Genesis 34:24

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And unto Hamor and unto Shechem his son hearkened all that went out of the gate of his city; and every male was circumcised, all that went out of the gate of his city.

Complete Jewish Bible:

Everyone going out the city's gate listened to Hamor and Sh'khem his son; so every male was circumcised, every one that went out the gate of the city.

Berean Standard Bible:

All the men who went out of the city gate listened to Hamor and his son Shechem, and every male of the city was circumcised.

American Standard Version:

And unto Hamor and unto Shechem his son hearkened all that went out of the gate of his city; and every male was circumcised, all that went out of the gate of his city.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And unto Hamor^{H2544} and unto Shechem^{H7927} his son^{H1121} hearkened^{H8085} all that went out^{H3318} of the gate^{H8179} of his city^{H5892}; and every male^{H2145} was circumcised^{H4135}, all that went out^{H3318} of the gate^{H8179} of his city^{H5892}.

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Commentary for Genesis 34:24

Genesis 34:24 is part of the narrative commonly referred to as "The Rape of Dinah." The verse is set in the context of the early history of the Israelite people, when Jacob and his family were living in the land of Canaan.

**Themes:**
1. **Deception and Vengeance:** The verse reflects the aftermath of Shechem's sexual assault on Dinah, Jacob's daughter. Dinah's brothers, Simeon and Levi, deceitfully propose that the men of Shechem's city undergo circumcision to facilitate intermarriage and unity between the two groups. However, their true intent is to avenge their sister's honor.

2. **Circumcision as a Covenant Sign:** Circumcision is presented as a significant religious and cultural practice for the Israelites, originally instituted as a sign of the covenant between God and Abraham (Genesis 17). Here, it is used as a condition for the proposed alliance, but it also symbolizes the separateness of Israel and its unique relationship with God.

3. **Israelite-Canaanite Relations:** The verse highlights the tension between the Israelites and the Canaanite inhabitants of the land. The willingness of the Shechemites to be circumcised indicates a degree of cultural assimilation but also sets the stage for their subsequent downfall due to the treachery of Dinah's brothers.

**Historical Context:**
The events described in Genesis 34 likely reflect the period when the Israelite ancestors were semi-nomadic, living among the Canaanite city-states. The narrative would have been composed and edited during or after the settlement period, reflecting concerns about cultural integrity, tribal loyalty, and the danger of intermarriage. It serves as a cautionary tale about the risks of interaction with surrounding peoples and emphasizes the importance of maintaining distinct religious and cultural practices.

In summary, Genesis 34:24 is situated within a complex narrative that deals with themes of justice, purity, and the boundaries of community. It underscores the significance of circumcision in Israelite identity and reflects the broader historical context of early Israelite interactions with the indigenous peoples of Canaan.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H2544
   There are 12 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: חֲמוֹר
   Transliteration: Chămôwr
   Pronunciation: kham-ore'
   Description: the same as חֲמוֹר; donkey; Chamor, a Canaanite; Hamor.
   
2. Strong's Number: H7927
   There are 54 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שְׁכֶם
   Transliteration: Shᵉkem
   Pronunciation: shek-em'
   Description: the same as שְׁכֶם; ridge; Shekem, a place in Palestine; Shechem.
   
3. Strong's Number: H1121
   There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בֵּן
   Transliteration: bên
   Pronunciation: bane
   Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.
   
4. Strong's Number: H8085
   There are 1072 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שָׁמַע
   Transliteration: shâmaʻ
   Pronunciation: shaw-mah'
   Description: a primitive root; to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.); [idiom] attentively, call (gather) together, [idiom] carefully, [idiom] certainly, consent, consider, be content, declare, [idiom] diligently, discern, give ear, (cause to, let, make to) hear(-ken, tell), [idiom] indeed, listen, make (a) noise, (be) obedient, obey, perceive, (make a) proclaim(-ation), publish, regard, report, shew (forth), (make a) sound, [idiom] surely, tell, understand, whosoever (heareth), witness.
   
5. Strong's Number: H3318
   There are 992 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָצָא
   Transliteration: yâtsâʼ
   Pronunciation: yaw-tsaw'
   Description: a primitive root; to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim.; [idiom] after, appear, [idiom] assuredly, bear out, [idiom] begotten, break out, bring forth (out, up), carry out, come (abroad, out, thereat, without), [phrase] be condemned, depart(-ing, -ure), draw forth, in the end, escape, exact, fail, fall (out), fetch forth (out), get away (forth, hence, out), (able to, cause to, let) go abroad (forth, on, out), going out, grow, have forth (out), issue out, lay (lie) out, lead out, pluck out, proceed, pull out, put away, be risen, [idiom] scarce, send with commandment, shoot forth, spread, spring out, stand out, [idiom] still, [idiom] surely, take forth (out), at any time, [idiom] to (and fro), utter.
   
6. Strong's Number: H8179
   There are 302 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שַׁעַר
   Transliteration: shaʻar
   Pronunciation: shah'-ar
   Description: from שָׁעַר in its original sense; an opening, i.e. door or gate; city, door, gate, port ([idiom] -er).
   
7. Strong's Number: H5892
   There are 937 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עִיר
   Transliteration: ʻîyr
   Pronunciation: eer
   Description: or (in the plural) עָר; or עָיַר; (Judges 10:4), from עוּר; a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post); Ai (from margin), city, court (from margin), town.
   
8. Strong's Number: H2145
   There are 80 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: זָכָר
   Transliteration: zâkâr
   Pronunciation: zaw-kawr'
   Description: from זָכַר; properly, remembered, i.e. a male (of man or animals, as being the most noteworthy sex); [idiom] him, male, man(child, -kind).
   
9. Strong's Number: H4135
   There are 32 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מוּל
   Transliteration: mûwl
   Pronunciation: mool
   Description: a primitive root; to cut short, i.e. curtail (specifically the prepuce, i.e. to circumcise); by implication, to blunt; figuratively, to destroy; circumcise(-ing), selves), cut down (in pieces), destroy, [idiom] must needs.