« | Genesis 34 | » |
1 Dinah, the daughter of Jacob and Leah, went to visit some of the women who lived there.
2 She was seen by Hamor's son Shechem, the leader of the Hivites, and he grabbed her and raped her.
3 But Shechem was attracted to Dinah, so he told her how much he loved her.
4 He even asked his father to get her for his wife.
5 Meanwhile, Jacob heard what had happened. But his sons were out in the fields with the cattle, so he did not do anything at the time.
6 Hamor arrived at Jacob's home
7 just as Jacob's sons were coming in from work. When they learned that their sister had been raped, they became furiously angry. Nothing is more disgraceful than rape, and it should not be tolerated in Israel.
8 Hamor said to Jacob and his sons: My son Shechem really loves Dinah. Please let him marry her.
9 Why don't you start letting your families marry into our families and ours marry into yours?
10 You can share this land with us. Move freely about until you find the property you want; then buy it and settle down here.
11 Shechem added, "Do this favor for me, and I'll give whatever you want.
12 Ask anything, no matter how expensive. I'll do anything, just let me marry Dinah."
13 Jacob's sons wanted to get even with Shechem and his father because of what had happened to their sister.
14 So they tricked them by saying: You're not circumcised! It would be a disgrace for us to let you marry Dinah now.
15 But we will let you marry her, if you and the other men in your tribe get circumcised.
16 Then your families can marry into ours, and ours can marry into yours, and we can live together like one nation.
17 But if you don't agree to get circumcised, we'll take Dinah and leave this place.
18 Hamor and Shechem liked what was said.
19 Shechem was the most respected person in his family, and he was so in love with Dinah that he hurried off to get everything done.
20 The two men met with the other leaders of their city and told them:
21 These people really are friendly. Why not let them move freely about until they find the property they want? There's enough land here for them and for us. Then our families can marry into theirs, and theirs can marry into ours.
22 We have to do only one thing before they will agree to stay here and become one nation with us. Our men will have to be circumcised like their men.
23 Just think! We'll get their property, as well as their flocks and herds. All we have to do is to agree, and they will live here with us.
24 Every grown man followed this advice and got circumcised.
25 Three days later the men who had been circumcised were still weak from pain. So Simeon and Levi, two of Dinah's brothers, attacked with their swords and killed every man in town,
26 including Hamor and Shechem. Then they took Dinah and left.
27 Jacob's other sons came and took everything they wanted. All this was done because of the horrible thing that had happened to their sister.
28 They took sheep, goats, donkeys, and everything else that was in the town or the fields.
29 After taking everything of value from the houses, they dragged away the wives and children of their victims.
30 Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, "Look what you've done! Now I'm in real trouble with the Canaanites and Perizzites who live around here. There aren't many of us, and if they attack, they'll kill everyone in my household."
31 They answered, "Was it right to let our own sister be treated that way?"
The Contemporary English Version (CEV)
The Contemporary English Version (CEV) is a modern Bible translation that aims to make the scriptures accessible and understandable to a broad audience, including children and those with limited English proficiency. Published by the American Bible Society in 1995, the CEV emphasizes clarity, readability, and ease of comprehension. Unlike more literal translations, the CEV uses a thought-for-thought translation philosophy, which focuses on conveying the original meaning of the text in a way that is clear and straightforward for contemporary readers.
One of the key features of the CEV is its use of everyday language and simple sentence structures. The translators avoided theological jargon and archaic terms, instead opting for language that is commonly used in daily conversation. This makes the CEV particularly well-suited for public reading, educational settings, and outreach programs where the audience might not be familiar with traditional biblical language. The translation strives to communicate the essence of the biblical message without the barriers that complex language can sometimes create.
The CEV also pays special attention to cultural sensitivity and inclusivity. The translators sought to avoid expressions and idioms that might be misunderstood or offensive in different cultural contexts. Additionally, the CEV includes gender-neutral language where appropriate, aiming to make the text more inclusive while still remaining faithful to the original manuscripts. This approach helps ensure that Bible teachings are accessible to a diverse global audience, promoting understanding and acceptance across different cultures and communities.
Despite its strengths, the CEV has faced some criticism from those who prefer more literal translations. Critics argue that the CEV emphasises on simplicity and readability which can sometimes result in a loss of nuance and depth found in the original languages. Some theologians and scholars believe that the thought-for-thought approach may oversimplify complex theological concepts. Nevertheless, the Contemporary English Version remains a valuable resource for many readers, offering a clear and approachable rendition of the Bible that is particularly effective for those new to the scriptures or those seeking a more accessible way to engage with the biblical text.