Village Schools of the Bible

Genesis: A Devotional Study
by Max Frazier, Jr

Have you ever wondered why God chose to include some stories in the Bible? Some of them just don't seem to make any sense to us. Some of them just don't seem to fit the story line being told. Well, Genesis 34 is one such story. Every time I read it, I am bewildered as to why it is included in the Bible. Perhaps its intent is to show the continuing legacy that Jacob had created within his family. So, let's dig in and see what we can discover.

Genesis 34

Key Words: "deceitfully" (verse 13), but also implied in the answer to Hamor to his fellow citizens in verse 23.

Key Verse: Verse 30 records the reaction of Jacob after the slaughter of Hamor and his family - certainly not one of regret for them but of fear for his own safety.

Purpose Statement: This chapter begins to share with us the constant problem the people of Israel were to face as they lived among an alien people. There were always the opportunities for defilement and compromise. This problem is perpetuated throughout the pages of the Old Testament.

Outline: The Problem with Dinah

I. Dinah is raped by Shechem (vs. 1-4)
II. Jacob and his sons' reactions (vs. 5-7)
III. Hamor and Shechem's request (vs. 8-12)
IV. The proposal offered by Jacob's sons (vs. 13-17)
V. The men of Hamor accept the offer (vs. 18-24)
VI. Simeon and Levi avenge their sister (vs. 25-31)

Thoughts to Ponder: Shechem's response to Dinah after he had raped her was entirely different from that of most rapists toward their victim (eg. Amnon and Tamar). This chapter describes a series of wrongs:
1. Shechem was wrong to rape Dinah.
2. Jacob and his sons were wrong to agree to allowing Dinah to marry Shechem. Didn't Jacob remember the words of Isaac when he left home twenty years before? He was not to marry a foreign girl.
3. But they were also wrong in breaking that covenant that they had promised. Wrongs prevail when people fail to take into account the guidance of God.

Rape, deceit, murder - those words describe the events of this chapter. Although Jacob was still alive it appeared that the authority for making family decisions fell upon his sons. Of course they had watched their father on many occasions make the best of a bad situation by using deceit. So, like father like sons. But they were not alone in the practice of deceit. Shechem and his father were less than honest when talking with Jacob's sons. Their true feelings were expressed before the elders of their community. The web of deception becomes greatly entangled and the results are usually very tragic. It is no wonder that the Bible admonishes us to always practice truthfulness. It still is the best way.

The events in this chapter occurred because Jacob had purchased a piece of ground near the city of Shechem (Genesis 33:19). Now it is interesting that the only piece of property Abraham owned was a cemetery plot. Isaac is never mentioned as owning any property. But Jacob buys a plot of ground and plans to settle down. But, as succeeding chapter will show, this was the wrong place for Jacob. Whenever we make our camp too near the enemy's, then we can expect trouble. It is always wiser to follow our Lord's leading.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK: Sometimes a majority simply means that all the fools are on the same side. (Claude McDonald)

Genesis 32-33 Return to Table of Contents Genesis 35