Dinah - Genesis 34

 

Genesis 34 - Dinah

 

Dinah was the youngest of Leah’s children.  She had six older brothers born of Leah, two of which were Simeon and Levi.  Later, God makes a promise to Moses that when the Israelites claim back the land of Canaan He will rid the land of the Hivites, Jebusites, Amorite and Perizzites.  Exodus 3:17. In the days of Jacob they were told not to marry into these nationalities.  Nor were they to give their daughters into marriages with them.  Shechem was a Hittite who lusted after Dinah.  Shechem first “lay with” Dinah and violated her, then claimed to love her and want to marry her.  While his love for her may have been genuine, his actions were inexcusable.  He said he wanted to marry Dinah, but he had already done evil.  A young man may think he is in love, but to force a woman to have sex with him, violates and abuses her.  This does not show love at all.  For Shechem, his act resulted in death and destruction for an entire city.  The consequences of such abuse, no matter how one tries to justify it, are far reaching and destructive.

Dinah’s brothers were incredibly angry with Shechem and deceitfully told Shechem and his dad Hamor, that the only way the marriage could work is if all the men got circumcised.  So, in agreement, all the men got circumcised.  On the third day when their pain was at the highest and their strength gone, Levi and Simeon killed all the Hittite men.  They rescued Dinah while the rest of the brothers took their sheep, oxen, and their donkeys.  They captured all the women and children.  They completely plundered all the city and houses. Jacob rebuked Levi and Simeon because now he feared that the Canaanites and Perizzites would take revenge on them for their actions.  His sons, however, felt justified since their sister was defiled.  Had Jacob and his sons consulted God with the matter he might have told them to take Dinah and leave the land.  As it is, because of their actions they had to leave to save their lives. 

Some sins, if not handled properly can end up in destruction to ourselves whether it be imprisonment or death.  Those who commit grievous crimes, unless they repent and change their ways, will face the final judgment of hell.

 

 

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J. Vernon McGee commentary, James Coffman Commentary, NKJ version.