The only daughter that the Bible mentions that Jacob
had is Dinah. In chapter 30 we read briefly about her birth (Genesis 30:21).
However, in this chapter she is mentioned again, this time during unfortunate
circumstances…
(Genesis 34:1-2) Now
Dinah the daughter of Leah, whom she had borne to Jacob, went out to see the
women of the land. (2) And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite,
the prince of the land, saw her, he seized her and lay with her and humiliated
her.
Certainly rape is something appalling and a great
offense towards any woman. But we must understand that in the Canaanite culture
it was unobjectionable. I am not saying this to defend Shechem (he has no
excuse), but so that we may understand the context of what was going on. In the
Canaanite culture it was acceptable for men to take the women they liked. They would take them and made them their own,
like cavemen. If the parents did not want their daughters to be taken, they
would protect them and would not allow them to go out by themselves.
The question is: What was Dinah doing all by herself?
And why was she visiting the women of the land? Maybe she felt lonely among so
many male brothers and wanted to meet other girls her own age. But, did her
parents know about this? It is very likely that she left her home without her
parents consent. The Bible does not mention Dinah’s intention; we may only read
between the lines. In any case, we cannot deny that it was highly reproachable
on her part to be by herself in the middle of a strange culture. We may also
wonder where her parents were. Why were they not taking care of her? They were
the responsible adults and they knew how things were within the Cannanite
culture.
This story should be a lesson for us. We must learn
from this experience to take good care of our children, and beware not to
excessively expose them to the world.
HE REQUESTED HER FOR HIS WIFE
As far as Shechem was concerned, there was nothing
wrong with what he did. This is confirmed by what he said after raping the
girl…
(Genesis 34:3-4)
And his soul was drawn to Dinah the daughter of Jacob. He loved the young woman
and spoke tenderly to her. (4) So Shechem spoke to his father Hamor, saying,
"Get me this girl for my wife."
This may have been normal within the Canaanite
culture, but what really surprises us is Jacob’s reaction when he found out
about what happened.
(Genesis 34:5)
Now Jacob heard that he had defiled his daughter Dinah. But his sons were with
his livestock in the field, so Jacob held his peace until they came.
Jacob decided he was not going to do anything about
it. At the time it happened, he may have been alone with the women in his
household, since it is mentioned that his sons were in the field with the
livestock. That is why he decided to wait. This may have taken several days,
since shepherds would sometimes have to travel great distances to feed the
flocks.
During the time he was waiting for his sons to
return, Shechem’s father came to Jacob. He did not come to apologize, in his
eyes nothing wrong had been done. He was coming with a marriage proposal. As
the leader of the people, he saw this proposal as a privilege.
(Genesis 34:6) And
Hamor the father of Shechem went out to Jacob to speak with him.
It is not very clear what the agreement between Jacob
and Hamor was. The Bible takes us directly to the encounter between Hamor and
the sons of Jacob. Someone gave them the news and they returned immediately.
However, the sons of Jacob did not react as passively as their father did. They
were extremely upset and were open about it. Nevertheless, Hamor came out to
meet them and tried to calm them down, declaring to them that his intention was
to honor the girl with a wedding and also to reward Jacob’s family economically
and socially.
(Genesis 34:7-12) The
sons of Jacob had come in from the field as soon as they heard of it, and the
men were indignant and very angry, because he had done an outrageous thing in
Israel by lying with Jacob's daughter, for such a thing must not be done. (8)
But Hamor spoke with them, saying, "The soul of my son Shechem
longs for your daughter. Please give her to him to be his wife. (9)
Make marriages with us. Give your daughters to us, and take our
daughters for yourselves. (10) You shall dwell with us, and the land shall
be open to you. Dwell and trade in it, and get property in it." (11)
Shechem also said to her father and to her brothers, "Let me find
favor in your eyes, and whatever you say to me I will give. (12)
Ask me for as great a bride price and gift as you will, and I will give
whatever you say to me. Only give me the young woman to be my wife."
