire to settle a correspondence with
|
||
|
|
him and his family, making him that generous
|
||
|
|
offer, <I>The land shall be before you, trade you
|
||
|
|
therein.</I></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
II. Jacob's sons basely pretend to insist
|
||
|
|
upon a coalition in religion, when really they
|
||
|
|
designed nothing less. If Jacob had taken
|
||
|
|
the management of this affair into his own
|
||
|
|
hands, it is probable that he and Hamor
|
||
|
|
would soon have concluded it; but Jacob's
|
||
|
|
sons meditate only revenge, and a strange
|
||
|
|
project they have for the compassing of it--the
|
||
|
|
Shechemites must be circumcised; not to
|
||
|
|
make them holy (they never intended that),
|
||
|
|
but to make them sore, that they might become
|
||
|
|
an easier prey to their sword.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. The
|
||
|
|
pretence was specious. "It is the honour of
|
||
|
|
Jacob's family that they carry about with
|
||
|
|
them the token of God's covenant with
|
||
|
|
them; and it will be a reproach to those
|
||
|
|
that are thus dignified and distinguished to
|
||
|
|
enter into such a strict alliance with those
|
||
|
|
that are <I>uncircumcised</I>
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+34:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>);
|
||
|
|
and therefore,
|
||
|
|
<I>if you will be circumcised, then we will become
|
||
|
|
one people with you,</I>"
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+34:15,16"><I>v.</I> 15, 16</A>.
|
||
|
|
Had they
|
||
|
|
been sincere herein their proposal of these
|
||
|
|
terms would have had in it something commendable;
|
||
|
|
for Israelites should not intermarry
|
||
|
|
with Canaanites, professors with profane;
|
||
|
|
it is a great sin, or at least the cause
|
||
|
|
and inlet of a great deal, and has often been
|
||
|
|
of pernicious consequence. The interest we
|
||
|
|
have in any persons, and the hold we have
|
||
|
|
of them, should be wisely improved by us,
|
||
|
|
to bring them to the love and practice of religion
|
||
|
|
(<I>He that winneth souls is wise</I>); but
|
||
|
|
then we must not, like Jacob's sons, think it
|
||
|
|
enough to persuade them to submit to the
|
||
|
|
external rites of religion, but must endeavour
|
||
|
|
to convince them of its reasonableness,
|
||
|
|
and to bring them acquainted with the power
|
||
|
|
of it.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. The intention was malicious, as
|
||
|
|
appears by the sequel of the story; all they
|
||
|
|
aimed at was to prepare them for the day of
|
||
|
|
slaughter. Note, Bloody designs have often
|
||
|
|
been covered, and carried on, with a pretence
|
||
|
|
of religion; thus they have been accomplished
|
||
|
|
most plausibly and most securely:
|
||
|
|
but this dissembled piety is, doubtless,
|
||
|
|
double iniquity. Religion is never more
|
||
|
|
injured, nor are God's sacraments more profaned,
|
||
|
|
than when they are thus used for a
|
||
|
|
cloak of maliciousness. Nay, if Jacob's sons
|
||
|
|
had not had this bloody design, I do not see
|
||
|
|
how they could justify their offering the
|
||
|
|
sacred sign of circumcision, the seal of God's
|
||
|
|
covenant, to these devoted Canaanites, who
|
||
|
|
had no part nor lot in the matter. Those
|
||
|
|
had no right to the seal that had no right to
|
||
|
|
the promise. <I>It is not meet to take the children's
|
||
|
|
bread, and cast it to dogs:</I> but Jacob's
|
||
|
|
sons valued not this, while they could make
|
||
|
|
it serve their turn.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge34_18"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge34_19"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge34_20"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge34_21"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge34_22"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge34_23"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge34_24"> </A>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>18 And their words pleased Hamor,
|
||
|
|
and Shechem Hamor's son.
|
||
|
|
19 And
|
||
|
|
the young man deferred not to do the
|
||
|
|
thing, because he had delight in Jacob's
|
||
|
|
daughter: and he <I>was</I> more honourable
|
||
|
|
than all the house of his father.
|
||
|
|
20 And Hamor and Shechem
|
||
|
|
his son came unto the gate of
|
||
|
|
their city, and communed with the men of
|
||
|
|
their city, saying,
|
||
|
|
21 These men <I>are</I>
|
||
|
|
peaceable with us; therefore let them
|
||
|
|
dwell in the land, and trade therein;
|
||
|
|
for the land, behold, <I>it is</I> large enough
|
||
|
|
for them; let us take their daughters
|
||
|
|
to us for wives, and let us give them
|
||
|
|
our daughters.
