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5. RASHI METHOD: CONTRADICTION
BRIEF EXPLANATION:Rashi resolves contradictory verses using 3 methods.
This examples applies to Rashis Gn34-13a Gn34-13b
URL Reference: (c) http://www.Rashiyomi.com/gn34-13a.htm

We see the contradiction: Which is it? Were Jacob's sons deceitful or did Schem deserve it because he had raped and defiled their daughter / sister?

Rashi resolves this contradiction using the broad-literal method of resolution: Rashi prefers a translation of cunning to deceitful. Rashi translates Gn34-13 as follows: And the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father cunningly, because he had defiled Dinah their sister; and said:

The point here is that the word deceitful has perjorative connotations while the word cunning has laudatory connotations. Therefore the translation deceitful is not accurate since its nuances contradict the fact that the behavior of Jacob's children was morally proper.

Sermonic points: You can ask: "But is it proper to be deceitful in response to an immoral event? Doesn't that close the door on repentance. After all Chamor did rape Dinah? He now wanted to repent and marry her--- what justifies the deceit?"

I actually found a legal answer to this in the Rambam, Laws of Employees, Chapter 9: "An employer has the right to be deceitful to an employee who quits in the middle of a time sensitive job where no replacement is possible. For example, you can promise to pay him more if he finishes the job and then reneg on the promise. Or, you can withold payment of a loan due to him." In a similar manner Jacob's children were morally justified in deceiving a rapist.

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