Today we will delve into a tragic account of a young woman wanting to explore what the world had to offer. Being the only girl in a house full of brothers, she seeks to find out what the rest of the world is like. Matthew Henry states it like this; “Her pretense was to see the daughters of the land, to see how they dressed, and how they danced, and what was fashionable among them. She went to see, yet that was not all, she went to be seen too; she went to see the daughters of the land, but, it may be, with some thoughts of the sons of the land too. I doubt she went to get an acquaintance with those Canaanites and to learn their way. Note, the pride and vanity of young people betray them into many snares.”
Genesis 34:1 “And Dinah the daughter of Leah, which she bare unto Jacob, went out to see the daughters of the land.”
This young woman met the Prince of Shechem. She was charmed by him, as he was by her. History places her at the age between 12 and 16 when this happened. When she went to his chambers with him I’m sure this young maiden did not intend for things to get out of hand, but they did. In Genesis 34:2, we find the statement “He took her” the word took, implies there was some force. Although she may have resisted his advances, resistance was futile, she was seduced, and her virginity lost. The shame and reproach would be on her and her family.
Her parents must have believed in divine justice because her name means “justice” or “one who judges.” This proved to be true as the tragedy unfolds. The father of the prince, Hamor, came to talk to Jacob. Shechem truly wanted to marry Dinah and they offered the proper dowry. They wanted to have a bond between the two families. God never intended those who are worshiping him to link up with those who are worshiping idols. All throughout the Bible, there is a command to be separated.
II Corinthians 6:14 “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?”
The historian Josephus tells us that this was the time of year for the Canaanite annual festival of nature worship and this was where Dinah went. This association was totally forbidden for an Israelite.
When her brothers heard of the defilement of their sister they were very angry and grieved.
Genesis 34:7 “And the sons of Jacob came out of the field when they heard it: and the men were grieved, and they were very wroth, because he had wrought folly in Israel in lying with Jacob’s daughter; which thing ought not to be done.”
When Shechem and his father Hamor, asks Jacob what was necessary for a marriage to take place? The brothers said we cannot give our sister to one that is uncircumcised. King Hamor agreed to all the males being circumcised. Little did he know that he was being set up for complete annihilation. The request was that all the male Shechemites submit to the rite of circumcision to satisfy Jacob and his sons. On the third day when the pain would have been the greatest, and movement would be difficult, Simeon and Levi attacked and killed all the males including the young Prince Shechem.
Because they took matters into their own hands Simeon and Levi both received a curse instead of a blessing from Jacob on his deathbed.
There are always consequences to our acts of disobedience. It was wrong for Shechem to take advantage of Dinah, but it was also wrong for her to put herself in the situation and mix with those that were worshipers of false gods.
She would be partly responsible for the shame brought to her family. and the death of those killed as vengeance for Shechem’s actions. Jacob is also partly to blame as he settled near Shechem and begin to be friendly with those who were idol worshipers. Jacob’s family had surrendered their strange gods and purified themselves at Bethel. Jacob should never have placed the temptation of false gods near his family.
How often do Christians today compromise their relationship with God because they are captivated by the glamor of the world? How many young men and women have left home like the prodigal son to see the offerings in the world, to find out that it’s not what it seems.
Our mission is to love, teach, and train our children, to not be lured into the traps of the world. Daddy’s, love on your daughters and make them your princess. Give them the attention they need so they will not seek it elsewhere. Discipline your children and train them to understand that ultimately, they will answer to God.
To those who have already fallen, we are to pick them up and restore them. Love them with God’s love and teach them God’s ways. Pray for those who have gone astray that they would come back. May we always pray for those who are seeking to honor God, that they would be sheltered from the evil one. We are also to seek out those who have never been saved so that they can experience the love of Christ.
