Shechem and Dinah - in the light of non-biblical and biblical sources

The story in Gen 34 tells of sexual relations between Shechem and Dinah and their consequences. We are of the opinion that Dinah was not raped; rather during a festival of the 〉daughters of the land〈 where both were present, Shechem abducted her for the purpose of marriage. The negotiations that followed, between Hamor and Shechem on one side, and Dinah's father and brothers on the other, had no legal significance. They were meant to prevent future conflict between the two sides. Jacob felt he had no choice but to agree to Dinah's marriage to Shechem, on condition that the males of Shechem undergo circumcision. However, Jacob's sons, especially Simon and Levi, did not agree to the marriage and a serious conflict developed between them regarding the appropriate reaction to Shechem's proposal to marry their sister.