Genesis 34:1-31

DINAH IN SHECHEM

Keywords 34:23

Won't their livestock, their property and all their other animals become ours? So let us give our consent to them, and they will settle among us."

 

1. Dinah was dishonored (1-12)

Jacob was not careful to protect Dinah around a dangerous neighbor. Shechem,

son of the ruler easily dishonored the covenant people by raping Dinah, the

daughter of Leah. He had no guilt, no apologies. He thought the marriage could

be arranged by the bride-price. Hamor, Shechem’s father further tempted Jacob

even to intermarry between two peoples by settling down in Sukkoth. That might

cause Jacob to assimilate into the Canaanite culture. God’s redemptive history

was in danger.

 

2. Simeon and Levi killed all the males (13-31)

Simeon, Levi and Dinah’s brothers deceived Shechem to circumcise their

men and then they attacked and killed all the males and took women and their

properties as spoils. This was excessive. Jacob feared of being destroyed by

neighboring forces. Why did all these tragedies happen? It was because Jacob

broke his vows to God to come back to Bethel (28:20-22). Instead, he chose

Sukkoth to live according to his own convenience. Behind all these incidents God

was leading Jacob to keep his covenant to remain in redemptive history.

 

Prayer Lord, life on earth can be like Dinah’s tragic story when we don’t live

before God. Help us live to keep up with the word of God. Thank God for

the painful love to return us to live as a covenant people.

One Word Live up to the word of God!