INTRODUCTION: Here is recorded a sad incident in Jacob's life. Many details are not explained, so we must use restraint in placing too much blame on Dinah or her parents. It has been suggested that the whole event was a spiritual chastisement in Jacob's life [Hebrews 12:6 & 11]. In the next chapter we do see Jacob drawing nearer to God.I. DINAH DEFILED - verses 1-2.
According to ancient custom a lone woman was often considered out of her place and thus fair game. Again we cannot judge to what degree if any that Dinah was guilty. Several matters seem worthy of note:
A. Immorality is defiling. Fornication is spiritually and morally unclean in God's sight.B. Bad company is dangerous to the spiritual and moral well-being of young and old [Proverbs 13:20]. The people of Canaan were guilty of terrible idolatry and moral laxness [Deuteronomy 12:29-31]. Dinah should have sought companionship among those of godly principles. When we go on the Devil's turf we court disaster.
II. DIFFERING STANDARDS - verses 3-7.
Neither Shechem nor his father Hamor seemed to feel any shame or guilt over what had happened. Shechem was more noble than others in his tribe. He was kind to Dinah, yet seemed to see no cause why Dinah's father would be concerned. The purity of a young girl was nothing to him or his tribe. This attitude is becoming the status quo in our country. Many young people know nothing of moral standards. To the contrary, Jacob and his sons were very upset. God's people always have different standards from the world. Sexual purity must be our standard. Christians must train and watch over their children, and if possible these things should be avoided.III. A SEPARATE PEOPLE - verses 8-12.
God's people are called upon to be separate from the world [II Corinthians 6:17]. This is well-illustrated in God's command for Israel to remain separate from the nations round about. There is, however, always the temptation to become one with the world. How many churches see this happen. Had the plan of Hamor [verses 8-10] been carried out, Israel would have lost their existence as a nation. Only as a separate people can we be used of God.IV. SAD DECEIT - verses 13-19.
Righteous indignation can be a mark of godliness [Ephesians 4:26]. This vengeful deceit, however, cannot be defended. They even used the covenant-sign of circumcision as part of their brutal plan. That which is holy should never be used in such a way.V. HYPOCRISY - verses 20-24.
What a scene of hypocrisy. These are not the last people to use religion for worldly reasons. Many have joined a church to get a wife or open a door for sales and financial gain. Notice how different the story Hamor and Shechem told their own people was from the one given to Jacob and his sons [Compare verse 10 with verse 23]. They had no concern for Israel's God or the true intent of circumcision.VI. REVENGE - verses 25-29.
Soon the plan of Jacob's sons is put into action. On the third day after the surgery, while all the men were incapacitated, Levi and Simeon murdered them. God's covenant-sign was used as an accessory to murder. Some have tried to justify this brutal work by pointing out that Israel was commanded to destroy these tribes. This was, however, a future plan of God for which they had no command as yet [Genesis 15:16]. Their actions were nothing but personal revenge. (We do not know all the details of this massacre. Evidently the village was small and perhaps the men were gathered together under some pretense. We do know that Levi and Simeon were full brothers to Dinah and therefore took this more personally. Compare Genesis 29:31-34 with Genesis 34:1.)VII. THE LAST WORD - verses 30-31.
Jacob was incensed at the rape of Dinah, but could not approve of his sons' actions. He also saw the danger in this. What if the surrounding peoples turned on him? Nothing, however, could quench the anger of Simeon and Levi. In verse 31, they seemed to have the last word. This, however, was not the case. On his dying bed Jacob rebuked them again [Genesis 49:5-7]. Their moral indignation was commendable, but their indiscriminate wrath was horrible.
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