GEN. 34 SUMMARY
GENESIS 34:1-31 - THE RAPE OF DINAH
Summary
The rape of Jacob's daughter, Dinah, and its violent aftermath.
This text continues the concerns of many Genesis narratives, including the chosen family's relationship with outsiders, issues of deception, and the key role that women play in these families.
Analysis
Dinah, the only daughter of Jacob, is the first of his children to be given major narrative attention. While on a journey, she is raped by Shechem, a member of the ruling Canaanite family. But then, in a move not typical of rapists, he seeks to have her become his wife (34:1-4). Jacob responds to these overtures with prudence and care and begins negotiations with Shechem's family. But his sons resist this direction for action and issue deceitful (34:13) demands, including the circumcision of all males in Shechem's family (34:5-24). Somehow the brothers' honor, rather than Dinah's, has become the issue to be addressed (see also 34:31).
Brothers Simeon and Levi take the initiative in following through on their deceit (34:25-29), breaking faith their new blood brothers. They murder Shechem and his father, and every male in town; they rape all the women and pillage the city. Their violence begets further violence. They use religious practice (circumcision, which had weakened all those whom they killed) as a vehicle for deception and violence.
In the concluding exchange (34:30-31) Jacob stands in opposition to what the brothers have done. In turn, their question is narrow and self-serving, raising a new issue, namely, harlotry (34:31); once again, their shame seems to be the focus of their attention rather than Dinah. Later, Jacob will sharply condemn the violent actions of Simeon and Levi (Gen 49:5-7).
Why is Dinah, the only daughter of Jacob, made the victim of rape and then silenced? This story gives Bible readers permission to talk openly about rape and the sorry history of society's response (including the silencing of victims). Has this text contributed to this silence?
I. Jacob's Family Scandal - Genesis 34
A. Seduction Genesis 34:1-4. READ. Why did this happen? Who was responsible?
In a culture today that seems just as permissive as Shechem: what a call to us as parents, grandparents to protect our children, to chaperone them well, to question their activities, to know where they are. Hamor, the father, meets with Jacob, the father and while they're meeting. READ Genesis 34:7
B. Brothers' reaction Genesis 34:7. Seething w/anger, righteously indignant over the wrong done to their sister, to their family "in Israel, such a thing that should not be done". These very words are said later in Israel's history by Tamar when her half brother Amon tries to rape her she begs him to ask their father for permission to marry her first "such a thing should not be done in Israel" (2 Samuel 13:12)
C. Hamor pleads with the sons, he loves her, we can become one big happy family, intermarry, do business together, form a power alliance, this can be a win-win. Shechem adds (Genesis 34:11,12) I'll pay whatever price you ask.
D. Before Jacob can respond the sons take over the negotiations. We wonder who demonstrates the greater evil in this chapter? Shechem or the sons of Jacob? Shechem did wrong, he raped Dinah, but seemed to truly love her and offered a proper dowry, and father Hamor held out a hand of friendship suggesting their peoples join together. It's this openness and generosity that is the basis for the brother's plan of revenge and what's worse they use the Covenant to deceive. READ Genesis 34:13 , "deceitfully" this is the same word used in Genesis 27:35 Jacob deceived his father Isaac. READ Genesis 34:14-17 Hamor, Shechem agree, it seems a cheap price to pay for the advantages to be gained. Unaware of the brother's hidden agenda, they focused persuading their people to accept the arrangement and don't you know that would take some convincing. Ultimately it was a business deal, sold the community on the benefits of becoming assimilated with Jacob's family, so they were circumcised Genesis 34:24.
E. Three days later while all the men were still in pain, Simeon and Levi massacred the city. Perhaps we could understand if Dinah's brothers plotted to kill Shechem, but the whole city? All the men? Truly barbaric. Other brothers didn't seem to participate in the killing but they were ready to sack the city READ Genesis 34:27-29, looted, took captives, violence of the sword, violence of the scavengers, these are the people of God?
F. Jacob stood in horror over their behavior and when they got home he gave them a scolding (use that word because the rebuke he gives his sons seems to be so lacking in comparison to what they have done) READ Genesis 34:30. They massacred and plundered an entire city and Jacob says "you've embarrassed me, ruined my reputation, put our family in danger- what about their sin, horrible act of murdering innocent people? Why is there no confrontation about that?
G. Self-defense Genesis 34:31 Their reply shows no regret for what they had done, instead of repenting, they just wanted to justify themselves, they saw sin in the rape but none if themselves. Their sense of justice was right but their methods to avenge were cruel and excessive.
Truth: Revenge is always a wrong response to injustice.
Thess. 5:15 "See that no one pays back evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good for one another and for all." Heb. 10:30 "For we know the one who said, 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay,' and again, "The Lord will judge his people."
