Shechem's Love for Dinah Teaches How God Loves Israel

Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Vayishlach 20:2

Curated by Arthur·Translated by Maggid (Beta)·

It is written concerning Israel (in Deut. 7:7): THE LORD DESIRED YOU AND CHOSE YOU. And it is written (in Gen. 34:3): AND HE LOVED THE MAIDEN. Now you do not know what that love was; rather, from the fact that he gave his soul over her, you know what the love was. The Holy One, who said to Israel (in Mal. 1:2): I HAVE LOVED YOU, how much the more so! THE LORD DESIRED YOU (Deut. 7:7), and you do not know what this is; rather, we learn it from Shechem, as it is said (in Gen. 34:8): THE SOUL OF MY SON SHECHEM LONGS FOR YOUR DAUGHTER. R. Abbahu said: We learn it from putrid secretion. It is written concerning Shechem (in Gen. 34:3): AND HIS SOUL CLUNG TO DINAH THE DAUGHTER OF JACOB; and it is written concerning Israel (in Deut. 4:4): BUT YOU WHO CLING TO THE LORD YOUR GOD ARE ALL ALIVE THIS DAY.

Themes

LoveWomenSoulWarAdam Eve

Biblical References

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