Genesis 34 tells the story of Dinah, Jacob's daughter, being defiled by Shechem, the son of Hamor, the prince of the Hivites. This verse (Genesis 34:13) highlights the brothers' reaction to this event. Let's break it down:
"The sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father...": This simply sets the scene - the brothers of Dinah are responding to Shechem and his father, Hamor, who are trying to negotiate a resolution to the defilement of Dinah. Hamor is seeking to have Shechem marry Dinah.
"...with deceit...": This is the key part. The brothers are not being honest in their response. They are not genuinely seeking reconciliation. They have a hidden agenda.
"...and spoke, because he had defiled Dinah their sister...": This explains the motivation behind the brothers' deceit. The defilement of Dinah is the reason for their actions. They feel their family honor has been violated and they are seeking revenge.
In essence, this verse indicates that the sons of Jacob were planning revenge against Shechem and Hamor for the defilement of Dinah, and that they lied to them as a way to accomplish their plan.
The brothers, in the following verses, propose a condition for allowing Shechem to marry Dinah: all the men of Shechem's city must be circumcised. This is a cunning plan, because they know that while the men are recovering from circumcision, they will be vulnerable. After they agree and are circumcised, the brothers attack the city and kill all the men, including Shechem and Hamor. This is the fulfillment of the deceit described in verse 13.
Therefore, the verse serves as a crucial setup for the subsequent events, revealing the vengeful intentions and deceptive tactics employed by Dinah's brothers. It highlights the themes of honor, revenge, and deceit within the narrative.
Genesis 34 tells the story of Dinah, Jacob's daughter, being defiled by Shechem, the son of Hamor, the prince of the Hivites. This verse (Genesis 34:13) highlights the brothers' reaction to this event. Let's break it down:
"The sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father...": This simply sets the scene - the brothers of Dinah are responding to Shechem and his father, Hamor, who are trying to negotiate a resolution to the defilement of Dinah. Hamor is seeking to have Shechem marry Dinah.
"...with deceit...": This is the key part. The brothers are not being honest in their response. They are not genuinely seeking reconciliation. They have a hidden agenda.
"...and spoke, because he had defiled Dinah their sister...": This explains the motivation behind the brothers' deceit. The defilement of Dinah is the reason for their actions. They feel their family honor has been violated and they are seeking revenge.
In essence, this verse indicates that the sons of Jacob were planning revenge against Shechem and Hamor for the defilement of Dinah, and that they lied to them as a way to accomplish their plan.
The brothers, in the following verses, propose a condition for allowing Shechem to marry Dinah: all the men of Shechem's city must be circumcised. This is a cunning plan, because they know that while the men are recovering from circumcision, they will be vulnerable. After they agree and are circumcised, the brothers attack the city and kill all the men, including Shechem and Hamor. This is the fulfillment of the deceit described in verse 13.
Therefore, the verse serves as a crucial setup for the subsequent events, revealing the vengeful intentions and deceptive tactics employed by Dinah's brothers. It highlights the themes of honor, revenge, and deceit within the narrative.