Genesis 34:9 - Make marriages with us. Give your daughters to us, and take our daughters for yourselves.
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What does "Genesis 34:9" mean?
This verse, Genesis 34:9, is part of a negotiation between Hamor and his son Shechem, who were Hivites, and Jacob and his sons. Shechem had raped Jacob's daughter Dinah, and Hamor and Shechem were trying to appease Jacob and his family and secure a peaceful arrangement.
The verse suggests a proposal for intermarriage between the two groups. "Make marriages with us" and "Give your daughters to us, and take our daughters for yourselves" means:
Mutual Intermarriage: They were suggesting that Jacob's sons marry Hivite women and, in turn, Hivite men (including Shechem) would marry Jacob's daughters.
The intention behind this proposal, from Hamor and Shechem's perspective, was likely twofold:
1. Reconciliation and Integration: Intermarriage would create familial bonds and potentially ease the tension caused by Shechem's actions. It would signal a desire for integration and peaceful coexistence.
2. Securing Land and Resources: Genesis 34:10 goes on to say, "You shall live with us, and the land shall be open to you. Live and trade in it, and acquire property in it." Intermarriage was a step toward absorbing Jacob's family into the Hivite community, granting them rights to their land and possessions. Essentially, it was a way for the Hivites to potentially benefit from the wealth and influence of Jacob's family.
Important Context and Outcome:
Deception: Jacob's sons, particularly Simeon and Levi, used this offer as a pretext for a treacherous act. They falsely agreed to the proposal but stipulated that all the Hivite men must be circumcised first. While the Hivite men were recovering from circumcision, Simeon and Levi attacked the city and killed all the men, including Hamor and Shechem, and plundered the city.
Religious and Cultural Implications: Intermarriage between Israelites and people of different faiths was a recurring issue in the Hebrew Bible. The concern was that it could lead to the Israelites abandoning their covenant with God and adopting foreign religious practices.
In summary, Genesis 34:9 represents an offer of intermarriage as a means of reconciliation, integration, and access to resources. However, in this specific instance, it was used as a deceptive tactic that led to violence and the destruction of the Hivite city.
Genesis 34:9 - Make marriages with us. Give your daughters to us, and take our daughters for yourselves.
What does "Genesis 34:9" mean?
This verse, Genesis 34:9, is part of a negotiation between Hamor and his son Shechem, who were Hivites, and Jacob and his sons. Shechem had raped Jacob's daughter Dinah, and Hamor and Shechem were trying to appease Jacob and his family and secure a peaceful arrangement.
The verse suggests a proposal for intermarriage between the two groups. "Make marriages with us" and "Give your daughters to us, and take our daughters for yourselves" means:
Mutual Intermarriage: They were suggesting that Jacob's sons marry Hivite women and, in turn, Hivite men (including Shechem) would marry Jacob's daughters.
The intention behind this proposal, from Hamor and Shechem's perspective, was likely twofold:
1. Reconciliation and Integration: Intermarriage would create familial bonds and potentially ease the tension caused by Shechem's actions. It would signal a desire for integration and peaceful coexistence.
2. Securing Land and Resources: Genesis 34:10 goes on to say, "You shall live with us, and the land shall be open to you. Live and trade in it, and acquire property in it." Intermarriage was a step toward absorbing Jacob's family into the Hivite community, granting them rights to their land and possessions. Essentially, it was a way for the Hivites to potentially benefit from the wealth and influence of Jacob's family.
Important Context and Outcome:
Deception: Jacob's sons, particularly Simeon and Levi, used this offer as a pretext for a treacherous act. They falsely agreed to the proposal but stipulated that all the Hivite men must be circumcised first. While the Hivite men were recovering from circumcision, Simeon and Levi attacked the city and killed all the men, including Hamor and Shechem, and plundered the city.
Religious and Cultural Implications: Intermarriage between Israelites and people of different faiths was a recurring issue in the Hebrew Bible. The concern was that it could lead to the Israelites abandoning their covenant with God and adopting foreign religious practices.
In summary, Genesis 34:9 represents an offer of intermarriage as a means of reconciliation, integration, and access to resources. However, in this specific instance, it was used as a deceptive tactic that led to violence and the destruction of the Hivite city.