John Calvin on Genesis 33:20

20. And he erected there an altar. Jacob having obtained a place in which he might provide for his family, set up the solemn service of God; as Moses before testified concerning Abraham and Isaac. For although, in every place, they gave themselves up to the pure worship of God in prayers and other acts of devotion; nevertheless they did not neglect the external confession of piety, whenever the Lord granted them any fixed place in which they might remain. For (as I have elsewhere stated) whenever we read that an altar was built by them, we must consider its design and use: namely, that they might offer victims, and might invoke the name of God with a pure rite; so that, by this method, their religion and faith might be made known. I say this, lest any one should think that they rashly trifled with the worship of God; for it was their care to direct their actions according to the divinely prescribed rule which was handed down to them from Noah and Shem. Wherefore, under the word “altar,” let the reader understand, by synecdoche, the external testimony of piety. Moreover, it may hence be clearly perceived how greatly the love of divine worship prevailed in the holy man; because though broken down by various troubles, he nevertheless was not forgetful of the altar. And not only does he privately worship God in the secret feeling of his mind; but he exercises himself in ceremonies which are useful and commanded by God. For he knew that men want helps, as long as they are in the flesh, and that sacrifices were not instituted without reason. He had also another purpose; namely, that his whole family should worship God with the same sense of piety. For it behaves a pious father of a family diligently to take care that he has no profane house, but rather that God should reign there as in a sanctuary. Besides, since the inhabitants of that region had fallen into many superstitions, and had corrupted the true worship of God, Jacob wished to make a distinction between himself and them. The Shechemites and other neighboring nations had certainly altars of their own. Therefore Jacob, by establishing a different method of worship for his household, thus declares theft he has a God peculiar to himself, and has not degenerated from the holy fathers, from whom the perfect and genuine religion had proceeded. This course could not but subject him to reproach, because the Shechemites and other inhabitants would feel that they were despised: but the holy man deemed anything preferable to mixing himself with idolaters.

21. This verse number appears in the Calvin Translation Society edition. It actually is part of verse 20. And he called it El-eloh-Israel Et vocavit illud, Fortis Deus Israel; “the strong God of Israel.” The margin of the English translation is more literal, “God, the God of Israel.” — Ed. This name appears little suitable to the altar; for it sounds as if a heap of stones or turf formed a visible statue of God. But the meaning of the holy man was different. For, because the altar was a memorial and pledge of all the visions and promises of God, he honors it with this title, to the end that, as often he beheld the altar, he should call God to rememberance. That inscription of Moses, “The Lord is my help.” Has the same signification; and also that Ezekiel inscribes on the forms of speaking thereis a want of strict propiety of metaphor; yet this is not without reason. For as superstitious men foolishly and wickedly attach God to symbols, andm as it were, draw him down from his heavenly throne to render him subject to their gross inventions; so the faithful, piously and rightly, ascend from carthly signs that he worshipped no other God than him who had been manifested by certain oracles, in order tha he might distinguish Him from all idols. And we must observe it as a rule of modesty, not to speak carelessly concerning the mysteries and the glory of the Lord, but from a sense of faith, so far indeed, as he is made known to us in his word. Moreover Jacob had respect to his to his prosperity; for since the Lord had appeared to him, on the express condition, that he would make with him the covenant of salvaation, Jacob leaves his monument, from which, after his death, his descendants might ascertain, ttat his religion had not flowed from a dark or obscure well, or from a turbid pool, but from a clear and pure fountain; as if he had engraved the oracles and visions, by which he had been taught, upon the altar.

CHAPTER 34.

Genesis 34:1-31

1. And Dinah the daughter of Leah, which she bare unto Jacob, went out to see the daughters of the land.

1. Et egressa est Dinah filia Leah, quam pepererat ipsi Iahacob, ut viderat filias regionis.

2. And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he took her, and lay with her, and defiled her.

2. Et vidit eam Sechem filius Hamor Hivvaei principis terrae, et tulit eam, et concubuit cum ea, et humiliavit eam.

3. And his soul clave unto Dinah the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the damsel, and spake kindly unto the damsel.

