The Dinah Incident. Viewer Discretion Is Advised. Genesis 34

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.”