2024.09.08. Sermon Notes. Genesis 34 – The Dinah Incident. Viewer Discretion is Advised
William Akehurst, HSWC
BIG IDEA: When GOD is neglected, there will be consequences. Jacob’s neglect for GOD brings harm to his family.
Genesis 34:1-31 The Dinah Incident
Genesis 34:1-4 The rape of Dinah.
1 Now Dinah the daughter of Leah, whom she had borne to Jacob, went out to see the daughters of the land. 2 And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he took her and lay with her, and violated her. 3 His soul was strongly attracted to Dinah the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the young woman and spoke kindly to the young woman. 4 So Shechem spoke to his father Hamor, saying, “Get me this young woman as a wife.”
Dinah goes to the city of Shechem to socialize with the women (allowed to go out alone).
Hamor’s son Shechem sees Dinah, grabs, violates and rapes her. Not seduction, not consensual. It was rape. Then Shechem decides he loves her and wants to marry her and demands his father to make it happen.
This is one of the most sordid and shameful incidents in Israel’s Old Testament history. A terrible crime against the daughter of Leah. It brings to question WHY is this even in the Bible? And WHY did it happen?
We will see that Neglect for GOD can cause bad things to happen.
GOD had called Jacob to go to Bethel, but instead Jacob chose to settle in Shechem. His disobedience and poor choice left his family open to danger.
We are seeing Jacob’s Neglect for GOD.
And Jacob’s Neglect for his own family
POINT: When GOD is NEGLECTED, there are no boundaries
When GOD is NEGLECTED, Society decays. Sexual immorality, Abuse, Violence.
Genesis 34:5-7 Jacob’s Delayed Response. Sons angered.
5 And Jacob heard that he had defiled Dinah his daughter. Now his sons were with his livestock in the field; so Jacob held his peace until they came. 6 Then Hamor the father of Shechem went out to Jacob to speak with him. 7 And the sons of Jacob came in from the field when they heard it; and the men were grieved and very angry, because he had done a disgraceful thing in Israel by lying with Jacob’s daughter, a thing which ought not to be done.
This starts a series of bad events. Jacob learns of the rape but doesn’t respond immediately. He waits for his sons to return from working in the fields. When the sons learn what happened, they are livid. In their fury they state “such a thing must not be done in Israel.
Jacob’s refusal to react encourages sons Simeon and Levi to take matters into their own hands.
Jacob’s sons Simeon and Levi were grieved and angry, which would lead them to, for the sake of defending their family’s honor, do so in a sinful way.
POINT: When GOD appointed leaders do not take the right actions, it causes problems in those under their authority which can lead to taking wrong actions.
Genesis 34:8-12 Hamor’s Negotiations for Dinah and wealth
8 But Hamor spoke with them, saying, “The soul of my son Shechem longs for your daughter. Please give her to him as a wife. 9 And make marriages with us; give your daughters to us, and take our daughters to yourselves. 10 So you shall dwell with us, and the land shall be before you. Dwell and trade in it, and acquire possessions for yourselves in it.”
11 Then Shechem said to her father and her brothers, “Let me find favor in your eyes, and whatever you say to me I will give. 12 Ask me ever so much dowry and gift, and I will give according to what you say to me; but give me the young woman as a wife.”
Hamor and Shechem arrive and start to negotiate with Jacob for Dinah. No remorse is shown nor expressed. Hamor and Shechem only speak of material wealth – “dwell and trade”.
“Whatever you say, I will give.”
Just name your price Jacob. As if money and marriage would make her disgrace go away.
Remember that Rebekah had told Isaac that she didn’t want Jacob to marry the daughters of Canaan as Esau had. This proposal by Hamor for his son Shechem, was that Jacob’s family would intermarry with those daughters of Canaan, which was not in GOD’s plan.
POINT: When GOD is NEGLECTED. The Parent’s sin is upon the children.
Genesis 34:13-17 Simeon and Levi’s counteroffer
13 But the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father, and spoke deceitfully, because he had defiled Dinah their sister.
14 And they said to them, “We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one who is uncircumcised, for that would be a reproach to us. 15 But on this condition we will consent to you: If you will become as we are, if every male of you is circumcised, 16 then we will give our daughters to you, and we will take your daughters to us; and we will dwell with you, and we will become one people. 17 But if you will not heed us and be circumcised, then we will take our daughter and be gone.”
Simeon and Levi counteroffer - All men of Shechem should be circumcised. They spoke deceitfully with something else in mind. A planned, calculated deception. Simeon and Levi cover their evil plan with spiritual words, using Dinah as a cover for their intended evil.
They felt justified because Shechem used Dinah as a prostitute
Simeon and Levi prostituted the sign of GOD’s covenant for their own violent purposes.
