Read Genesis 33:18-35:8 at Bible Gateway.
The teaching tools of scripture
Gen 1:1-2:3 and the teaching tools of scripture part one and part two
Gen 1:1-6:8 and finding the topic themes of scripture
Hebrew paragraph divisions
33:18-20 {s} Jacob acquires property in Canaan + altar of Elohiym
34:1-31 {p} Defilement with Canaanites + killing/ plunder + rebuke
35:1-8 {p} Repentance and return to the house of God (Bethel)
Strong themes of the parashah
32:3-34:31 {s+s+p} Jacob’s faith in the promise tested (Esau + Shechem)
35:1-8 {p} Repentance and return to the house of God (Bethel)
Gen 33:18-35:8 Chiastic Structure
1A) 33:18-20 JACOB CAME TO SHECHEM and bought land / ERECTED THE ALTAR EL ELOHE ISRAEL {s};
1B) 34:1-2 SHECHEM, the prince of the country, TOOK DINAH, lay with her and VIOLATED HER;
1C) 34:3-13 SHECHEM ASKS FOR DINAH AS WIFE / PROPOSED to become ONE PEOPLE WITH JACOB;
1D) 34:14 We CANNOT GIVE OUR SISTER to the UNCIRCUMCISED, for that would be a reproach;
1E) 34:15a But on this condition WE WILL CONSENT TO YOU;
CENTRAL AXIS) 34:15b IF YOU WILL BECOME AS WE ARE, IF EVERY MALE OF YOU IS CIRCUMCISED;
2E) 24:16 Then WE WILL GIVE OUR DAUGHTERS and TAKE YOUR DAUGHTERS / DWELL HERE and BECOME ONE PEOPLE;
2D) 34:17-18 But if you will not be CIRCUMCISED, we will TAKE OUR DAUGHTER AND BE GONE;
2C) 34:19-30 SHECHEM agreed because he DELIGHTED IN JACOB’S DAUGHTER / PROPOSED to the men of the city to become ONE PEOPLE WITH JACOB;
2B) 34:31 But they said, “Should HE TREAT OUR SISTER LIKE A HARLOT?” {p}
2A) 35:1-8 JACOB purified his household of idolatry and CAME TO BETHEL / ERECTED THE ALTAR EL BETHEL; {p}
Download the fully expanded Gen 33:18-35:8 Triennial Vayavo chiasm pdf (Coming …).
Theme of the parashah
Jacob’s defilement with Canaanites / his repentance and return to God
Finding Messiah in Torah
Compare these two verses:
Then Jacob came safely to the city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padan Aram; and he pitched his tent before the city. Gen 33:18 NKJV
And Jacob came to Shalem, a city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padanaram; and pitched his tent before the city. Gen 33:18 KJV
The KJV translators had such respect for the word of God, that they did not change a jot or tittle of it. The modern translators feel compelled to improve the text (although the NKJV is the least tampered with). But here we find a clear discrepancy, where the NKJV and the KJV do not match at all.
Shalem is Salem. It is Strong’s H8004, and its definition is literally, the place of which Melchizedek was king. Melchizedek was, we learned earlier, the King of Peace, and the King of Righteousness – a preincarnate appearance of the Word of God made flesh. The Scripture is telling us, that Jacob came to the place where Melchizedek was king; to the place where the King of Peace and the King of Righteousness, Messiah Yeshua, reigned. Jacob built the altar, El Elohe Israel, there (God, the God of Israel). But at some time after that, he allowed himself to become defiled. But this is the gospel: defilement is not the end of our story. If we repent and return to God, He will restore us to His house (Bethel).
Additional readings for this parashah
Psa 28 (my notes) | Nah 1 (my notes) | Rev 22 (my notes)
Studies in Triennial Vayavo
Genesis 33, Bible for Beginners
Genesis 34, Bible for Beginners
Gen 33:18-20, Jacob’s safe arrival
Gen 33:18-35:8, Chiastic structure
Gen 33 and 34, The strong themes and defilement with Canaanites
Further study off site
Shechem: Its Archaeological and Contextual Significance – Associates for Biblical Research
SCRIPTURE REVEALED SERIES by CHRISTINE MILLER:
THE LAW of LOVE | FINDING MESSIAH in TORAH | GENESIS in CHIASTIC STRUCTURE
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