|
||
|
|
22 Only herein will
|
||
|
|
the men consent unto us for to dwell
|
||
|
|
with us, to be one people, if every male
|
||
|
|
among us be circumcised, as they <I>are</I>
|
||
|
|
circumcised.
|
||
|
|
23 <I>Shall</I> not their cattle
|
||
|
|
and their substance and every beast
|
||
|
|
of theirs <I>be</I> ours? only let us consent
|
||
|
|
unto them, and they will dwell
|
||
|
|
with us.
|
||
|
|
24 And unto Hamor and
|
||
|
|
unto Shechem his son hearkened all
|
||
|
|
that went out of the gate of his city;
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Page203"> </A>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
and every male was circumcised, all
|
||
|
|
that went out of the gate of his city.
|
||
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Here,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. Hamor and Shechem gave consent
|
||
|
|
themselves to be circumcised,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+34:18,19"><I>v.</I> 18, 19</A>.
|
||
|
|
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,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Zec+8:23">Zech. viii. 23</A>.
|
||
|
|
Note, Many who know little of
|
||
|
|
religion, yet know so much of it as makes
|
||
|
|
them willing to join themselves with those
|
||
|
|
that are religious. Again, If a man would
|
||
|
|
take upon him a form of religion to gain a
|
||
|
|
good wife, much more should we embrace the
|
||
|
|
power of it to gain the favour of a good God,
|
||
|
|
even circumcise our hearts to love him, and,
|
||
|
|
as Shechem here, <I>not defer to do the thing.</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. They gained the consent of the men of
|
||
|
|
their city, Jacob's sons requiring that they
|
||
|
|
also should be circumcised.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) They themselves
|
||
|
|
had great influences upon them by their
|
||
|
|
command and example. Note, Religion
|
||
|
|
would greatly prevail if those in authority,
|
||
|
|
who, like Shechem, are more honourable than
|
||
|
|
their neighbours, would appear forward and
|
||
|
|
zealous for it.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) They urged an argument
|
||
|
|
which was very cogent
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+34:23"><I>v.</I> 23</A>),
|
||
|
|
<I>Shall
|
||
|
|
not their cattle and their substance be ours?</I>
|
||
|
|
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. Now,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[1.] It was bad enough to
|
||
|
|
marry upon this principle: yet we see covetousness
|
||
|
|
the greatest matchmaker in the
|
||
|
|
world, and nothing designed so much, with
|
||
|
|
many, as the laying of house to house, and
|
||
|
|
field to field, without regard had to any other
|
||
|
|
consideration.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[2.] It was worse to be circumcised
|
||
|
|
upon this principle. The Shechemites
|
||
|
|
will embrace the religion of Jacob's
|
||
|
|
family only in hopes of interesting themselves
|
||
|
|
thereby in the riches of that family. Thus
|
||
|
|
there are many with whom gain is godliness,
|
||
|
|
and who are more governed and influenced
|
||
|
|
by their secular interest than by any principle
|
||
|
|
of their religion.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge34_25"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge34_26"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge34_27"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge34_28"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge34_29"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge34_30"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge34_31"> </A>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Murder of the Shechemites.</I></FONT></TD>
|
||
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1732.</TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
</TABLE>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>25 And it came to pass on the third
|
||
|
|
day, when they were sore, that two of
|
||
|
|
the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi,
|
||
|
|
Dinah's brethren, took each man his
|
||
|
|
sword, and came upon the city boldly,
|
||
|
|
and slew all the males.
|
||
|
|
26 And they
|
||
|
|
slew Hamor and Shechem his son
|
||
|
|
with the edge of the sword, and took
|
||
|
|
Dinah out of Shechem's house, and
|
||
|
|
went out.
|
||
|
|
27 The sons of Jacob came
|
||
|
|
upon the slain, and spoiled the city,
|
||
|
|
because they had defiled their sister.
|
||
|
|
28 They took their sheep, and their
|
||
|
|
oxen, and their asses, and that which
|
||
|
|
<I>was</I> in the city, and that which <I>was</I> in
|
||
|
|
the field,
|
||
|
|
29 And all their wealth,
|
||
|
|
and all their little ones, and their
|
||
|
|
wives took they captive, and spoiled
|
||
|
|
even all that <I>was</I> in the house.
