Jacob, Joseph & Egypt

The sons of Jacob answered Sichem and his father deceitfully, being enraged at the deflowering of their sister:

We cannot do what you demand, nor give our sister to one that is uncircumcised; which with us is unlawful and abominable.

But in this we may be allied with you, if you will be like us, and all the male sex among you be circumcised:

Then will we mutually give and take your daughters, and ours; and we will dwell with you, and will be one people:

But if you will not be circumcised, we will take our daughter and depart.

Their offer pleased Hemor, and Sichem, his son:

And the young man made no delay, but forthwith fulfilled what was required: for he loved the damsel exceedingly, and he was the greatest man in all his father's house.

And going into the gate of the city, they spoke to the people:

These men are peaceable, and are willing to dwell with us: let them trade in the land, and till it, which being large and wide wanteth men to till it: we shall take their daughters for wives, and we will give them ours.

One thing there is for which so great a good is deferred: We must circumcise every male among us, following the manner of the nation.

And their substance, and cattle, and all that they possess, shall be ours; only in this let us condescend, and by dwelling together, we shall make one people.

And they all agreed, and circumcised all the males.

And behold the third day, when the pain of the wound was greatest: two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, the brothers of Dina, taking their swords, entered boldly into the city and slew all the men.

And they killed also Hemor and Sichem, and took away their sister Dina out of Sichem's house.

And when they were gone out, the other sons of Jacob came upon the slain; and plundered the city in revenge of the rape.

And they took their sheep, and their herds, and their asses, wasting all they had in their houses and in their fields.

And their children and wives they took captive.

And when they had boldly perpetrated these things, Jacob said to Simeon and Levi: You have troubled me, and made me hateful to the Chanaanites and Pherezites, the inhabitants of this land. We are few: they will gather themselves together and kill me; and both I, and my house shall be destroyed.

They answered: Should they abuse our sister as a strumpet?

In the mean time God said to Jacob: Arise and go up to Bethel, and dwell there, and make there an altar to God, who appeared to thee when thou didst flee from Esau, thy brother.

And Jacob having called together all his household, said: Cast away the strange gods that are among you, and be cleansed, and change your garments.

Arise, and let us go up to Bethel, that we may make there an altar to God; who heard me in the day of my affliction, and accompained me in my journey.

So they gave him all the strange gods they had, and the earrings which were in their ears: and he buried them under the turpentine tree, that is behind the city of Sichem.

And when they were departed, the terror of God fell upon all the cities round about, and they durst not pursue after them as they went away.

And Jacob came to Luza, which is in the land of Chanaan, surnamed Bethel: he and all the people that were with him.