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.
Being unable to punish the delinquent, and not knowing what to do, he waits for his sons coming and advice.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
5. Jacob held his peaceJacob,as a father and a good man, must have been deeply distressed. But hecould do little. In the case of a family by different wives, it isnot the father, but the full brothers, on whom the protection of thedaughters devolvesthey are the guardians of a sister’s welfare andthe avengers of her wrongs. It was for this reason that Simeon andLevi, the two brothers of Dinah by Leah [Ge34:25], appear the chief actors in this episode; and though thetwo fathers would have probably brought about an amicable arrangementof the affair, the hasty arrival of these enraged brothers introduceda new element into the negotiations.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And Jacob heard that he had defiled Dinah his daughter,…. That is, that Shechem had defiled her; the report of this was brought him very probably by one of the maids which attended her to the city; for it was hardly to be thought that she should go thither alone, and which must be very distressing to Jacob to hear of: this was his first affliction in his own family, but it was not the only one, nor the last, others quickly followed:
now his sons were with his cattle in the field; he had bought, or in some other hired by him for his cattle, feeding and keeping them, being arrived to an age fit for such service; here they were when the above report was brought to Jacob:
and Jacob held his peace until they were come; neither murmuring at the providence, but patiently bearing the chastisement; nor reflecting upon Leah for letting Dinah go out, or not keeping a proper watch over her; nor saying anything of it to any in the family; nor expressing his displeasure at Shechem, nor vowing revenge on him for it, nor taking any step towards it until his sons were come home from the field; with whom he chose to advise, and whose assistance he would want, if it was judged necessary to use force to get Dinah out of the hands of Shechem, or to avenge the injury done her.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
When Jacob heard of the seduction of his daughter, “ he was silent, ” i.e., he remained quiet, without taking any active proceedings (ex. Gen 14:14; 2Sa 19:11) until his sons came from the field. When they heard of it, they were grieved and burned with wrath at the disgrace. to defile = to dishonour, disgrace, because it was an uncircumcised man who had seduced her. “ Because he had wrought folly in Israel, by lying with Jacob’s daughter.” “To work folly” was a standing phrase for crimes against the honour and calling of Israel as the people of God, especially for shameful sins of the flesh (Deu 22:21; Jdg 20:10; 2Sa 13:2, etc.); but it was also applied to other great sins (Jos 7:15). As Jacob had become Israel, the seduction of his daughter was a crime against Israel, which is called folly, inasmuch as the relation of Israel to God was thereby ignored (Psa 14:1). “ And this ought not to be done: ” potentialis as in Gen 20:9. – Hamor went to Jacob to ask for his daughter (Gen 34:6); but Jacob’s sons reached home at the same time (Gen 34:7), so that Hamor spoke to them (Jacob and his sons). To attain his object Hamor proposed a further intermarriage, unrestricted movement on their part in the land, and that they should dwell there, trade ( ), and secure possessions ( settle down securely, as in Gen 47:27). Shechem also offered (Gen 34:11, Gen 34:12) to give anything they might ask in the form of dowry ( not purchase-money, but the usual gift made to the bride, vid., Gen 24:53) and presents (for the brothers and mother), if they would only give him the damsel.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
5. And Jacob heard. Moses inserts a single verse concerning the silent sorrow of Jacob. We know that they who have not been accustomed to reproaches, are the more grievously affected when any dishonor happens to them. Therefore the more this prudent man had endeavored to keep his family pure from every stain, chaste and well-ordered, the more deeply is he wounded. But since he is at home alone, he dissembles, and keeps his grief to himself, till his sons return from the field. Moreover, by this word, Moses does not mean that Jacob deferred vengeance till their return; but that, being alone and devoid of counsel and of consolation, he lay prostrate as one disheartened. The sense then is, that he was so oppressed with insupportable grief, that he held his peace. (118) By using the word “defiled,” Moses teaches us what is the true purity of man; namely, when chastity is religiously cultivated, and every one possesses his vessel in honor. But whoever prostitutes his body to fornication, filthily defiles himself. If then Dinah is said to have been polluted, whom Shechem had forcibly violated, what must be said of voluntary adulterers and fornicators?
(118) Or, he might be restrained by prudence from imparting his feelings to others, lest by making them public, he should expose himself to danger, before he was prepared to meet it. At all events, it was wise to restrain the expression of his indignation, till he was surrounded by those who might help him with their counsel, or attempt the rescue of his daughter from the hands of her violator. — Ed.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(5) Jacob heard.As Dinah did not return home (Gen. 34:26), her father probably learned her dishonour from the maidservants who had gone out with her. But he held his peace, chiefly from his usual cautiousness, as being no match for the Hivites, but partly because Leahs sons had the right to be the upholders of their sisters honour.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Psa 39:1-2 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Gen 34:5 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.
Ver. 5. And Jacob heard. ] To his very great grief and regret: for she was his only daughter; a damsel of not more than fifteen years of age. The Hebrews say she was afterwards given to Job in marriage; but that is not likely; for she is reckoned anong those that went down to Egypt. Gen 46:15
And Jacob held his peace.
a Macrob., lib. i., in Som. Scip .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
now his: Gen 30:35, Gen 37:13, Gen 37:14, 1Sa 10:27, 1Sa 16:11, 1Sa 17:15, 2Sa 13:22, Luk 15:25, Luk 15:29
held: Lev 10:3, Psa 39:9
Reciprocal: Gen 46:34 – Thy servants’
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Gen 34:5. His (Jacobs) sons were in the field Probably at a very considerable distance; for it was usual to drive their flocks many miles for pasture. Jacob held his peace till they were come Oppressed with grief and shame, on account of his daughters disgrace, and being unable to determine himself what steps it would be best to take, he waits for their coming and advice.