Genesis 34 is the account of Dinah’s assault by Shechem the Hivite prince, Jacob’s silence, and the massacre carried out by Simeon and Levi in their sister’s defense - one of the most morally unresolved chapters in the Torah.
Full sung version coming soon.
Lyrics
Dinah the daughter of Leah whom she bore to Jacob Went out to see the daughters of the land Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite The prince of the land saw her
He took her and lay with her and humbled her His soul joined to Dinah the daughter of Jacob And he loved the young lady and spoke kindly to the young lady Shechem spoke to his father Hamor saying Get me this young lady as a wife
Now Jacob heard that he had defiled Dinah his daughter And his sons were with his livestock in the field Jacob held his peace until they came Hamor the father of Shechem went out to Jacob to talk with him The sons of Jacob came in from the field when they heard it
The men were grieved and they were very angry Because he had done folly in Israel In lying with Jacob’s daughter a thing that ought not to be done Hamor talked with them saying the soul of my son Shechem longs for your daughter Please give her to him as a wife
Make marriages with us Give your daughters to us and take our daughters for yourselves You shall dwell with us and the land will be before you Live and trade in it and get possessions in it Shechem said to her father and to her brothers let me find favour in your eyes
And whatever you will tell me I will give Ask me a great amount for a dowry and I will give whatever you ask But give me the young lady as a wife The sons of Jacob answered with deceit Because he had defiled Dinah their sister
And said to them we cannot do this thing To give our sister to one who is uncircumcised For that is a reproach to us Only on this condition will we consent to you If you will be as we are that every male of you be circumcised
All who went out of the gate of his city listened to Hamor and to Shechem And every male was circumcised All who went out of the gate of his city And on the third day when they were sore Two of Jacob’s sons Simeon and Levi Dinah’s brothers Each took his sword
They came upon the unsuspecting city and killed all the males They killed Hamor and Shechem his son with the edge of the sword And took Dinah out of Shechem’s house and went away Jacob’s sons came on the dead and plundered the city Because they had defiled their sister
Jacob said to Simeon and Levi you have troubled me To make me odious to the inhabitants of the land I am few in number They will gather themselves together against me and strike me
Listen
Genesis 34 sung by Psalm Selah. The whole Bible, one chapter at a time.