Genesis 34:3

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 living as a heavenly pilgrim passing through it. What could be more natural than that his daughter should want to be friends with the world?

The little leaven kneaded into the dough, left to work unseen, unjudged in the fire of God's light and love, would, but for grace, soon leaven the whole lump. "Jacob has mixed himself among the people; he is a cake not turned, half Shechemite, half Israelite, half judged, the other half untouched by fire."

With or without her parents' permission, Dinah went out to see the daughters of the land. Josephus claims there was a festival. What business had she with them at all? Everyone but the godless knew that judgment on these people would come one day, and that Abraham's descendants would possess the land. Their sin was great, though not yet full. Apart from that, how foolish and dangerous she was! She seems to have been as independent of her mother as the young men certainly were of any advice from their father. Her restless curiosity exposed her to the young prince of the land. His passion carried him away, and he seduced her if he did not force her.

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 too? For though this was sin, it was not rape.

The young man was guilty of this act of fornication. Even so, he did not reject her, as many would do. He seems to have truly loved her, and he spoke kindly to her.

Hamor and Shechem fully agreed to the terms Jacob's sons proposed. Shechem in particular did not delay to be circumcised, because he loved Dinah. We are told he was more honourable than everyone in his father's household.

Then Jacob's sons stepped in with deceit, making circumcision the condition for every male. They had not the slightest thought or wish of bringing 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. Shechem was guilty of a great wrong; but Dinah was at fault too.

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. In later days the tribe of Levi acted in a way that won 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." They were divided — but by Levi being called to special service and scattered through all the tribes.