Bible Study Online Article

In the last article we'd learned, that after Jacob had settled in the city of Shalem (which was a city of Shechem) -- Dinah his daughter, becomes curious, and ventures out to explore their new area, in which they now lived. So Dinah decides to attend a festival that was taking place that night. And while she was there, she runs into the "prince of the land" who'd went by the name Shechem.

Now it would be during that same night, that Shechem and Dinah would end up laying with each other:

"And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he took her and lay with her, and defiled her." -- (Genesis 34:2)

Now in the previous article, I stated that I believed that Shechem didn't force himself on Dinah?

For I personally hold to the notion, that with Dinah being between the ages of fourteen and sixteen years of age (and perhaps, being vulnerable to her impressionable sensibilities), that she could have easily fallen for who Shechem was (a prince), and his sweet-talking advances.

Now understand that I'm not suggesting, that Shechem's actions are justified for what had happen that night? I'm just simply pointing out, that he wasn't the only one who was at fault during this whole ordeal with Dinah. And if one were to be fair, when it comes to Shechem's true motives? One could easily see, how Shechem was truly infatuated (or perhaps it was true love), when it came to Dinah. For he truly cared for her, but his mistake came, by not knowing that Dinah wasn't his (or meant for him to be with).

Nonetheless, know that Shechem's true feelings for Dinah are definitely made evident by the Sacred Record (depending on your translation of course):

1. "[Shechem's] soul was strongly attracted to Dinah the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the young woman and spoke kindly to the young woman" -- NKJV -- Genesis 34:3
2. "And his soul [cleaved] unto Dinah the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the damsel, and spake kindly unto the damsel. {kindly...: Heb. to the heart of the damsel}" -- KJV -- Genesis 34:3
3. "His heart was drawn to Dinah daughter of Jacob, and he loved the girl and spoke tenderly to her." -- NIV -- Genesis 34:3

However that may have been, or what I may think -- Dinah would lose her innocence to Shechem that night, and it's at this point, that Shechem would be charged with defiling her, by the Sacred Record: "And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he took her and lay with her, and defiled her." -- (Genesis 34:2)

Now again, I truly believe that the prince was in love with Dinah, and because of this "love" that Shechem had for her -- he convinces his father to go before Dinah's father Jacob, in order to make a proper proposal for Dinah's hand in marriage. Needless to say, Hamor would agree to help his son. So they both headed out to Jacob's house, and once there, they made a proposal for his daughter Dinah:

"But Hamor spoke with them, saying, 'The soul of my son Shechem longs for your daughter. Please give her to him as a wife. And make marriages with us; give your daughters to us, and take our daughters to yourselves. 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.'" -- Genesis 34:8-10

"Then Shechem said to Dinah’s father and brothers,'Let me find favor in your eyes, and I will give you whatever you ask. Make the price for the bride and the gift I am to bring as great as you like, and I’ll pay whatever you ask me. Only give me the girl as my wife.'" -- Genesis 34:11,12

But unfortunately for them, all would not be well, when it came to Jacob's household -- for Dinah's brothers, especially Simeon and Levi, had became enraged after hearing what Shechem had done to their sister. So after they had heard the proposal that had went forth, by Shechem and his father -- they responded by offering them a counter-proposal:

"We can't do such a thing; we can't give our sister a man who is not circumcised. This would be a disgrace to us. We will give our consent to you on one condition only: that you become like us by circumcising all your males. Then we will give you are daughters and take your daughters for ourselves. We will settle among you and become one people with you. But if you will not agree to be circumcised, we'll take our sister and go." -- Genesis 34:14-17

The proposal that Simeon and Levi had gave to Shechem and his father seemed good. So the prince wasted no time, for he was delighted and in love with Dinah. And soon after, Shechem and his father went to the gate of their city and spoke with their fellow townsmen:

"These men are friendly towards us. Let them live in our land and trade in it; the land has plenty of room for them. We can marry their daughters and they can marry ours. But the men will consent to live with us as one people only on the condition that our males be circumcised, as they themselves are. Won't their property and all their animals become ours? So let us give our consent to them, and they will settle among us." -- Genesis 34:21-23

Now after hearing this, the townsmen would eventually agree with what Shechem had said, and every male would allow themselves to be immediately circumcised. Now two days would pass, and on the third day (while the Shechemites were still in pain from being circumcised) the Sacred Record reveals, that Jacob's sons (who were being lead by Simeon and Levi) would enter the city, and after doing so, they'd came against the ailing Shechemites.

So Simeon and Levi were successful, when it came to putting every Shechemite to the sword. And because of this, every male Shechemite fell that day, including Shechem the prince and his father Hamor. Now afterwards, Simeon and Levi would look for their sister Dinah, and when they'd found her, they took Dinah from Shechem's house and they left the city.

