Ch. XXXIV.—The Outrage on Dinah.
Two narratives are here combined:
I. Shechem, son of Ḥamor, the native princeling, falls in love with Dinah, the daughter of Leah, abducts her, and keeps her in his house (1-3[1]; cf. 26). He asks her in marriage from her father and brothers, offering to accept any conditions they may impose (11. 12). They raise an objection on the score of circumcision (14), but eventually consent on terms not expressed in this recension. Shechem complies with the condition, whatever it was (19). Simeon and Levi, however, decide that the insult can only be wiped out by blood; they gain access to Shechem's house, slay him, and depart with their sister (25f.) Their father, fearing an uprising of the country against him, reproves them for their rash act, which they proudly justify (30. 31).—The conclusion is lost.
II. Shechem dishonours Dinah, but lets her return to her family (1-3[A]; cf. 17); but continuing to love her, he appeals to Ḥamor to arrange a marriage (4). Ḥamor comes to speak to Jacob (6), and finds him and his sons together (7). He proposes not only a marriage between Shechem and Dinah, but a general connubium which would legalise all such unions in the future (8-10). Jacob's sons agree, on condition that all the clan be circumcised (13. 15-18). Ḥamor proceeds to the gate of the city, and persuades his people to undergo the operation (20-24). While the fever is on them, the sons of Jacob rush the city, kill all the males, capture the women and children, and carry off the spoil (27-29).—The sequel is perhaps summarised in 355.
This rough analysis[A] rests mainly on the material incongruities of
the narrative, viz.: (a) In II., after the seduction Dinah is still in the
hands of her relatives, 17; but in I. she is in Shechem's house and has to
be rescued by force, 26. (b) The negotiations are conducted by Ḥămôr
alone, 6. 8-10 (II.); but in 11. 12 (I.) Shechem is abruptly introduced pleading
his own cause. (c) Shechem has already fulfilled the compact, 19 (I.),
before the people of the city are consulted, 20-24 (II.). (d) Simeon and
Levi alone avenge the outrage, and are alone held responsible for the
- ↑ The parts left unresolved are vv.1-3 and 5. 7.—In 1-3, 3a looks like a
first mention of Dinah; and in 2b (
Hebrew characters) is perhaps (Hebrew characters); and
with a transposition we might read thus: II. 1. 2a And Dinah . . . and
Shechem . . . saw her, 2b and lay with her. 3b(Greek characters) And he comforted the
girl. . .: I. 3a And the soul [of Shechem . . .] clave to Dinah . . . 2b and
he took her and violated her. 3b(Greek characters) And he loved the girl . . .—5 and 7 seem
to me to belong to II. rather than I.; but the indications are conflicting,
and they are possibly redactional vv., inserted to explain the transition
from the sing. in 6 to the pl. in 8.—Naturally the redactor has been busy
smoothing over discrepancies; and to him may be attributed (Hebrew characters) in
13a, the whole of 13b. 18b, (Hebrew characters) in 20a, (Hebrew characters) for (Hebrew characters) in 20b (cf. 24), (Hebrew characters) in
24; (Hebrew characters) and (Hebrew characters) in 26a; and the removal of 25b from 27 (v.i.).]
