Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Isaac Fried <if AT math.bu.edu>]

JAMES CHRISTIAN READ,

Are you taking into consideration the possibility that at that time  
Dinah was 10-12 years old.

Isaac Fried, Boston University

On Jul 20, 2007, at 3:53 PM, JAMES CHRISTIAN READ wrote:

> Hi Harold,
>
> see comments below:
>
> Dear James,
> > Hi Micheal,
> >
> > this is something I've thought about before in the past.
> > There doesn't seem to be any linguistic evidence that I've
> > seen that indicates any element of force. Dinah went to
> > see him. Not him to Dinah.
>
> HH:The text does not say that Dinah went to see him. She went out  
> to see
> the "daughters of the land." They might include Shechem's relatives.
>
> JCR: Good point.
>
>
> > Also it would take an incredibly
> > stupid bloke, when approached by a recently victim's brother,
> > that would believe the proposition 'If you cut your foreskin
> > off I'll let you marry my sister'.
>
> HH: The Canaanites were sexually immoral, so they would not  
> necessarily
> see the proposition as insincere.
>
> JCR: Another good point. Please bear in mind that at
> this point I am not committing to either interpretation.
> I am merely pointing out that in the face of decisive
> linguistic evidence they are both valid and that there
> are a number of contextual clues that support the one
> over the other.
>
> e.g. Consider verse 7
>
> NWT Genesis 34:7
> 'And the sons of Jacob came in from the field as soon as they heard  
> of it; and the men became hurt in their feelings and they grew very  
> angry, because he had committed a disgraceful folly against Israel  
> in lying down with Jacob’s daughter, whereas nothing like that  
> ought to be done.'
>
> Note that no mention of force is included when
> why her brothers were angry. It is the mere thought of
> their unmarried sister having extra marital sex.
>
> Further consider their response in verse 31 when being
> reprised by Isreal for their actions:
>
> “Ought anyone to treat our sister like a prostitute?”
>
> What are prostitutes better known for in Tanakh?
> For being forced to have sex?
> Or for having immoral extra-marital sex?
>
> However, one contextual point seems to stand in favour
> of an element of force. And that is why does there
> seem to be a complete lack of any indication of
> responsibility on Dinah's shoulders? Why aren't her
> brothers angry with her for acting 'like a prostitue'?
>  feelings and they grew very angry, because he had committed a  
> disgraceful folly against Israel in lying down with Jacob’s  
> daughter, whereas nothing like that ought to be done.'
>
> Note that no mention of force is included when
> why her brothers were angry. It is the mere thought of
> their unmarried sister having extra marital sex.
>
> Further consider their response in verse 31 when being
> reprised by Isreal for their actions:
>
> “Ought anyone to treat our sister like a prostitute?”
>
> What are prostitutes better k
>
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