They All Agree to be Circumcised?

Genesis 34:15-24

How would Hamor convince the men to circumcise themselves?

Hamor says They need to be circumcised to gain the value of Jacobs family..

Focus on identity ...individual vs community wants...

This is like a mass conversion... This is how they could become part of their community...

To the Shechemites

Everyone should be circumcised...,"if you become like us".

To get what they want.  But it turns around. 

Question of who is the stronger community.

Audacious request... Did not think they would agree... But would use as a way to get Dinah back. 

The suggestion that they will become part of them if they get circumcised...but this was not the plan...it was just a strategy to get Dinah back.  But it went terribly wrong.

V21. What would the Schemites get from this?  V23 they plan to steal everything from the Israelites...   They are already rich and powerful....but they must see the Israelites were very wealthy also.

Was it all the brothers or just two if them? Shimone and Levy..

It is supposed to be an absurd request...

Why would the rest of the tribe go along with this?  Implied that they were servants of Shechem and Hamor... Otherwise why would they agree? 

The first of the Helm stories!  Just seems stupid...that Hamor would agree to this at all.

Note...this chapter has no mention of God.

Story shows the perversion of the children of Jacob.  It is a perversion of the covenant of circumcision... Other cultures did circumcision but without religious significance.

Dinah's reaction after the massacre ... She had to be dragged out... Implies that she was also in love with Shechem. 

V25.  Dinahs true brothers, Levy and Shamon after third day... kill all the males.  The other brothers then go in and plunder...  Questions of the pain or the psychological pain and rage.

Irony of plundering the town.

Jacob is not happy... He sees this as a burden...practical response...

Sons remind Jacob of why they did it...  Can't let them get away with raping their sister.

Some interpret it that this is punishment for Jacob..,