Wednesday, September 14, 2011

The Beginning (Genesis) 34


 1Judgment (Dinah) the daughter of Weary (Leah), whom she bore to Heel-Grabber (Jacob), went out to see the daughters of the land.
 2When Shoulder (Shechem) the son of He-Ass (Hamor) the Villager (Hivite), prince of the country, saw her, he took her, and lay with her, and defiled her.
 3He fell in love with Judgment (Dinah) the daughter of Heel-Grabber (Jacob), and he treated her gently, and spoke kindly to her.
 4Then Shoulder (Shechem) spoke his father He-Ass (Hamor), saying, “Get me this damsel for my wife.”
 5Heel-Grabber (Jacob) heard that he had defiled Judgment (Dinah) his daughter. At the time his sons were with his cattle in the field. Heel-Grabber (Jacob) held his peace until they came back.
 6He-Ass (Hamor) the father of Shoulder (Shechem) went to Heel-Grabber (Jacob) to speak with him.
 7The sons of Heel-Grabber (Jacob) came out of the field when they heard about it. They were grieved, and very angry, because he had brought disgrace in Israel by lying with Heel-Grabber (Jacob)'s daughter.
 8He-Ass (Hamor) spoke with them, saying, “The soul of my son Shoulder (Shechem) longs for your daughter: Please let him marry her.
 9Make marriages with us, and give your daughters to us, and take our daughters to you.
 10Dwell with us, and the land will be before you; dwell and trade here, and prosper here.
 11Shoulder (Shechem) said to her father and to her brethren, “Let me find grace in your eyes, and what you ask me I will give.
 12Ask me however much dowry and gift, and I will give whatever you ask me: but give me the damsel as my wife.”
 13The sons of Heel-Grabber (Jacob) answered Shoulder (Shechem) and He-Ass (Hamor) his father deceitfully because he had defiled Judgment (Dinah) their sister.
 14They said to them, “We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one that is uncircumcised; for that is a reproach to us:
 15But we will consent if you will be as we are, that every male of you be circumcised.
 16Then will we give our daughters to you, and we will take your daughters to us, and we will dwell with you, and we will become one people.
 17But if you will not be circumcised; then will we take our daughter, and we will be gone.”
 18Their words pleased He-Ass (Hamor), and Shoulder (Shechem) He-Ass (Hamor)'s son.
 19The young man did not hesitate, because he delighted in Heel-Grabber (Jacob)'s daughter: and he was more honorable than all the house of his father.
 20He-Ass (Hamor) and Shoulder (Shechem) his son came to the gate of their city, and talked with the men of their city, saying,
 21”These men are peaceable with us; therefore let them dwell in the land, and trade therein. The land, behold, it is large enough for them; let us take their daughters to us for wives, and let us give them our daughters.
 22The condition these men have to consent to dwell with us, to be one people, if every male among us be circumcised, as they are circumcised.
 23Shall not their cattle and their substance and every beast of their's be our's? Let's do this, and they will dwell with us.”
 24He-Ass (Hamor) and Shoulder (Shechem) his son and all men who met with them at the gate of the city agreed; and every male was circumcised, all that went out of the gate of his city.
 25On the third day, when they were sore, two of the sons of Heel-Grabber (Jacob), Heard (Simeon) and Joined To (Levi), Judgment (Dinah)'s brethren, took his sword, and came upon the city boldly, and slew all the males.
 26They slew He-Ass (Hamor) and Shoulder (Shechem) his son with the edge of the sword, and took Judgment (Dinah) out of Shoulder (Shechem)'s house, and went out.
 27The sons of Heel-Grabber (Jacob) stripped the slain, and spoiled the city, because they had defiled their sister.
 28They took their sheep, and their oxen, and their asses, and that which was in the city, and that which was in the field,
 29And all their wealth, and all their little ones, and their wives took they captive, and looted the houses.
 30Heel-Grabber (Jacob) said to Heard (Simeon) and Joined To (Levi), “You have cause me trouble! Now my reputation stinks with the inhabitants of the land, among the Humbled Ones (Canaanites) and the Village Dwellers (Perizzite). We are few in number. They will gather themselves together against me, and slay me; and I shall be destroyed, I and my house.
 31And they said, Should he deal with our sister as with an harlot?

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