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Text: Genesis 34: 20-24

MEDITATION

Genesis 34:20-24

20 And Hamor and Shechem his son came to the gate of their city, and spoke with the men of their city, saying:
21 “These men are at peace with us. Therefore let them dwell in the land and trade in it. For indeed the land is large enough for them. Let us take their daughters to us as wives, and let us give them our daughters.
22 Only on this condition will the men consent to dwell with us, to be one people: if every male among us is circumcised as they are circumcised.
23 Will not their livestock, their property, and every animal of theirs be ours? Only let us consent to them, and they will dwell with us.”
24 And all who went out of the gate of his city heeded Hamor and Shechem his son; every male was circumcised, all who went out of the gate of his city.

MEANINGFUL APPLICATION TO LIFE

1. The word of Hamor and Shechem

a. They addressed those who lived in the city of Shechem.

b. They were out to convince everyone to consider their proposal.

2. Important comments

a. The land of Canaan was large enough:

i. For the Hivites.

ii. For Jacob and his family.

b. The family of Jacob

i. They were peaceful people (not warlike, compared to other tribes).

ii. Trade agreements could be further extended.

c. The possibility of being “one people”:

i. Through marriage.

ii. Shechem would stand to gain if there was inter-marriage.
Hamor and Shechem felt that they would not lose out in any way.

d. The condition of circumcision

i. This was the condition stipulated (by the sons of Jacob..

ii. Without this being fulfilled, they could never become “one people”.

The words of Hamor and Shechem were accepted. The men were circumcised!

经文：创世记 34：20-24

沉思

《创世记 34：20-24》
20 哈抹和他儿子示剑到本城的门口，对本城的人说：
21“这些人与我们和睦，不如许他们在这地居住、做买卖。这地也宽阔，足可容下他们。我们可以娶他们的女儿为妻，也可以把我们的女儿嫁给他们。
22 唯有一件事我们必须做，他们才肯应允和我们同住，成为一样的人民，就是我们中间所有的男丁都要受割礼，和他们一样。
23 他们的群畜、货财和一切的牲口岂不都归我们吗？只要依从他们，他们就与我们同住。”

24 凡从城门出入的人就都听从哈抹和他儿子示剑的话，于是凡从城门出入的男丁都受了割礼。

在生活里有意义地应用

1. 哈抹和示剑的话

a. 他们对示剑城里的人说话

b. 他们尽力想要说服所有人接受他们所建议的

2. 重要评论

a. 迦南地够宽阔，能容下

i. 希未人

ii. 雅各与家人

b. 雅各一家

i. 他们是爱和平的（和其他支派相比，雅各一家并不好战）

ii. 若与他们同住，贸易协定也能进一步扩展

c. 能探索与他们成为“一样的人民”的可能性

i. 通过婚姻

ii. 若彼此结亲，示剑将得益处

哈抹和示剑认为他们并不会有任何损失

d. 受割礼是件他们必做的事

i. 这是雅各的儿子们所规定的条件

ii. 除非能实现，否则他们将不能成为“一样的人民”

哈抹和示剑的话得到了认同。城里的男丁都受了割礼！