Genesis 34 vs. 1 – 3
“Now Dinah, the daughter Leah had borne to Jacob, went out to visit the women of the land. When Shechem son of Hamor the Hivite, the ruler of that area, saw her, he took her and violated her. His heart was drawn to Dinah daughter of Jacob, and he loved the girl and spoke tenderly to her. ”
Dinah, the first daughter of Jacob, born unto him by Leah (his first wife) was the first victim of rape in the Bible. It is recorded in Genesis 34 vs. 1 – 3, that a Hivite Prince named Shechem raped her.
The lessons we can learn from this short passage are in four folds:
Firstly, it is good in our own interest to fully obey the word of God. Disobedience leads to destruction. What makes Dinah’s experience unfortunate is that, it was avoidable. If we carefully study this passage, we see that an unbeliever raped Dinah. God had previously warned the Israelites not to closely relate to their heathen neighbours but Dinah disregarded this simple instruction to her peril. Hivites were one of the heathen nations that were the neighbors of the Israelites.
“So Isaac called for Jacob and blessed him and commanded him: “Do not marry a Canaanite woman. Now Esau learned that Isaac had blessed Jacob and had sent him to Paddan Aram to take a wife from there, and that when he blessed him he commanded him, “Do not marry a Canaanite woman,” –Genesis 28 vs. 1, 6
“I want you to swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you will not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I am living ” –Genesis 24 vs. 3
The big question therefore is that what was Dinah doing in the midst of the Hivites? Why was she in the company of the daughters of the land who by all reckoning were unbelievers and idolaters? In a way therefore, Dinah was the architect of her own misfortune.
“Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belia? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people. “Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.” 2 Cor 6:14 – 17
The second lesson we can learn from this passage is that females who do not wish to be victims of rape, should not keep evil friendship or evil company. Dinah was hanging out, partying and having fun with ‘daughters of the land’ when she became sexually abased. If she had not chosen her friends from the heathen ‘daughters of the land’ then she would not have been open to assault.
The third lesson is that parents should train their daughters to live modestly, and be wary of being enticed with gifts. In all probability Shechem was a rich young guy, who enticed Dinah with monetary and material gifts.
If we study Genesis 34 vs. 2 – 4, we see that Dinah was a willing partner in her sexual abuse, and it is arguable whether the incident could best described as a rape. The Bible states Shechem ‘saw’ Dinah ‘took’ her to his house, ‘defiled’ her, ‘loved’ her and spoke ‘kindly’ unto her. It is therefore clear that Dinah’s sexual assault did not happen suddenly or overnight. It was the climax of a relationship, and Prince Shechem Hamor must had enticed Dinah with royal gifts.
The fourth lesson is that, parents should monitor their children, particularly females. Jacob had a dozen sons, but it was the only daughter that became sexually abused. Jacob should have closely monitored Dinah to prevent her from mixing with the unrighteous daughters of the land. If we consider, the fact that, Dinah according to Bible Scholars was probably fourteen or fifteen years old when she was raped, then we should blame Jacob for the calamity that befell Dinah, an underage. Perhaps, if Jacob had instilled the fear of God in all his children and closely monitored them, one of them would not have been sexually molested. Jacob should share part of the blame for not bringing up all his children in a godly way.
In concluding this exhortation, I like to say that if you a parent and you do not want your children to become victims of any social vices such as rape, hard drugs, alcoholism, vagabondism etc then you have to start a relationship with God and bring all your households before the Altar of God.
On the other hand, if you are an unmarried female or male and you do not wish to fall into Dinah’s experience, then you have to start keeping godly company. This also starts by living in the way of the Lord as a born again Christian. Are you ready to take this step of faith? Then make this confession:
| Father, in the name of Jesus Christ. I acknowledge that I am a sinner and have fallen short of your glory. I willingly and sincerely repent of my sins and pray that your blood cleanse away all my iniquities. I accept Jesus as my Saviour and invite the Holy Spirit into my life in Jesus name.
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Today I commit myself and every members of my household before you and pray that you watch over us, guide our steps and prevent us from all vices in Jesus name. Let your Holy Spirit lead me aright and believe my future is secure in your hands in Jesus name.
