SABBATH THOUGHTS FOR YOUR WEEK

Dinah and Her Brothers

She was just a teenage girl when her family moved into Shechem. Like most teenagers, she wanted fellowship with other girls, so Dinah, the 7^{th and final child of Leah and only daughter of Jacob, went out to see the “daughters of the land.” When Shechem the prince saw her, he took hold of her and had forced sexual relations with her (Gen. 34:1-2). She was probably between the ages of 13 and 16 at this time. He “defiled her” which meant dishonored here, disgraced her, treated her dishonorably.}

But following this Shechem fell in love with her and wanted to marry her. Maybe after his passions were spent and under control, he was able to see her for the beautiful and good young girl that she was. He spoke kindly to her and, perhaps, tried to apologize for hurting her. He asked his father to get Dinah for him as a wife. This meant making arrangements with her father.

Jacob heard what had happened to Dinah, but did or said nothing until his sons came in from working (v. 5). Hamor, Shechem’s father, went to bargain with Jacob but it was Jacob’s sons who were grieved and upset because Shechem did “folly” which meant a shameful, vile and senseless act (Deut. 22:21; Judges 20:10; Josh. 7:13). They said it was a “thing that ought not to be done” (34:7).

Hamor and his son offered to give whatever they asked for Dinah. But it was Jacob’s sons who answered with “deceit” (v. 13). They rightly said that it would not be proper to give their sister to people who were not circumcised. They wanted their entire clan circumcised and then, they said with deceit, they would give Dinah to Shechem. But they had not the slightest intention of doing so!

Hamor and his son, Shechem agreed and went to persuade the males of their people to be circumcised and accept Jacob’s clan. But Jacob’s sons had no intention of giving their sister to be Shechem’s wife! It was a dastardly plot with murderous consequences.

Hamor and his son, Shechem, were acting in a sincere manner in this bargain. In fact the first one to volunteer to be circumcised was Shechem because he loved Dinah and because he was “more honorable than all the house of his father” (v. 19). This meant that he was the most respected and others would follow his lead. Then all the men of Shechem agreed to be circumcised.

But on the third day when the were sore, Simeon and Levi (probably with their servants) came into their village and slew all the males including Hamor and Shechem. The took Dinah out of there and put an end to any thoughts she might have had of marrying Shechem who wanted to marry Dinah. Then all the brothers came in and took all the livestock, all the possessions, including the women and children (v. 26-29). Jacob was upset because he was afraid they would provoke the other tribes in the land and they would come and kill him and his clan (v.30-31). But his sons replied, “Should he have treated our sister like a harlot?”

Years later this deed was not forgotten. They used circumcision, the sign of the covenant, to deceive and kill these people. This act of utter cruelty was not forgotten. When the inheritances for the tribes were given, they were given no land inheritance in Israel (Gen.49: 5 -7). In fact Jacob tried to distance himself from them the their actions. “Simeon and Levi are brothers; their swords are implements of violence. Let my soul not enter into their council; let not my glory be united with their assembly” (49:5-6). Jacob cursed their anger and their wrath (49:7).

Simeon was a tribe dispersed in Southern Judah. Levi is not listed among the tribes of Israel in some lists (Num. 1:5-15; 7:12-83; Josh. 21:4-7). This was a dark chapter in the history of Israel and the sons of Israel.

But God can still use those as instruments even with their weaknesses. The tribe of Levi was chosen to guard the temple Levi’s tendencies to be militaristic were appropriate to guard the tabernacle (Num. 1:53), and to kill the idolaters (Ex. 32:25-29).

There are some powerful lessons in this story. 1) Women need to be honored. No society can function well when its women are not honored and protected. 2) Jacob needed to be the leader. When there is a vacuum of leadership it forces others who might not have the proper balance to step in. 3) People need to act honorably even with those outside God’s chosen community. 4) God can and does use our strengths and ignore weaknesses.