Daily Chumash & Rashi Parshas Vayishlach Chamishi – Dina is kidnapped and violated

Post Views: 882

*The article below is an excerpt from the above Sefer

*As an Amazon Associate I earn from  qualifying purchases.

Donate
Buy in Paperback or Kindle
Buy on Apple Books
Purchase on our website
Sign up for Daily Distribution

Chamishi

  1. Dina is kidnapped and raped:
  • Dina, the daughter of Leah, came out to see the daughters of Shechem. Shechem, the son of Chamor, the president of the land, saw her. He took her, lay with her, violated her and oppressed her. His soul became attached to Dina. He loved her and spoke to her heart. Shechem requested from his father that he arrange that Dina be given to him as a wife.
  • Yaakov and his sons hear the news: Yaakov heard that Dina was defiled. He did not say anything until his sons returned from the field. Chamor, the father of Shechem, met with Yaakov. The brothers were very angry when they heard what happened.
  • The negotiations and agreements with Chamor: Chamor offered that if they give Dina to his son Shechem as a wife, he will let them take their daughters for them as wives and they would be able to live freely on the land. Shechem also pleaded with Yaakov and his sons to be given Dina as a wife, and in exchange he will give whatever dowry he is asked. The children of Yaakov connivingly answered Shechem and Chamor that they can only agree to the marriage if all the males of the land circumcise themselves. Chamor, and Shechem agreed to the terms, and the circumcision took place right away.
  • The circumcision of Shechem: Chamor and Shechem convinced the city inhabitants to circumcise themselves, under the argument that doing so will allow them to unify with Yaakov and do commerce with them.
  • The city is annihilated and ransacked: On the third day after the circumcision, when the inhabitants were in great pain, Shimon and Levi came and killed all the male inhabitants of the city. They killed Chamor and Shechem with the sword and took Dina from the house of Shechem. They took spoils from the city. They took the cattle, all their wives and children, and all that was in their homes.
  • Yaakov’s reaction: Yaakov confronted Shimon and Levi for murdering the city inhabitants, arguing that it will cause the surrounding nations to attack them, and wipe them out. The brothers replied, “Can we allow our sister to be like a harlot.”

 

  1. Yaakov returns to Beis-El:
  • Building an altar: Hashem came to Yaakov and told him to return to Beis-El and build an altar in commemoration of running away from Eisav his brother.
  • Idol cleansing: Yaakov commanded his family to get rid of all the idols that are amongst them, and to change their clothing. Yaakov took all the idols, and earrings and buried them under the tree, near Shechem.
  • They traveled, and all the cities feared them and did not begin a war with them.
  • Yaakov arrived in Luz, which is Beis El, and built the altar.
  • Devora dies: Devorah, the nurse of Rivka, passed away, and was buried beneath the mountain of Beis El which Yaakov named Alon Bachus.
  • Yaakov is blessed: Hashem appeared again to Yaakov and blessed him. Hashem told Yaakov that his name will no longer be Yaakov, but Yisrael. Yaakov was promised that a great nation would come forth from him.

Bereshit 34 – Rashi Q&A

Dinah and Shechem

  1. Why is Dinah called “the daughter of Leah” and not “the daughter of Jacob”?
    Because her going out resembled Leah’s nature—“like mother, like daughter.”

 

  1. What does “וַיִּשְׁכַּב אֹתָהּ” mean?
    He slept with her in the usual manner.

 

  1. What does “וַיְעַנֶּהָ” mean?
    He abused her by lying with her in an unusual manner.

 

  1. What does “עַל־לֵב הַנַּעֲרָה” mean?
    He spoke words to win her heart, promising wealth and status.

 

  1. Why does the Torah say “וְכֵן לֹא יֵעָשֶׂה”?
    Because even nations refrained from immorality after the Flood—this act was socially taboo.

