Genesis 34:7

34:7 Now Jacob’s sons had come in from the field when they heard the news. ¹  They ²  were offended ³  and very angry because Shechem ⁴  had disgraced Israel ⁵  by sexually assaulting ⁶  Jacob’s daughter, a crime that should not be committed. ⁷ 

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 ⁸  for them. We will take their daughters for wives, and we will give them our daughters to marry. ⁹ 

Genesis 43:18

43:18 But the men were afraid when they were brought to Joseph’s house. They said, “We are being brought in because of ¹⁰  the money that was returned in our sacks last time. ¹¹  He wants to capture us, ¹²  make us slaves, and take ¹³  our donkeys!”

Genesis 44:1

The Final Test

44:1 He instructed the servant who was over his household, “Fill the sacks of the men with as much food as they can carry and put each man’s money in the mouth of his sack.

Genesis 44:4

44:4 They had not gone very far from the city ¹⁴  when Joseph said ¹⁵  to the servant who was over his household, “Pursue the men at once! ¹⁶  When you overtake ¹⁷  them, say to them, ‘Why have you repaid good with evil?

[34:7]  ¹ tn Heb “when they heard.” The words “the news” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.

[34:7]  ² tn Heb “the men.” This sounds as if a new group has been introduced into the narrative, so it has been translated as “they” to indicate that it refers to Jacob’s sons, mentioned in the first part of the verse.

[34:7]  ³ tn The Hebrew verb עָצַב (’atsav) can carry one of three semantic nuances depending on the context: (1) “to be injured” (Ps 56:5; Eccl 10:9; 1 Chr 4:10); (2) “to experience emotional pain; to be depressed emotionally; to be worried” (2 Sam 19:2; Isa 54:6; Neh 8:10-11); (3) “to be embarrassed; to be insulted; to be offended” (to the point of anger at another or oneself; Gen 6:6; 45:5; 1 Sam 20:3, 34; 1 Kgs 1:6; Isa 63:10; Ps 78:40). This third category develops from the second by metonymy. In certain contexts emotional pain leads to embarrassment and/or anger. In this last use the subject sometimes directs his anger against the source of grief (see especially Gen 6:6). The third category fits best in Gen 34:7 because Jacob’s sons were not merely wounded emotionally. On the contrary, Shechem’s action prompted them to strike out in judgment against the source of their distress.

[34:7]  ⁴ tn Heb “he”; the referent (Shechem) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[34:7]  ⁵ tn Heb “a disgraceful thing he did against Israel.”

[34:7]  ⁶ tn Heb “by lying with the daughter of Jacob.” The infinitive here explains the preceding verb, indicating exactly how he had disgraced Jacob. The expression “to lie with” is a euphemism for sexual relations, or in this case, sexual assault.

[34:7]  ⁷ tn Heb “and so it should not be done.” The negated imperfect has an obligatory nuance here, but there is also a generalizing tone. The narrator emphasizes that this particular type of crime (sexual assault) is especially reprehensible.

[34:21]  ⁸ tn Heb “wide on both hands,” that is, in both directions.

[34:21]  ⁹ tn The words “to marry” are not in the Hebrew text, but are supplied in the translation for clarity.

[43:18]  ¹⁵ tn Heb “over the matter of.”

[43:18]  ¹⁶ tn Heb “in the beginning,” that is, at the end of their first visit.

[43:18]  ¹⁷ tn Heb “to roll himself upon us and to cause himself to fall upon us.” The infinitives here indicate the purpose (as viewed by the brothers) for their being brought to Joseph’s house.

[43:18]  ¹⁸ tn The word “take” has been supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.

[44:4]  ²² tn Heb “they left the city, they were not far,” meaning “they had not gone very far.”

[44:4]  ²³ tn Heb “and Joseph said.” This clause, like the first one in the verse, has the subject before the verb, indicating synchronic action.

[44:4]  ²⁴ tn Heb “arise, chase after the men.” The first imperative gives the command a sense of urgency.

[44:4]  ²⁵ tn After the imperative this perfect verbal form with vav consecutive has the same nuance of instruction. In the translation it is subordinated to the verbal form that follows (also a perfect with vav consecutive): “and overtake them and say,” becomes “when you overtake them, say.”