It may be more than an interesting thought to understand that the Lord is never mentioned in this chapter. He isn’t referred as the defilement of Dinah is described, nor is he mentioned in the discussion of the treaty afterword, nor does anyone refer to him in the judgment that was ultimately administered. However, without approving anything that the men of Shechem did or justifying what the sons of Jacob did in response, the Lord can be seen in the background, guiding the ultimate outcome.
Nevertheless, this does not mean the end justifies the means, because the Lord does not justify what Jacob’s sons did. Rather, they are criticized for their wicked behavior. However, according to the Law of Moses (not yet implemented), Israel was not to make marriages with the people of the land (Deuteronomy 7:3-4), nor were they permitted to make alliances with the Canaanites that would make them one people (cp. Exodus 23:32-33). The Canaanites were destined to be judged at the proper time (Genesis 15:7-8, 13-16). To become one with any of the Canaanite tribes amounted to confusion, for how could the Lord prosper what he intended to judge and destroy?
So, Hamor and his son, Shechem, accepted the condition of the treaty, which the sons of Jacob demanded, and received it as an honorable requirement on their part. In fact, Shechem, who was more honorable that anyone in Hamor’s tribal community, didn’t delay in becoming circumcised, because of his delight in Dinah, Jacob’s daughter (Genesis 34:18-19). For whatever reason circumcision was practiced by other folks during the age of the Patriarchs. Nevertheless, it was administered to adults, not infants, as commanded by God (Genesis 17:10-12). It may even have been known by the Canaanites that Abraham and Isaac practiced this rite, as a thing that pleased their God, who blessed them.
All ancient political and business transactions were conducted within the city gate. It can hardly go unnoticed in reading this chapter that the men of Shechem had only political and economic aspirations in becoming one people with Jacob’s clan. They don’t appear to have any understanding of Jacob’s God or the spiritual significance of the rite or circumcision. All they appear to understand is that Jacob was rich in cattle and such an addition to the Hittite community would increase, not only their tribal wealth, but also their power among the other Canaanite tribal communities.
So Hamor and Shechem brokered the community’s alliance with Jacob with the other male members, who were of military age, persuading them that Jacob’s clan was peaceful and would be a great advantage, both politically and economically, if their two communities became one people (Genesis 34:20-23).
Thus, we’re able to discern from the text that from ancient times, treaties were often made between two countries with a marriage agreement between one head of state and the princess of another state. Good will and prosperity were often the result of such unions. Nevertheless, as was secretly done here by the sons of Jacob (Genesis 34:13), historically, ulterior and preconceived motives of one party prevented the peace and prosperity that the treaty overtly promised.
Understanding the favorable prospects of the proposed treaty, all the men of the city agreed to its terms and circumcised themselves (Genesis 34:24). Even today some men presume that gain is godliness (1Timothy 6:5). One cannot presume to manipulate God into blessing one’s efforts simply because one is obedient to the ceremony of a spiritual rite. Paganism often sought to cause their god to do as they desired by acting out in worship what they wished the deity to do for them. Believing the physical was the shadow of the spiritual, if the physical (shadow) did something in ceremony, then the spiritual (the substance of the shadow) would have had to perform the matter according to the ceremony. Although the Lord is never mentioned in this chapter, I do believe the city of Shechem heard stories about him, and wanted the blessings they perceived came from him, but all they were aware of was what seemed profitable to their community and what added to their tribal power.
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