 

Negotiations and Deception

  1. What does “בְּמִרְמָה” mean?
    Astutely—Rashi clarifies it was justified because Shechem had defiled Dinah.

 

  1. What does “חֶרְפָּה” mean in “חֶרְפָּה הִוא לָנוּ”?
    A disgrace—uncircumcision was considered an insult.

 

  1. What does “נֵאוֹת לָכֶם” mean?
    “We will agree”—same root as “וַיֵּאֹתוּ” (they agreed).

 

  1. Why is “לְהִמּוֹל” in passive form?
    It means “to be circumcised,” not “to circumcise.”

 

  1. Why did Chamor reverse the order when speaking to his people?
    To persuade them—he promised they would take Jacob’s daughters first.

 

Massacre and Aftermath

  1. Why are Simeon and Levi called “Dinah’s brothers”?
    Because they risked their lives for her.

 

  1. What does “בֶּטַח” mean?
    Confidently—because the men were in pain; Midrash adds: confident in Jacob’s merit.

 

  1. What does “עֲכַרְתֶּם” mean?
    “You have clouded my peace of mind”—like murky water.

 

  1. What does “הַכְזוֹנָה” mean?
    “As if she were abandoned”—treated like a harlot.

 

Bereshit 35 – Rashi Q&A

Return to Bethel

  1. Why did God say “Arise, go up to Bethel”?
    Because Jacob delayed fulfilling his vow, he was punished through Dinah’s ordeal.

 

  1. What does “הַנֵּכָר” mean?
    The idols taken from Shechem’s spoil.

 

  1. Why did Jacob say “Purify yourselves and change your clothes”?
    To remove idolatry and garments associated with it.
  2. What is “הָאֵלָה” where Jacob buried the idols?
    A terebinth—a non-fruit-bearing tree.

 

  1. What does “חִתַּת אֱלֹהִים” mean?
    The dread of God fell on surrounding cities, preventing pursuit.

 

Blessing and Name Change

  1. Why did God appear “again” to Jacob?
    To bless him a second time at Bethel—once when leaving, now on return.

 

  1. Why was Jacob’s name changed to Israel?
    To signify nobility (שַׂר) and leadership, not deceit (עָקְבָה).

 

  1. What does “אֲנִי אֵל שַׁדַּי” mean?
    “I am God Almighty”—fit to bless because power to bless is Mine.

 

  1. Why does God say “Be fruitful and increase”?
    Benjamin was not yet born; Rachel was pregnant with him.

 

  1. What does “גּוֹי וּקְהַל גּוֹיִם” mean?
    One nation = Benjamin; community of nations = Ephraim and Manasseh.

 

  1. What does “וּמְלָכִים” refer to?
    Kings from Benjamin—Saul and Ishboshet.

About The Author

Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein is a 6th generation descendent of the famous Chief Rabbi of Izhmir, Rav Yehoshua Avraham Krispin, who authored a number of Sefarim, and was a colleague of Rav Chaim Falagi, and father in-law of the Pesach Hadvir. He currently lives with his wife Shayna, and twelve children K”H, in Tzfas, Israel. Rabbi Goldstein received Semicha from Rabbi Schneur Zalman Labkowski of the Tomchei Temimim headquarters in 2005 and served as a chaplain in the Lotar/Kalatz and K9 unit of the IDF from years 2005-2008. He is also a certified Shochet, and has performed Hashgacha work in slaughterhouses. Rabbi Goldstein is the director of Shulchanaruchharav.com, the world’s leading web-based Halacha database, and is the director of the Home Study Semicha Program, a self-study web-based Semicha program. He is a prolific author of over 50 Sefarim studied by a wide range of readers throughout the world, which is used regularly in Semicha programs around the globe. He is a world renowned Posek, answering questions to a web-based market, and serves as a local Posek, Rav, and Lecturer, in the Tzemach Tzedek community Shul in Tzefas, Israel. His many classes can be heard both from his website, Vimeo and YouTube channel. Students can join live to classes given in the Tzemach Tzedek Shul, through the “בית חבד צפת Chabad Tsfat” YouTube channel.

Leave A Comment?

You must be logged in to post a comment.