This is the event that opened the door for Jacob to
buy land, which was not allowed to strangers. By making a “marital allegiance”,
they were considered as part of the family, and were therefore allowed to
purchase land. Even though this may have appeared to be good news, the
circumstances that brought it about were not appropriate… and we will see that
were not a blessing in the end.
DINAH’S BROTHERS REACTION
The sons of Jacob did not have a positive reaction to
what happened to Dinah, especially her brothers: Simeon and Levi (also sons of
Leah). Although they had
"justice" on their side, they lost it when they decided to take
justice into their own hands. At that time, the sons of Jacob got carried away
by the emotion of the moment, and not by the voice of reason or divine wisdom.
They wanted revenge and did not weigh the consequences. With that purpose in
mind, they conjured up a plan to deceive Shechem and his people…
The sons of Jacob came to Shechem with a proposal. Apparently
they were coming with “good will”. They
proposed an allegiance plan, which turned out to be a scheme to revenge. And
they did all this behind Jacob’s back…
(Genesis 34:13-18) The
sons of Jacob answered Shechem and his father Hamor deceitfully, because he had
defiled their sister Dinah. (14) They said to them, "We cannot do this
thing, to give our sister to one who is uncircumcised, for that would be a
disgrace to us. (15) Only on this condition will we agree with
you--that you will become as we are by every male among you being
circumcised. (16) Then we will give our daughters to you, and
we will take your daughters to ourselves, and we will dwell with you and become
one people. (17) But if you will not listen to us and be
circumcised, then we will take our daughter, and we will be gone." (18)
Their words pleased Hamor and Hamor's son Shechem.
This appeared to be a normal offer, since all of the
descendants of Abraham were circumcised. However, the sons of Jacob did not
have a good intention. They did not want to make an alligance with the people
of Shechem. They wanted vengeance.
There is a saying: “There is no greater lie than the
one you want to believe". This was
the problem with the people of Shechem. They wanted to believe this deception.
First of all, Shechem wanted to believe because he was in love with Dinah.
(Genesis 34:19) And
the young man did not delay to do the thing, because he delighted in Jacob's
daughter. Now he was the most honored of all his father's house.
As for the rest of the people, they blindly believed
what his leader said, and it was convenient to believe that Jacob’s riches
would become theirs.
(Genesis 34:20-24) So
Hamor and his son Shechem came to the gate of their city and spoke to the men
of their city, saying, (21) "These men are at peace with us; let
them dwell in the land and trade in it, for behold, the land is large enough
for them. Let us take their daughters as wives, and let us give them our
daughters. (22) Only on this condition will the men agree to
dwell with us to become one people--when every male among us is circumcised as
they are circumcised. (23) Will not their livestock, their property and
all their beasts be ours? Only let us agree with them, and they will dwell with
us." (24) And all who went out of the gate of his city
listened to Hamor and his son Shechem, and every male was circumcised, all who
went out of the gate of his city.
SIMEON AND LEVI’S RETALIATION
On the third day after the men of the people of
Shechem were circumcised, the real intention of the sons of Jacob, specifically
Simeon and Levi, were made evident.
(Genesis 34:25-26) On
the third day, when they were sore, two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi,
Dinah's brothers, took their swords and came against the city while it felt secure
and killed all the males. (26) They killed Hamor and his son Shechem with
the sword and took Dinah out of Shechem's house and went away.
They were not focused only on defending Dinah’s honor,
but also took advantage of the situation and looted the city. They took all
their belongings and enslaved their families.
(Genesis 34:27-29) The
sons of Jacob came upon the slain and plundered the city, because they had
defiled their sister. (28) They took their flocks and their herds, their
donkeys, and whatever was in the city and in the field. (29)
All their wealth, all their little ones and their wives, all that was in
the houses, they captured and plundered.
This is a good example of how negative vengeance can be. At
first it may be considered to be an “act of justice”, but it soon turns evil and
becomes disproportionate. The sons of Jacob began this vendetta with the desire
to revenge, then they got carried away, to the point that they did a greater
evil than the one that was done to them. Revenge does not erase evil; the truth
is that it multiplies it. Evil does not justify evil. In the eyes of God evil
must be overcome with good.
