Genesis 34:5

34:5 When ¹  Jacob heard that Shechem ²  had violated his daughter Dinah, his sons were with the livestock in the field. So Jacob remained silent ³  until they came in.

Genesis 34:21

34:21 “These men are at peace with us. So let them live in the land and travel freely in it, for the land is wide enough ⁴  for them. We will take their daughters for wives, and we will give them our daughters to marry. ⁵ 

Genesis 34:25

34:25 In three days, when they were still in pain, two of Jacob’s sons, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brothers, each took his sword ⁶  and went to the unsuspecting city ⁷  and slaughtered every male.

[34:5]  ¹ tn The two disjunctive clauses in this verse (“Now Jacob heard…and his sons were”) are juxtaposed to indicate synchronic action.

[34:5]  ² tn Heb “he”; the referent (Shechem) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[34:5]  ³ sn The expected response would be anger or rage; but Jacob remained silent. He appears too indifferent or confused to act decisively. When the leader does not act decisively, the younger zealots will, and often with disastrous results.

[34:21]  ⁴ tn Heb “wide on both hands,” that is, in both directions.

[34:21]  ⁵ tn The words “to marry” are not in the Hebrew text, but are supplied in the translation for clarity.

[34:25]  ⁷ tn Heb “a man his sword.”

[34:25]  ⁸ tn Heb “and they came upon the city, [which was] secure.” In this case “secure” means the city was caught unprepared and at peace, not expecting an attack.