NOTE: Deceit and Deception. Sins of the Parents shown in the Children.
POINT: When GOD is NEGLECTED. Religion abused for selfish/evil intentions
Genesis 34:18-24
18 And their words pleased Hamor and Shechem, Hamor’s son. 19 So the young man did not delay to do the thing, because he delighted in Jacob’s daughter. He was more honorable than all the household of his father.
20 And Hamor and Shechem his son came to the gate of their city, and spoke with the men of their city, saying: 21 “These men are at peace with us. Therefore let them dwell in the land and trade in it. For indeed the land is large enough for them. Let us take their daughters to us as wives, and let us give them our daughters.
22 Only on this condition will the men consent to dwell with us, to be one people: if every male among us is circumcised as they are circumcised. 23 Will not their livestock, their property, and every animal of theirs be ours? Only let us consent to them, and they will dwell with us.” 24 And all who went out of the gate of his city heeded Hamor and Shechem his son; every male was circumcised, all who went out of the gate of his city.
Hamor and Shechem convince the men of the city to go along with the plan. So they circumcised themselves.
They saw financial gain in the transaction.
They were willing to make the sacrifice for potential gain of wealth.
d. Every male was circumcised: The men of Shechem agreed and all received the painful and potentially dangerous operation of circumcision.
Genesis 34:25 Simeon and Levi destroy and massacre the men of Shechem
25 Now it came to pass on the third day, when they were in pain, that two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brothers, each took his sword and came boldly upon the city and killed all the males.
“When they were in pain… each took his sword and came boldly upon the city and killed all the males”
A brutal, deceptive act, that was also a disgrace to God’s covenant of circumcision.
POINT: When GOD is NEGLECTED, Violence Increases
Genesis 34:26-29 They rescue Dinah and plunder the city.
26 And they killed Hamor and Shechem his son with the edge of the sword, and took Dinah from Shechem’s house, and went out. 27 The sons of Jacob came upon the slain, and plundered the city, because their sister had been defiled. 28 They took their sheep, their oxen, and their donkeys, what was in the city and what was in the field, 29 and all their wealth. All their little ones and their wives they took captive; and they plundered even all that was in the houses.
Simeon and Levi and the sons of Jacob justified the murders and theft by saying their sister Dinah and family had been dishonored. The punishment was clearly excessive.
Genesis 34:30-31 Jacob’s reaction
30 Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, “You have troubled me by making me obnoxious among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites; and since I am few in number, they will gather themselves together against me and kill me. I shall be destroyed, my household and I.”
31 But they said, “Should he treat our sister like a harlot?”
“You have troubled me making me obnoxious”
Jacob seems to only be concerned with himself and the possible retaliation and retribution that may occur against his family.
Jacob’s deceitful nature was passed on to his sons.
POINT: When GOD is NEGLECTED, Failure to discipline.
Why is this account of Dinah and her brother’s response brought to light in scripture?
To show us that When GOD is NEGLECTED, there will be consequence.
GOD doesn’t hide man’s flaws in scripture.
David, Moses, Abraham, Jacob, and the Israelites all had bad flaws.
We are all sinners, Jew and Gentile alike.
Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God
But GOD…
But GOD can use flawed people for HIS purpose.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN PEOPLE NEGLECT GOD?
We can see it in our world today.
WHEN GOD IS NEGLECTED: Sexual immorality and homosexuality increase
Are you guarding yourself and others against sexual immorality?
WHEN GOD IS NEGLECTED: Parents neglect their children
No boundaries
No responsibility
Lack of involvement
WHEN GOD IS NEGLECTED: Religion is abused
For selfish and evil reasons
For personal gain
WHEN GOD IS NEGLECTED: Violence increases
WHEN GOD IS NEGLECTED
HE brings discipline to help us repent.
WHEN GOD IS NEGLECTED, THERE WILL BE CONSEQUENCES.
OUR RESPONSE
Our response to understanding the consequences of Neglecting GOD.
Be careful in times of ease and prosperity
Be spiritually disciplined
Be hopeful because GOD is greater than our broken situations.
In Genesis 34 we see that GOD was no longer their priority.
We will learn in the first verses of Genesis chapter 35, that the family has picked up many idols while dwelling in Canaan.
After GOD delivers Jacob and his family from Esau and Laban, it seems that they Neglect GOD.
In our society we are seeing the consequences of Neglecting GOD.
We need to know these consequences
We need to repent and turn back to GOD.
FATHER, we come and repent of our Neglect for YOU and YOUR WORD. We ask that YOUR SPIRIT would move on our hearts to be attentive to YOU and YOUR WORD in every area and aspect of our lives. Lead us into all TRUTH by the Power of YOUR PRESENCE, In JESUS’ Name, Amen.
Be blessed and Be a blessing,
Bill
