Genesis 34:12

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? 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?

The sum paid by a man to the relatives of the woman who becomes his wife. Genesis 34:12; Exodus 22:16-17; 1 Samuel 18:25... The dowry which Jacob gave for his wives was seven years' service for each. Genesis 29:18, 27.

Hamor came at this time to tell them that Shechem had real affection for Dinah and wanted to marry her. At the same time he invited them to remain in the land and have their families intermarry. No doubt to the mind of Hamor this was the honorable way to meet the question. Shechem adds that he is willing to pay any dowry they might ask of him for Dinah.

His daughter Dinah wanted to enjoy the companionship and pleasures of the other young women of the land. As a result she got entangled and defiled. This aroused great anger among Jacob's sons. What Shechem and Hamor did to repair the damage did not calm it.

Hamor also promised to give Jacob many things. He suggested that the two peoples might become one, and 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 Corinthians 6:17).

The sons, when they came, were not only grieved but very angry at Shechem. Did they not stop to think that the blame was not only Shechem's, but Dinah's also? For though this was sin, it was not rape.

Then Jacob's sons stepped in with deceit. They set one condition: every male must be circumcised. 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 much as it ignored their father. The condition was a lying and cowardly pretext, used to push their resentment as far as it would go. Hamor and Shechem fell into the trap. They had enough influence to persuade all their townsmen to join them in the painful rite, and in the danger they never saw coming.

The shameful story of Genesis 34 made Jacob "stink to the inhabitants of the land." That was a dreadful position for him, since he was the only man in the land who had the true knowledge of God. It also brought judgment on the two men who promoted the violence. Yet in later days the tribe of Levi acted in a way that won them a special blessing. So we are allowed to see how God can turn what was once a curse into a blessing. The word had been, "I will divide them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel" (Genesis 49:7). They were divided — but by Levi being called to special service and scattered through all the tribes.