Wayfinding Bible - Flipbook - Page 59
PG
56
PG
58
4
PG
58
4
Genesis 34
53
REMEMBER TO WATCH THE ARROWS. A dashed arrow means you’ll
be jumping to a different book. In this case you’re headed to Job.
OBSERVATION POINT
Crossing the river at night was strategic. Jacob didn’t
want anyone to detect his family’s movements or how
large the group was. He was a very wealthy man with
many children, wives, servants, and herds of sheep,
goats, camels, donkeys, and cattle. Such a large
group would have been easily spotted during the
day and open to attack from humans or wild animals.
15
“All right,” Esau said, “but at least let me assign some of my men to guide and protect you.”
Jacob responded, “That’s not necessary. It’s
enough that you’ve received me warmly, my
lord!”
16
So Esau turned around and started back to
Seir that same day. 17 Jacob, on the other hand,
traveled on to Succoth. There he built himself a
house and made shelters for his livestock. That
is why the place was named Succoth (which
means “shelters”).
18
Later, having traveled all the way from
Paddan-aram, Jacob arrived safely at the town
of Shechem, in the land of Canaan. There he
set up camp outside the town. 19 Jacob bought
the plot of land where he camped from the
family of Hamor, the father of Shechem, for
100 pieces of silver.* 20 And there he built an
altar and named it El-Elohe-Israel.*
REVENGE AGAINST SHECHEM
34
One day Dinah, the daughter of Jacob
and Leah, went to visit some of the
young women who lived in the area. 2 But when
the local prince, Shechem son of Hamor the Hi
vite, saw Dinah, he seized her and raped her.
3
But then he fell in love with her, and he tried
to win her affection with tender words. 4 He
said to his father, Hamor, “Get me this young
girl. I want to marry her.”
5
Soon Jacob heard that Shechem had defiled his daughter, Dinah. But since his sons
were out in the fields herding his livestock, he
said nothing until they returned. 6 Hamor, She
chem’s father, came to discuss the matter with
Jacob. 7 Meanwhile, Jacob’s sons had come in
from the field as soon as they heard what had
happened. They were shocked and furious that
their sister had been raped. Shechem had done
a disgraceful thing against Jacob’s family,*
something that should never be done.
EXPLORATION POINT
Jacob had lived up to his name: “deceiver.” He had
schemed against Esau to get the family blessing. This
middle-of-the-night wrestling match put an end to
that way of living. By morning, Jacob finally submitted
to God’s control and trusted God to bless him. Jacob’s
new name, Israel—meaning “God fights”—signified a
shift as well: God would fight for Jacob and his family
as they grew to be God’s people—the people of Israel.
8
Hamor tried to speak with Jacob and his
sons. “My son Shechem is truly in love with
your daughter,” he said. “Please let him marry
her. 9 In fact, let’s arrange other marriages, too.
You give us your daughters for our sons, and
we will give you our daughters for your sons.
10
And you may live among us; the land is open
to you! Settle here and trade with us. And feel
free to buy property in the area.”
11
Then Shechem himself spoke to Dinah’s father and brothers. “Please be kind to me, and
let me marry her,” he begged. “I will give you
whatever you ask. 12 No matter what dowry or
gift you demand, I will gladly pay it—just give
me the girl as my wife.”
13
But since Shechem had defiled their sister,
Dinah, Jacob’s sons responded deceitfully to
Shechem and his father, Hamor. 14 They said
to them, “We couldn’t possibly allow this, because you’re not circumcised. It would be a
disgrace for our sister to marry a man like you!
15
But here is a solution. If every man among
you will be circumcised like we are, 16 then we
will give you our daughters, and we’ll take your
daughters for ourselves. We will live among
you and become one people. 17 But if you d
on’t
agree to be circumcised, we will take her and
be on our way.”
18
Hamor and his son Shechem agreed to
their proposal. 19 Shechem wasted no time in
acting on this request, for he wanted Jacob’s
daughter desperately. Shechem was a highly
respected member of his famil y, 20 and he went
with his father, Hamor, to present this proposal to the leaders at the town gate.
21
“These men are our friends,” they said.
“Let’s invite them to live here among us and
trade freely. Look, the land is large enough
to hold them. We can take their daughters
33:19 Hebrew 100 kesitahs; the value or weight of the kesitah is
no longer known. 33:20 El-Elohe-Israel means “God, the God
of Israel.” 34:7 Hebrew a disgraceful thing in Israel.