|
||
|
|
30 And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi,
|
||
|
|
Ye have troubled me to make me to
|
||
|
|
stink among the inhabitants of the
|
||
|
|
land, among the Canaanites and the
|
||
|
|
Perizzites: and I <I>being</I> few in number,
|
||
|
|
they shall gather themselves together
|
||
|
|
against me, and slay me; and
|
||
|
|
I shall be destroyed, I and my house.
|
||
|
|
31 And they said, Should he deal
|
||
|
|
with our sister as with an harlot?
|
||
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Here, we have Simeon and Levi, two of
|
||
|
|
Jacob's sons, young men not much above
|
||
|
|
twenty years old, cutting the throats of the
|
||
|
|
Shechemites, and thereby breaking the heart
|
||
|
|
of their good father.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
I. Here is the barbarous murder of the
|
||
|
|
Shechemites. Jacob himself was used to the
|
||
|
|
sheep-hook, but his sons had got swords by
|
||
|
|
their sides, as if they had been the seed of
|
||
|
|
Esau, who was to live by his sword; we have
|
||
|
|
them here,</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. Slaying the inhabitants of Shechem--<I>all
|
||
|
|
the males,</I> Hamor and Shechem particularly,
|
||
|
|
with whom they had been treating in
|
||
|
|
a friendly manner but the other day, yet with
|
||
|
|
a design upon their lives. Some think that
|
||
|
|
all Jacob's sons, when they wheedled the Shechemites
|
||
|
|
to be circumcised, designed to take
|
||
|
|
advantage of their soreness, and to rescue Dinah
|
||
|
|
from among them; but that Simeon and Levi,
|
||
|
|
not content with that, would themselves avenge
|
||
|
|
the injury--and they did it with a witness.
|
||
|
|
Now,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) It cannot be denied but that God
|
||
|
|
was righteous in it. Had the Shechemites
|
||
|
|
been circumcised in obedience to any command
|
||
|
|
of God, their circumcision would have
|
||
|
|
been their protection; but when they submitted
|
||
|
|
to that sacred rite only to serve a
|
||
|
|
turn, to please their prince and to enrich
|
||
|
|
themselves, it was just with God to bring
|
||
|
|
this upon them. Note, As nothing secures
|
||
|
|
us better than true religion, so nothing exposes
|
||
|
|
us more than religion only pretended
|
||
|
|
to.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) But Simeon and Levi were most unrighteous.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[1.] It was true that Shechem
|
||
|
|
had <I>wrought folly against Israel,</I> in defiling
|
||
|
|
Dinah; but it ought to have been considered
|
||
|
|
how far Dinah herself had been accessory to
|
||
|
|
it. Had Shechem abused her in her own
|
||
|
|
mother's tent, it would have been another
|
||
|
|
matter; but she went upon his ground, and
|
||
|
|
perhaps by her indecent carriage had struck
|
||
|
|
the spark which began the fire: when we are
|
||
|
|
severe upon the sinner we ought to consider
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Page204"> </A>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
who was the tempter.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[2.] It was true that
|
||
|
|
Shechem had done ill; but he was endeavouring
|
||
|
|
to atone for it, and was as honest and
|
||
|
|
honourable, <I>ex post facto--after the deed,</I> as
|
||
|
|
the case would admit: it was not the case of
|
||
|
|
the Levite's concubine that was abused to
|
||
|
|
death; nor does he justify what he has done,
|
||
|
|
but courts a reconciliation upon any terms.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[3.] It was true that Shechem had done ill;
|
||
|
|
but what was that to all the Shechemites?
|
||
|
|
Does one man sin, and will they be wroth
|
||
|
|
with all the town? Must the innocent fall
|
||
|
|
with the guilty? This was barbarous indeed.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[4.] 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
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+34:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>);
|
||
|
|
yet they act as sworn
|
||
|
|
enemies to those to whom they had lately
|
||
|
|
become sworn friends, making as light of
|
||
|
|
their covenant as they did of the laws of
|
||
|
|
humanity. And are these the sons of Israel?
