My lord knows that the children are tender (Gen. 33:13)
Why did Jacob make a point of mentioning the children in response to Esau's invitation to join him? Because being in Esau's proximity was much more of a threat to his impressionable children than it was to himself. Unpleasant as it might have been for him, maintaining his children's spiritual purity was his number one priority. (Rabbi Yehoshua Rokeach of Belz)
Because he had wrought a vile deed in Israel...that ought not to be done (Gen. 34:7)
There are certain crimes for which the punishment involves inflicting the same offense against the criminal who committed them. For example, if a person steals, he must make monetary restitution; if he commits murder, he is subject to capital punishment. The "vile deed" that was committed against Dina, however, was not in this category, and can never be humanly rectified in this manner. (Kanfei Yesharim)
Reprinted from the Parshat Vayishlach 5761/2000 edition of L’Chaim.