3. Et adhaesit anima ejus ipsi Dinah filiae Iahacob, et dilexit puellam: et loquutus est ad cor puellae.

4. And Shechem spake unto his father Hamor, saying, Get me this damsel to wife.

4. Et dixit Sechem ad Hamor patrem suum, dicendo, Cape mihi puellam hanc in uxorem.

5. And Jacob heard that he had defiled Dinah his daughter: now his sons were with his cattle in the field: and Jacob held his peace until they were come.

5. Audivit autem Iahacob, quod violasset Dinah filiam suam: et filii ejus erant cum pecudibus ejus in agro, et siluit Iahacob, donec venirent ipsi

6. And Hamor the father of Shechem went out unto Jacob to commune with him.

6. Egressus est autem Hamor pater Sechem ad Iahacob, ut loqueretur cum eo.

7. And the sons of Jacob came out of the field when they heard it: and the men were grieved, and they were very wroth, because he had wrought folly in Israel in lying with Jacob’s daughter; which thing ought not to be done.

7. Porro filii Iahacob venerunt de agro: qui quum audierunt ipsi, dolore affecti sunt viri, iratique sunt valde: quia flagitium designasset in Israel, ut coiret cum filia Iahacob: et sic non fiet.

8. And Hamor communed with them, saying, The soul of my son Shechem longeth for your daughter: I pray you give her him to wife.

8. Et loquutus est Hamor cum eis, dicendo, Sechem filii mei complacuit anima in filia vestra: date quaeso eam illi in uxorem.

9. And make ye marriages with us, and give your daughters unto us, and take our daughters unto you.

9. Et affinitatem contrahite nobiscum: filias vestras dabitis nobis, et filias nostras accipietis vobis.

10. And ye shall dwell with us: and the land shall be before you; dwell and trade ye therein, and get you possessions therein.

10. Et nobiscum habitabitis, et terra erit coram vibis, habitate, et negotiamini in ea, et possessiones acquirite in ea.

11. And Shechem said unto her father and unto her brethren, Let me find grace in your eyes, and what ye shall say unto me I will give.

11. Adhaec dixit Sechem ad patrem ejus, et ad fratres ejus, Inveniam gratiam in oculis vestris: et quod dixeritis mihi, dabo.

12. Ask me never so much dowry and gift, and I will give according as ye shall say unto me: but give me the damsel to wife.

12. Augete mihi valde dotem, et donum: et dabo quemadmodum dixeritis mihi, et date mihi puellam in uxorem.

13. And the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father deceitfully, and said, because he had defiled Dinah their sister:

13. Et responderunt filii Iahacob ad Sechem et Hamor patrem ejus in dolo, et loquuti sunt, (quia violaverat Dinah sororem suam,)

14. And they said unto them, We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one that is uncircumcised; for that were a reproach unto us:

14. Et dixerunt ad eos, Non possumus facere hoc, ut demus sorerem nostram viro, cui est praeputium: quia opprobrium esset nobis.

15. But in this will we consent unto you: If ye will be as we be, that every male of you be circumcised;

15. Veruntamen in hoc acquiescemus vobis, si fueritis sicut nos, ut circumcidatur in vobis omnis masculus.

16. Then will we give our daughters unto you, and we will take your daughters to us, and we will dwell with you, and we will become one people.

16. Et dabimus filias nostras vobis, et filias vestras capiemus nobis: et habitabimus vobiscum, et erimus in populum unum.

17. But if ye will not hearken unto us, to be circumcised; then will we take our daughter, and we will be gone.

17. Quodsi non obedieritis nobis, ut circumcidamini: capiemus filiam nostram et recedemus.

18. And their words pleased Hamor, and Shechem Hamor’s son.

18. Et placuerunt verba eorum in oculis Hamor, et in oculis Sechem filii Hamor.

19. And the young man deferred not to do the thing, because he had delight in Jacob’s daughter: and he was more honourable than all the house of his father.