|
||
|
|
<I>Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce.</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[5.] This also added to the crime, that they made
|
||
|
|
a holy ordinance of God subservient to their
|
||
|
|
wicked design, so making that odious; as if
|
||
|
|
it were not enough for them to shame themselves
|
||
|
|
and their family, they bring a reproach
|
||
|
|
upon that honourable badge of their religion;
|
||
|
|
justly would it be called a bloody ordinance.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. Seizing the prey of Shechem, and plundering
|
||
|
|
the town. They rescued Dinah
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+34:26"><I>v.</I> 26</A>),
|
||
|
|
and, if that was all they came for, they
|
||
|
|
might have done that without blood, as appears
|
||
|
|
by their own showing
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+34:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>);
|
||
|
|
but they aimed at the spoil; and, though Simeon and
|
||
|
|
Levi only were the murderers, yet it is intimated
|
||
|
|
that others of the sons of Jacob <I>came
|
||
|
|
upon the slain and spoiled the city</I>
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+34:27"><I>v.</I> 27</A>),
|
||
|
|
and
|
||
|
|
so became accessory to the murder. In them
|
||
|
|
it was manifest injustice; yet here we may
|
||
|
|
observe the righteousness of God. The Shechemites
|
||
|
|
were willing to gratify the sons of
|
||
|
|
Jacob by submitting to the penance of circumcision,
|
||
|
|
upon this principle, <I>Shall not their
|
||
|
|
cattle and their substance be ours?</I>
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+34:23"><I>v.</I> 23</A>),
|
||
|
|
and
|
||
|
|
see what was the issue; instead of making
|
||
|
|
themselves masters of the wealth of Jacob's
|
||
|
|
family, Jacob's family become masters of
|
||
|
|
their wealth. Note, Those who unjustly
|
||
|
|
grasp at that which is another's justly lose
|
||
|
|
that which is their own.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
II. Here is Jacob's resentment of this
|
||
|
|
bloody deed of Simeon and Levi,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+34:30"><I>v.</I> 30</A>.
|
||
|
|
Two
|
||
|
|
things he bitterly complains of:--
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. The reproach
|
||
|
|
they had brought upon him thereby:
|
||
|
|
<I>You have troubled me,</I> put me into a disorder,
|
||
|
|
for you have made me <I>to stink among the inhabitants
|
||
|
|
of the land,</I> that is, "You have
|
||
|
|
rendered me and my family odious among
|
||
|
|
them. What will they say of us and our
|
||
|
|
religion? We shall be looked upon as the
|
||
|
|
most perfidious barbarous people in the
|
||
|
|
world." Note, The gross misconduct of
|
||
|
|
wicked children is the grief and shame of
|
||
|
|
their godly parents. Children should be the
|
||
|
|
joy of their parents; but wicked children are
|
||
|
|
their trouble, sadden their hearts, break their
|
||
|
|
spirits, and make them go mourning from
|
||
|
|
day to day. Children should be an ornament
|
||
|
|
to their parents; but wicked children are
|
||
|
|
their reproach, and are as dead flies in the
|
||
|
|
pot of ointment: but let such children know
|
||
|
|
that, if they repent not, the grief they have
|
||
|
|
caused to their parents, and the damage religion
|
||
|
|
has sustained in its reputation through
|
||
|
|
them, will come into the account and be
|
||
|
|
reckoned for.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. The ruin they had exposed
|
||
|
|
him to. 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>I shall be destroyed,
|
||
|
|
I and my house.</I> If all the Shechemites must
|
||
|
|
be destroyed for the offence of one, why not
|
||
|
|
all the Israelites for the offence of two?
|
||
|
|
Jacob knew indeed that God had promised
|
||
|
|
to preserve and perpetuate his house; but
|
||
|
|
he might justly fear that these vile practices
|
||
|
|
of his children would amount to a forfeiture,
|
||
|
|
and cut off the entail. Note, When sin is in
|
||
|
|
the house, there is reason to fear ruin at the
|
||
|
|
door. The tender parents foresee those bad
|
||
|
|
consequences of sin which the wicked children
|
||
|
|
have no dread of. One would think
|
||
|
|
this should have made them to relent, and
|
||
|
|
they should have humbled themselves to their
|
||
|
|
good father, and begged his pardon; but,
|
||
|
|
instead of this, they justify themselves, and
|
||
|
|
give him this insolent reply, <I>Should he deal
|
||
|
|
with our sister as with a harlot?</I> No, he
|
||
|
|
should not; but, if he do, must they be their
|
||
|
|
own avengers? Will nothing less than so
|
||
|
|
many lives, and the ruin of a whole city,
|
||
|
|
serve to atone for an abuse done to one
|
||
|
|
foolish girl? By their question they tacitly
|
||
|
|
reflect upon their father, as if he would have
|
||
|
|
been content to let them deal with his daughter
|
||
|
|
as with a harlot. Note, It is common for
|
||
|
|
those who run into one extreme to reproach
|
||
|
|
and censure those who keep the mean as if
|
||
|
|
they ran into the other. Those who condemn
|
||
|
|
the rigour of revenge shall be misrepresented,
|
||
|
|
as if they countenanced and
|
||
|
|
justified the offence.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<!-- (End Body) -->
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1706)
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