(Romans 12:17-21) Repay
no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of
all. (18) If possible, so far as it depends on you,
live peaceably with all. (19) Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave
it to the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will
repay, says the Lord." (20) To the contrary, "if your enemy is
hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so
doing you will heap burning coals on his head." (21)
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
As far as we are concerned, if we take revenge into
our own hands, God will take away his hands from the situation…
(Proverbs 24:17-20) Do
not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he
stumbles, (18) lest the LORD see it and be displeased, and
turn away his anger from him. (19) Fret not yourself because of evildoers, and
be not envious of the wicked, (20) for the evil man has no future; the lamp of
the wicked will be put out.
The Bible clearly tells us not to take justice into
our own hands. Justice must be left in the hands of the authorities, and when
they fail, in the hands of God. Vengeance must come from God (Hebrews 10:30).
(Proverbs 20:22) Do
not say, "I will repay evil"; wait for the LORD, and he will deliver
you.
JACOB’S REACTION
All this while, Jacob did not know about the plans
his sons were making until they were already executed.
(Genesis 34:30) Then
Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, "You have brought trouble on me by making
me stink to the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites and the Perizzites. My
numbers are few, and if they gather themselves against me and attack me, I
shall be destroyed, both I and my household."
His sons excused themselves saying that it was not
fair that this abuse was left unpunished.
(Genesis 34:31) But
they said, "Should he treat our sister like a prostitute?"
It was certainly unfair for that young man to treat
their sister in such a way. But one act of injustice does not give anyone the “right”
to commit another. They took justice into their own hands… and that is NOT
justice. Rather it is another act of injustice. Jacob understood this
principle.
(1 Thessalonians 5:15) See
that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one
another and to everyone.
(1 Peter 3:9-17) Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but
on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a
blessing. (10) For "Whoever desires to love life and
see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking
deceit; (11) let him turn away from evil and do good; let
him seek peace and pursue it. (12) For the eyes of the Lord are on the
righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is
against those who do evil."
(13) Now who is there to harm you
if you are zealous for what is good?
(14) But even if you should
suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor
be troubled, (15) but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as
holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a
reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, (16)
having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who
revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. (17)
For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will,
than for doing evil.
Simeon and Levi’s “vendetta” did not bring about any good
consequences:
* Jacob was left ashamed, because his word was
invalidated. That is, the word he agreed on with the people of Shechem.
* Revenge brought resulted in destruction, including
that of innocent people.
* Simeon and Levi lost their place of preeminence
among their family.
* The whole family had to relocate, away from that
place.
CHANGES IN THE FAMILY
Part of the curse that came as a result of this act
of vengeance was loosing their leadership in the family. This will become
evident at the time Jacob gives his final blessing to his sons before he dies. However,
in this chapter, we begin to see how they begin to lose their leadership rights
in the family.
To better explain this, we will move ahead to an event
that is described in the following chapter: Ruben looses his birthright after
committing a grave sin against his father.
(Genesis 35:22) While
Israel Israel
Ruben was Jacob’s eldest son. However, he lost his
birthright because of this sin that dishonored his father:
(Genesis 49:3-4) Reuben,
you are my firstborn, my might, and the firstfruits of my strength, preeminent
in dignity and preeminent in power.
(4) Unstable as water, you shall
not have preeminence, because you went up to your father's bed; then you defiled
it--he went up to my couch!
Also Simeon
and Levi dishonored Jacob with this act of violence and Dina’s revenge. The
consequences of this act affected their leadership standing among the family,
which is made evident during Jacob’s final blessing to each of his children. He
spoke to Simeon and Levi together, and this is what he told them:
(Genesis 49:5-7) Simeon
and Levi are brothers; weapons of violence are their swords. (6)
Let my soul come not into their council; O my glory, be not joined to
their company. For in their anger they killed men, and in their willfulness
they hamstrung oxen. (7) Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce, and
their wrath, for it is cruel! I will divide them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel
In effect, the tribes of Simeon and Levi were scattered.
When the Promised Land was divided among the children of Israel Judah
In the final chapters of the
book of Genesis we will read who got the birthright among the children of Israel
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