Genesis 34:6 Commentary - Dr Peter Masters

Navigator

Genesis 34:6

Comments

Hamor immediately opens negotiations; he doesn't want trouble. His son has done a terrible thing, but he is going to try to negotiate a marriage. He comes with a degree of arrogance; there is no record of him apologising for what his son has done. His was the stronger clan, and he assumed he could get his own way, and that Jacob and his family would yield to his proposal for the sake of good relations and security. Dinah was only a child, but her foolish and sinful act was going to lead to a massacre. You can read through this passage and miss the lesson.It was not the normal way to be so chivalrous. Some say Hamor was a very remarkable man, but others that he was a very cunning man. ‘We will get a daughter for my son, and build ties with them through marriage and absorb their wealth’; but the sons of Jacob were even more cunning. They have a counter-strategy.

Application

One church member can ruin the reputation of a whole local church. This passage is given to us not only for our warning – as if we need to tremble – but for our privilege – so we pray to be kept. Our evil behaviour can damage many others. We must think also of that before we act. We consider these things not only by way of warning, as though we have to go round shaking in terror that our slip may have disastrous consequences, but rather to look at it from another point of view. This is our privilege. We have to hold ourselves before the Lord and pray constantly that we shall never do anything that will be of hurt to the people of God, because we are inevitably part of the spiritual family. And our privileges are also responsibilities. We can cause damage to many others and much hurt, so we always keep in the way of sanctification.

Questions

Outline

Purpose

Introduction

Genesis 34:6 Commentary and Bible Study