19. Nec tardavit juvenis ad perficiendum negotium, quia complacuerat ei in filia Iahacob: et ipse erat honorabilis prae tota domo patris sui.

20. And Hamor and Shechem his son came unto the gate of their city, and communed with the men of their city, saying,

20. Et venit Hamor et Sechem filius ejus ad portam civitatis suae, et loquuti sunt ad viros civitatis suae, dicendo,

21. These men are peaceable with us; therefore let them dwell in the land, and trade therein; for the land, behold, it is large enough for them; let us take their daughters to us for wives, and let us give them our daughters.

21. Viri isti pacati sunt nobiscum, et habitabunt in terra, et negotiabuntur in ea (et terra ecce, lata est spatiis ante eos) filias eorum accipiemus nobis in uxores, et filias nostras dabimus eis.

22. Only herein will the men consent unto us for to dwell with us, to be one people, if every male among us be circumcised, as they are circumcised.

22. Veruntamen in hoc acquiescent nobis viri, ut habitent nobiscum, ut sint populus unus, quando circumcisus erit in nobis omnis masculus, quemadmodum ipsi sunt circumcisi.

23. Shall not their cattle and their substance and every beast of theirs be ours? only let us consent unto them, and they will dwell with us.

23. Greges eorum, et substantia eorum et omnia jumenta eorum, nonne nostra erunt? tantum acquiescamus eis, et habitabunt nobiscum.

24. And unto Hamor and unto Shechem his son hearkened all that went out of the gate of his city; and every male was circumcised, all that went out of the gate of his city.

24. Et assensi sunt Hamor et Sechem filio ejus, omnes qui egrediebantur per portam civitatis ejus: et circumciderunt se omnis masculus, omnes egredientes per portam civitatis ejus.

25. And it came to pass on the third day, when they were sore, that two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brethren, took each man his sword, and came upon the city boldly, and slew all the males.

25. Et fuit in die tertia, quum essent ipsi dolore affecti, acceperunt duo filii Iahacob Simhon et Levi fratres Dinah, quisque gladium suum, et venerunt ad civitatem confidenter, et occiderunt omnem masculum.

26. And they slew Hamor and Shechem his son with the edge of the sword, and took Dinah out of Shechem’s house, and went out.

26. Et Hamor et Sechem filium ejus occiderunt acie gladii, et tulerunt Dinah e domo Sechem et egressi sunt.

27. The sons of Jacob came upon the slain, and spoiled the city, because they had defiled their sister.

27. Filii Iahacob progressi sunt super occisos, et praedati sunt urbem, quia violaverant sororem suam.

28. They took their sheep, and their oxen, and their asses, and that which was in the city, and that which was in the field,

28. Pecudes eorum, et boves eorum, et asinos eorum, et quae erant in urbe, et quae in agro, acceperunt.

29. And all their wealth, and all their little ones, and their wives took they captive, and spoiled even all that was in the house.

29. Et omnem substantiam eorum, et omnes parvulos eorum, et uxores eorum captivas duxerunt, et praedati sunt omnia, quae erant in domo.

30. And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, Ye have troubled me to make me to stink among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites: and I being few in number, they shall gather themselves together against me, and slay me; and I shall be destroyed, I and my house.

30. Et dixit Iahacob ad Simhon et ad Levi, Turbastis me, ut foetere feceritis me habitatoribus terrae, Chenanaeo, et Perizaeo: et ego paucos mecum habeo, et congregabunt se adversum me, et percutient me, et disperdar ego, et domus mea.

31. And they said, Should he deal with our sister as with an harlot?

31. At dixerunt, Numquid ut cum meretrice aget cum sorore nostra?