Genesis Chapter 34

Dinah ‘Avenged’

34:1

Dinah would have been in her teens by this time. Jacob and his family would have lived in Succoth and Shechem almost ten years. Dinah’s older brothers would also have been in their 20’s by this time. Keep in mind that Dinah went out to visit and meet the other girls of the land. Yet she went ‘unattended’, meaning without anyone else with her. This was a risky thing to do in a foreign land with so much violence and immorality.

34:2-3

The language is too polite in the translation. Shechem forced himself on Dinah and raped her. The speaking ‘kindly’ to Dinah, meant he was trying to convince her to stay with him. Yet rape is always an act of violence. Dinah was no doubt shamed, hurt, traumatized and grief stricken over the rape. In their culture, Dinah, being debased in this horrible way, now had no chance of ever being considered to be worthy of a valid marriage. Marriage was the hope of every young woman for a meaningful life. Not to be able to ever marry was a horrible situation for Dinah. What an important lesson for us; we should never deliberately or carelessly allow ourselves to be in an area, or situation, where our morality, or even our lives, might be in jeopardy. After studying this lesson carefully, we are now locking our doors when we leave our home. Consider any area of your life that might be ‘at risk’ of being compromised or attacked by those who are evil. God protects us, yet we must do our part to stay safe.

34:3-5

Shechem actually demanded that his father, Hamor, do whatever was necessary to get ‘this damsel’ for him as his wife. Notice that he does not even do her the honor of using her name. (5.). Jacob “heard”, meant that Dinah had no doubt come back home crying and wailing, telling her family that she had been attacked, raped and defiled. Jacob does nothing, but holds his peace, waiting for his sons, Dinah’s brothers, to come in from the field.

34:6-7

Hamor now comes to Jacob to talk with him regarding obtaining Dinah for his son. It appears that about the same time, Dinah’s brothers come in from working in the fields and they are told of the atrocity done to their sister. They were very distressed, grieved and very angry about what Schechem had done to their beloved sister, Dinah. This was a vile thing that was done, not just to Dinah, but was an insult and hurt to the entire tribe of Israel, violating their deeply held moral beliefs. Purity on the part of the woman was crucial to her very identity!

34:8

Hamor brazenly asks that the brothers, and presumably Jacob, allow him to take Dinah back with him for a wife for Shechem. We are not told that Jacob says anything! As the head of the family, he should be the one dealing with Hamor. It could be that Jacob suddenly realizes his mistake in settling so close to these immoral pagans and realizes he has put all of them in danger. He is probably grieved and terribly distressed over the horrible defilement of his dear daughter. Yet he needs to take a strong lead in the discussions, yet he appears to be silent.

34:9-12

Now Hamor becomes even more bold and brazen in suggesting that they intermarry with one another. This is totally unacceptable! They know that the people of the land are wicked, immoral idol worshipers, and they are NEVER to become involved with them! Hamor tries to convince them that they can make money and become wealthy by living among them in the land. Now Shechem boldly states that he will give or do anything to obtain their sister.

34:13-17

No doubt the brothers conferred among themselves before responding to Hamor and Shechem. Whatever the reasons, we are not told that Jacob says or does anything regarding the negotiations. Instead of taking the lead, he seems to have abdicated his responsibility as Dinah’s father to her hot-headed, angry brothers. Deceit comes into their minds. No doubt revenge is also in their minds. They tell him, Shechem, that he has defiled their sister. Then they go on to say that they cannot give their sister to one who is uncircumcised, for that is a terrible reproach to all of them. “But…” Now we see the sinister deceitful plot to exact revenge on Shechem, Hamor and his entire tribe. The brothers demand that every male be circumcised; then they claim they will give their daughters to them and take their daughters as wives; thereby becoming one people. This is a blatant lie, as they cannot intermarry with unbelievers; wicked immoral idol worshipers were to be avoided and not allowed to become part of their tribe. Now we see another “But..” If they refuse to become circumcised, then they will take Dinah and they will all leave their land.

34:18-19

Hamor and Shechem are deceived into thinking this will be an easy trade-off, as we are told their words ‘pleased’ them. They don’t have to give up any of their wealth, just agree to the circumcision for all the males in their tribe. We are told that Shechem was the ‘most honorable’ among his father’s house. So we can imagine how wicked the rest of them were if this rapist was the ‘most honorable’!

34:20-22

Hamor and Shechem then go back into their city. The phrase “At the gate” means they held a meeting with all the men of their city. Hamor and Shechem then convince all the men of their city that the Israelites are ‘peaceable’ men, and that they should allow them to live in their land, as they will then be able to obtain their daughters for wives, and we can give them our daughters. All we have to do is agree to be circumcised, just as they are circumcised. Then we can be ‘one’ people with them. The implication is ‘this is no big deal’.

34:23-24

Now their greed is revealed. They see how rich and successful these Israelites are and they want not only their beautiful healthy women, but they want their cattle, herds, wealth, and material goods. They say if we agree to join up with them, then all this wealth will be ours! All the men agree with Hamor and Shechem; and all of them come out of the meeting and are circumcised.

34:25-26

On the third day, when the pain of the circumcision is incapacitating, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brothers, exact their revenge by taking their swords and boldly kill all the males of the city; including Hamor and Shechem, and take their sister Dinah out of Shechem’s house back to their camp.

34:27-29

Now the sons of Jacob all come back into the city ‘spoiling it’ by taking all their wealth, sheep, oxen, asses and all that was in the city. They also take all their women and children captives, as slaves.

34:30

Finally, we hear Jacob speak. He rightly tells them they have done a terrible thing, and that all the peoples of the land will hear of the massacre and spoiling of the city. All the Canaanites and Perizzites will gather together to go against Jacob and all his household and tribe. Jacob fears all of them will be destroyed by the people of the land when they hear of this vicious revenge.

34:31

Their only response, and ‘excuse’ for their actions is that he ‘deserved’ it because he treated their sister as a harlot! Revenge is NEVER good. God clearly tells us we are never to seek revenge for any evil that is done. See Leviticus 19:18, Deuteronomy 32:35, and Romans 12:19-21. We are certainly to seek TRUTH and JUSTICE, but never revenge. ‘Getting even’ is always revenge. God tells us we are not to even consider it. Why not? Only God has a ‘right’ to exact vengeance! God clearly tells us to love our enemies. See Matthew 5:38-46. This certainly does not mean that we ignore evil, nor allow people to harm us or others, but we must seek to learn to forgive, yet always seek Righteousness and Justice.