Genesis 34:10

Shechem earnestly sought marriage at any price. His father went to Jacob, pleading hard for his son's fixed desire to have Dinah as wife. He offered the readiest terms of peace between the peoples, and Shechem urged for himself.

One wrong step away from our true position before the Lord leads to many a sin, scandal, and sorrow. So we find here, as the consequence of Jacob's buying the land of the Hivite and building himself a house. His stay at Succoth and Shechem covers some ten years. He has to be unsettled to get him back to his pilgrim place. But the way was painful for all, and a deep shame, humiliation and fear for Jacob.

Jacob seems to have grown tired of the pilgrim path, and gave in to the temptation to settle down and build a home. And what was the fruit of this action? His daughter Dinah goes out to see the daughters of the land. Her father had settled down in the world instead of being a heavenly pilgrim passing through it. What could be more natural than that his daughter should want to be friends with the world? We all know the sad, shameful result. Who would have guessed that swapping a tent for a house could produce such bitter fruit?

Hamor also promised to give Jacob many things. He suggested they might be one people, live in the land and trade, and marry together. Just like the world of today — they want Christians to be one with them, no difference. Christians, be careful! The Lord says, "Go out from their midst, and be separate from them" (2 Cor. 6:17). The world says, "We may be one." The Lord says, "Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity" (2 Tim. 2:19).

All no doubt recognised that circumcision had a religious meaning. They would not be in the least suspicious of any hidden design against them. Besides, the wealth of Jacob's family would be a welcome addition to the area, and everyone would benefit from them (vv. 20-23). These were persuasive arguments, and the men of the city fully agreed, so that all of them were circumcised.

Then Jacob's sons stepped in with the deceitful condition of circumcision for every male. They had not the smallest thought or wish of inviting the Shechemites into the covenant. It was the basest treachery, meant to trap and massacre them. Jacob had nothing to do with the cruel secret. Their pride and revenge ignored God as they ignored their father.

So the shameful story of Genesis 34 caused Jacob to "stink to the inhabitants of the land." That was a dreadful position for him, since he was the only man in the land who truly knew God. It also brought judgment on the two who drove the violence. It is interesting that in later days the tribe of Levi acted in such a way as to gain a special blessing. So we are allowed to see how God can turn what was at first a curse into a blessing. The word had been, "I will divide them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel" (49:7). They were divided — but by Levi being called to special service and scattered through all the tribes. The first verse of Genesis 35 shows us how God stepped in when things had reached this sorry state. He called Jacob back to the place where God first made Himself known to him. There he was to live, and there his altar was to be.