The Pulpit Commentary — Genesis — Section 462

him to wife. The Rbsoncc of any apology unto them (t.hcso words revert to the pro- for Shechem's ntrocious outrage against ceding ver.ie), We cannot do this thing, to Dinnh need not. be regnrded ns indicating give our sister to one the.t is unoiroumoieed some measure of consent on the part of (vi.de eh. xvii. 11) ; for that were a reproach Dinnl1, but mny be explained 011 the suppos- unto us. Tho ground on which they de- ition thnt llftmor's proposal wns considered clined a matrimonial alliance with Shechem by himself as a practical admission of his was good ; their sin lay in advauci.ng this son's guilt.. And me.ke ye me.rrie.ges with simply as a pretext to enable them to wreak us,-litcmllv, ccmti-act ajfinuy toith us by their unholy vengeance on Shechem nnd his •marriage, t)1e verb chathan being spoken innocent people. The treacherous character of the father-in-law (clwtlien), who makes of their next proposal is difficult to be recon• the alli:mce (vide Fiirst., 'Lex.,' sub voce)- ciled with e.ny claim to humanity, far less nnd give yonr de.ughtera unto us,-from to religion, on the part of Jacob's sons; so this it has been inferred that Jacob had other much so, that Jacob on his death-bed can dnughters besides Dinah, which is not im- offer no palliation for the atrocious cruelty 11robable (eh. xh-i. 7), but the words may to which it led (eh. xlix. 6, 7). But in this not iuiply more than that Hamor thought (i. e. under this condition) will we consent he had-e.nd te.ke our de.ughters unto you. unto you : If ye will be as we be, that every And (as an inducement to form this alliance) ma.le of you be circumcised (literally, io have ye shall dwell with us : and the land she.ll circumciswn administered to you every be before you; dwell e.nd trade ye therein, male) ; then will we give our daughters and get you possessions therein-i. e. he unto you, and we will te.ke your daughters offers them the privilege of unresbicted to us (i. e. to be our wives), and we will movement throughout his dominions, with dwell with you, and we will become one the right of establishing settlements, carry- people. This proposa.l was sinful, since ( l) ing on trade, and acquiring property. they had no right to offer the sign of God's Yrrs. 11, 12.-And Shechem said unto covenant to a heathen people ; (2) they had her father and llllto her brethren (speaking less right to employ it in ratification of a with becoming deference and earnestness, merely human e.greernent ; and (3) they had and manifestly prompted by fervent and least right of all to employ it in duplicity as sincere love), Let me find grace in your eyes, o. mask for their treachery. But if ye will -i. e. Jet my suit be accepted (vi.de eh. xxxi.i.i. not hee.rken unto us, to be circumcised; 15)-and what ye shall say llllto me I will then (rather, sc. then we will not consent to give. Ask me never so much dowry and yo11.I' proposal, and) we will take our daugh- ,p!t,-literally, multiply upon me exceed- ter,-wbo was still in Shechem's house (ver. 1,ngly <lourry and gift; the dowry (mohar) 26)-and we will be gone. being the price paid for a wife to her parents Vers. 18, 19.-And their words pleased (cf. Exod. x.rii. 16; 1 Sam. x:viii. 25), and (literally, were good in the eyes of) Hamor, the gift (mathan) the presents given to the and (literally, in the ,eyes of) .Bhechem, bride (Gesenius, Fiirst, Rosenmiiller, Gerlach, Hamor's son. And the young man deferred Alford) ; or the dowry being the bride's pre- not (i. e. delayed not) to do the thing (liter- sent, and the gift the wife's price (Michaelis, ally, the word, i. e. to submit to circum- Keil, Murphy) ; or the dowry being given to cision. This is stated here by anticipation), the parents, and the gift to the kindreJ because he had delight in J'acob's daughter: (Patrick) ; or the two being the same thing, and he was more honourable-literally, more viz., the compensation offered to the relatives honoured, doubtless because more worthy of of the bride (Lange)-and I will give accord- regard (cf. 1 Cbron, iv, 9)- than e.11 the ing as ye shall say unto me: but give (or, house of his father. and ye will give) me the damsel to wife. Vere. 20-23.-And He.mor and Shechem Vers. 13-17.-And the sons of J'acob his son came (or went) unto the ~o.te of (manifestly without the knowledge of their their city (•tJide on eh. xix. 2 ; xxili. 10), father) answered Shechem and Hamor his and communed with (or spakc to) the men father deceitfully, and said,-thc object of of their city, se.ying, These men (i. e. Jncoh the verb said is to be found in tbo next and his sons) are peaoee.hle with us (liter- verse, "we cannot do tl,is thing," tbo clause ally, peaceable are they with us. This is commencing '' because" being parenthetical the first 11rgument employed by Hamor 11nd (Rosenruiiller, Fii.rst), Sf) that t is unneces- Shechem to secure the consent of the citizens sary either to take i:;!1 iu the unusual sense to the formation of an alliance with Jacob of dolos siruere (Schiiitens, Gesenius, Keil), and bis sons) ; therefore let them dwell in or to supply after aai.d "with deceit" from the land, and trade therein ;-literally, and the preceding clause (Onkelos, Ainsworth, they will dwell iii the land, and trade in it Mw·pLy, ei alii)-becauae he had defiled (sc. if you permit)-for (literally, and) the Dinah their si.ater (to be taken parcnthetic- land, behold, it is large enough-litemlly, e.lly, as already explained) : and they niij broad of hands, i. e. on both aides (cf. ha. Cl!. XXX[V, 1-31.) TllE BOOK OF GENESIS. 40i