Read Genesis 34 at Bible Gateway.
The Hebrew paragraph in this chapter …
34:1-31 {p} Defilement with Canaanites
… concludes a Strong Theme:
32:3-33:17 {s} Jacob renamed Israel, “Upright of El”
33:18-20 {s} Jacob acquires property in the Land
34:1-31 {p} Defilement with Canaanites
The previous Strong Theme from Gen 26:1-32:2 revealed that Isaac’s life Repeated events from Abraham’s, and then that Jacob’s life repeated events from Isaac’s. Something happened in this Strong Theme, though, that is not a repeat of either Abraham or Isaac. The Break in Pattern is that Jacob acquired property in the land to dwell there. The only property Abraham and Isaac owned was not for a dwelling place, but for a burial place. Abraham and Isaac were sojourners in the land–they belonged to a different kingdom.
Why This Matters: The History that Prophesies following Jacob acquisition, is defilement with Canaanites—not only the rape of Dinah, but also Simeon and Levi’s sin of murder. It is a warning to us, that if we make this world our dwelling place, instead of the kingdom of heaven, we will incur defilement. For Abraham and his seed, YHVH is to be our exceedingly great reward.
32:3-34:31 {s+s+p} Strong Theme: Jacob’s faith in the promise tested (Esau, and Shechem)
If there are questions, these are good resources:
Shechem: Its Archaeological and Contextual Significance – Associates for Biblical Research
Gen 34:1-31, Defilement with Canaanites – Christine Miller
Christine, I am so thankful for your love for Christ and for your deep searching for literary structure and the deep reflection that is birthed out of this deep searching. But is Jacob actually breaking a pattern? Does not Genesis 27:15 indicate that Rebekah (and her blind husband Isaac) were living in a ‘house’? Nothing is made of it in the text. But it is an observation I made today.
Hello Hume, I had not seen that either until you pointed it out. Although nothing is said of money changing hands or of purchasing as is explicitly said for Jacob, so perhaps it should read, the first time Scripture mentions obtaining a possession. Thank you so much for visiting, please do come back again!