Genesis 34:18-19 Their proposal seemed good to Hamor and his son Shechem. The young man, who was the most honored of all his father’s family, lost no time in doing what they said, because he was delighted with Jacob’s daughter.
I am reading this story to learn, so I see traps all over the place here. I would think that the Shechem’s friends and neighbors would know what Shechem had done, would know the heinousness of the violation and would be a bit suspicious of Jacob’s sons and their easy acquiescence. Apparently not.
Genesis 34:20-21 So Hamor and his son Shechem went to the gate of their city to speak to the men of their city.“These men are friendly toward us,” they said. “Let them live in our land and trade in it; the land has plenty of room for them. We can marry their daughters and they can marry ours.
I guess it’s possible, since they live in the same place as Shechem, that they see his actions as acceptable. Maybe they have done the same before. But I don’t understand why no one thinks about how mass circumcision will incapacitate the males of the village and how that could be a really bad thing. It defies logic.
Genesis 34:22 But the men will agree to live with us as one people only on the condition that our males be circumcised, as they themselves are.
Precious Savior, Thank You that I can look at this situation from the outside and see the harm and danger present. When I am in situations in life, please help me to be as aware and in tune to harm and danger. Help me to keep You–not those around me–as my moral compass. Help me to live a life that is pleasing to You. Always. Amen.
Genesis 34:23 Won’t their livestock, their property and all their other animals become ours? So let us agree to their terms, and they will settle among us.”
Have a blessed day.