In the meantime, the rest of Jacob's sons would soon enter the city, and after doing so, they'd looted the bodies of the Shechemites that had been slain that day. And they plundered the city in which their sister had been defiled. Jacob's sons had taken their: flocks, herds, donkeys and everything else that had belonged to the Shechemites, that could be found from within the city and out in the nearby fields. They also carried off all their women and children, and everything else that could be found in the houses.

Now when Jacob had heard about all the things that his sons had just done, he became enraged and responded by saying: "You have brought trouble on me by making me a stench to the Canaanites and the Perizzites (dwellers or villagers in the fields), the people living in this land. We are few in number and if they joined forces against me and attack me, I and my household would be destroyed." -- Genesis 34:30

But his sons felt like their actions were justified: "Should he have treated our sister like a prostitute?" They shot back. Now remember back when Jacob's sons had made the counter proposal to Shechem and his father? Know that this was done under the design of trust between the two parties. But as we would soon find out, Dinah's brothers would have different plans when it came to the proposal and the Shechemites.

Now with us knowing this, one could bring forth the question: "So why did God allow for all the Shechemite townsmen to fall under the sword of Jacob's sons? And why would He have allowed it to happen, because of the sin from one man?" Now I like to think, that this is a valid question -- so let's explore this tragic ordeal a little bit further, and let's see if we can find some clues as to why it'd happened?

First off, we must keep in mind that Shechem's intentions were honorable and honest, when it came to atoning for his actions with Dinah, and by asking for her hand in marriage. Now remember, that earlier I'd pointed out, that I believe that Dinah had played a role in this whole ordeal as well. For she was young and naive, and it's very well possible, that she had fallen for who Shechem was (a prince) and his sweet-talking advances, so therefore, allowing herself to be defiled.

Again, I don't believe that Shechem had forced himself upon her, like some would teach and preach. And I'm not suggesting that he shouldn't be held accountable for actions either. But keep in mind, that Shechem loved Dinah very much, and was willing to do all that he could, when it came to earning her hand in marriage.

But when one takes a closer look at his actions, after he'd made the proposal with Jacob and his sons -- one would notice, that he'd made a terrible mistake when he took that "proposal" (and altered it) back to his townsmen. Notice the "corrupt condition" that Shechem added: "Won't their property and all their animals become ours? So let us give our consent to them, and they will settle among us"

Now instead of Shechem presenting this proposal to the townsmen, as a simple act of loyalty for the sake of their prince -- he added another condition into the mix, one that wasn't initially agreed to, when it came to the two households. For Shechem would present his men with a "corrupt condition" -- thinking that it would help to persuade them, to go along with the "circumcision condition" that was initially agreed to, when it came to the agreement that had been made between Shechem and Jacob.

Know that by doing this, Shechem had put him and his people, in a position of trying to deceitfully take something away from Jacob. And because of this, Shechem had made a huge mistake. Also understand, that God would have never allowed Shechem's scheme to have happened. For we must not forget, that Jacob is God's servant, and so therefore, forever under His protection. And the favor of the Lord will stay with Jacob, regardless of what Jacob's sons had done to the Shechemites. Also keep in mind, that it was Jacob's sons who'd planned, and carried out the murderous plot against the Shechemites -- not Jacob.

And this is why I believe, that it was for this reason, that God allowed the Shechemites to be destroyed under the wrath of Jacob's sons. For the Shechemites would lose everything, including their very own lives -- instead of trying to deceitfully take, all that Jacob had gained under the providence of the Lord

After all of this had happened -- we find, that Jacob is now fearful of some type of retaliation, that may come from those who were perhaps allied with the Shechemites. So what will Jacob's next move be? Will God eventually punish him for what his sons did? Or will Jacob's sons reap what they have sown on their own? Pay very close attention to that last line?

God Creates the Earth

The Sons of God - The Daughters of Men

The Introduction of Abraham

The Birth of Isaac

The Birth of Esau & Jacob

Jacob - The Path of Uncertainty

**YOUR CURRENT - BIBLE STUDY ONLINE SERIES - WOULD BE HERE**

Joseph the Favorite Son

Joseph the Overseer of Egypt

The Unveiling of Joseph

54) Jacob the Prosperous

55) Jacob departs from Laban

56) Rachel the Thief

57) Jacob's Mistake

58) Laban's Pursuit

59) The Friendship Covenant

60) The Host of Angels

61) Jacob Wrestles with God

62) The Reconciliation of Jacob & Esau

63) Dinah the Daughter of Israel

64) <-CURRENT - BIBLE STUDY ONLINE - PAGE->

65) The Forgotten Vow

66) The Season of Passing

67) The Descendants of Esau

68) Joseph the Favorite Son