D is for Dinah...

Dinah was Leah’s youngest child with six older brothers. Leah was Jacob’s first wife, Laban’s daughter.  They lived at Shechem, in the land of Canaan.  The Bible states Dinah went to visit the daughters of the land.

Shechem was the Hivite prince of the area; he saw her and was drawn to her.  While Dinah’s brothers were away tending their herds, he lay with her and defiled her.  He immediately was drawn to her and wanted to wed her.  He put in his request to marry her to Jacob. 

Jacob’s sons were furious with Shechem and plotted revenge.  They agreed to the marriage according to their terms, which was that all the Hivite males be circumcised.  Hamor the father consented.  While all the men of the city were incapacitated from their surgery, Dinah’s brothers, Levi and Simeon led a massacre in the city and killed every male and took the women and children into custody.  The brothers excused their action as a just retribution for one of the Canaanites having treated their sister as a harlot.  Simeon and Levi were later cursed by their dad.

Jacob was afraid of what would happen to him and his household and God told him to Arise and go to Bethel.  Because of God’s help they were not attacked by Shechem’s neighbors.  The Bible does not mention Dinah again.

This story is found in Genesis 34. 

'And the daughter of Leah, which she bare unto Jacob, went out to see the daughters of the land. 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 34:1,2

It seems as with all sins this could have been avoided. We need to remember once a sin is committed it cannot be undone.  We need to think of the long-term consequences of our actions.  Thank God for Jesus who forgives us of our sins if we only believe and ask Him.

until next time...nel