Gen. 33:20-34:3120And he erected there an altar, and called it El-elohe-Israel. 1And Dinah the daughter of Leah, which she bare unto Jacob, went out to see the daughters of the land. 2And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he took her, and lay with her, and defiled her. 3And his soul clave unto Dinah the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the damsel, and spake kindly unto the damsel. 4And Shechem spake unto his father Hamor, saying, Get me this damsel to wife. 5And Jacob heard that he had defiled Dinah his daughter: now his sons were with his cattle in the field: and Jacob held his peace until they were come. 6And Hamor the father of Shechem went out unto Jacob to commune with him. 7And the sons of Jacob came out of the field when they heard it: and the men were grieved, and they were very wroth, because he had wrought folly in Israel in lying with Jacob's daughter; which thing ought not to be done. 8And Hamor communed with them, saying, The soul of my son Shechem longeth for your daughter: I pray you give her him to wife. 9And make ye marriages with us, and give your daughters unto us, and take our daughters unto you. 10And ye shall dwell with us: and the land shall be before you; dwell and trade ye therein, and get you possessions therein. 11And Shechem said unto her father and unto her brethren, Let me find grace in your eyes, and what ye shall say unto me I will give. 12Ask me never so much dowry and gift, and I will give according as ye shall say unto me: but give me the damsel to wife. 13And the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father deceitfully, and said, because he had defiled Dinah their sister: 14And they said unto them, We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one that is uncircumcised; for that were a reproach unto us: 15But in this will we consent unto you: If ye will be as we be, that every male of you be circumcised; 16Then will we give our daughters unto you, and we will take your daughters to us, and we will dwell with you, and we will become one people. 17But if ye will not hearken unto us, to be circumcised; then will we take our daughter, and we will be gone. 18And their words pleased Hamor, and Shechem Hamor's son. 19And the young man deferred not to do the thing, because he had delight in Jacob's daughter: and he was more honorable than all the house of his father. 20And Hamor and Shechem his son came unto the gate of their city, and communed with the men of their city, saying, 21These men are peaceable with us; therefore let them dwell in the land, and trade therein; for the land, behold, it is large enough for them; let us take their daughters to us for wives, and let us give them our daughters. 22Only herein will the men consent unto us for to dwell with us, to be one people, if every male among us be circumcised, as they are circumcised. 23Shall not their cattle and their substance and every beast of theirs be ours? only let us consent unto them, and they will dwell with us. 24And unto Hamor and unto Shechem his son hearkened all that went out of the gate of his city; and every male was circumcised, all that went out of the gate of his city. 25And it came to pass on the third day, when they were sore, that two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah's brethren, took each man his sword, and came upon the city boldly, and slew all the males. 26And they slew Hamor and Shechem his son with the edge of the sword, and took Dinah out of Shechem's house, and went out. 27The sons of Jacob came upon the slain, and spoiled the city, because they had defiled their sister. 28They took their sheep, and their oxen, and their asses, and that which was in the city, and that which was in the field, 29And all their wealth, and all their little ones, and their wives took they captive, and spoiled even all that was in the house. 30And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, Ye have troubled me to make me to stink among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites: and I being few in number, they shall gather themselves together against me, and slay me; and I shall be destroyed, I and my house. 31And they said, Should he deal with our sister as with an harlot? (Genesis 33:20‑34:31)
“AND HE [Jacob] erected there an altar, and called it El-Elohe-Israel,” which means “God, the God of Israel.” This expressed, no doubt, that Jacob (or, Israel) was aware of his need of communion with God, which was in itself a good thing. Yet, the very name he gave it indicated he did not rise very high in understanding God at this time. Although he spoke of the “God of Israel” he did not rise beyond himself or speak of the “Almighty God” or of His promises concerning a people yet to come.
In chapter 34 the sad results of being near “the prince of the country” are recorded — resulting in deep grief and sad experiences. “And Dinah the daughter of Leah... went out to see the daughters of the land.” Perhaps this might have seemed innocent enough, but it represented the first step in waywardness. First, she “went out” from her own company; then next she wand “to see.” Here again is a solemn lesson for all. “The lust of the eyes” is one of the three evils of this world. Curiosity as to what may be in the world has led many a Christian into sorrow. Finally, it was “the daughters of the land” who attracted her. The enemy of our souls is never content to let God’s children look into the world without drawing them into association with those opposed to the Lord Jesus. Dinah’s attraction to the “daughters of the land” tells us just this. Then exploring “the land of the prince” led to her becoming sadly involved in it.
Dinah was personally responsible for her actions and is an object lesson to all young readers — young women and young men alike. Yet, we are reminded of the parents’ failure in this also. Jacob and Leah should have stopped her in this course, or at least have warned her, but it is not so recorded. How often in later years must they, with Dinah, have wished their tent had not been spread so near that wicked place into which she was enticed?
In the story that follows, Dinah was defiled by Shechem. When her brothers, Simeon and Levi, learned of it they killed all the men of the place, took the women and children captives, and robbed them of all their goods. Jacob, more fearful than ever when he learned of this slaughter, said to his sons: “Ye have troubled me to make me to stink among the inhabitants of the land, and I being few in number, they shall gather themselves together against me, and slay me; and I shall be destroyed, I and my house.” v. 30. What a sad confession from one who himself was “a prince” and should have been a testimony and tower of strength to all around him!
Need more be said as to the sad consequences that likewise befall the Christian who meddles with the things of this world? Only prayerful dependance on God and walking in the truth of His Word will preserve the feet of His own.
ML-12/25/1966