Bible Notes Online - Genesis 34 - ESV
Commentary

v1-2: Dinah lives among the ungodly, and is badly treated. In a very clear way we see that the standards of the ungodly are very different from our own.

v3-4: Shechem's feelings towards Dinah are very strong, see v11-12; 19; 2 Sam 13.15.<\p>

v5-7: Jacob's sons are understandably very angry; but their subsequent actions cannot be commended.

Jacob holds his peace until his sons return from the field it would perhaps have been better to deal immediately with the situation, and give no opportunity for his sons to act as they did.

v8-10: The words of Hamor, to promote harmony between the two families; compare Ezra 4.2, "Let us build with you." There is a real temptation, a challenge, to the purity of the people of God, although phrased in a very 'reasonable' way.

Although Hamor offers use of the land, the Lord God has already promised the land to Jacob.

v11-12: Shechem's personal request, that he marry Dinah.

v13-17: The deception of Jacob's sons; Jacob was not a party to this. He would be appalled by such words. Their offer is similar to Hamor's request, even to "becoming one people with you." Yet all this is their plan to avenge the mistreatment of Dinah.

v18-23: Hamor and Shechem are also deceitful, hoping to gain all Jacob's property by marriage into his family. Although Jacob's family is fewer in number than the city of Shechem, he has significant wealth.

v24: The 'success' of the proposal, as all the men of Shechem are circumcised.

v25-29: Simeon and Levi; instruments of cruelty, 49.5. The men of Shechem, still in pain from their circumcision, can offer no defence, and the city is easily defeated.

v30-31: The chapter ends in family dispute; yet Jacob could have handled things differently, and addressed the Dinah situation earlier.