Dinah was Jacob’s only daughter, around 15 years of age. “When Shechem, son of Hamor the Hivite, the ruler of the land, saw her, he took her and forced her to have sexual relations with him” (Genesis 34:2 NCV).
Dinah’s brothers rightly saw the atrocity as an act against the people of God. Anger flashed in their eyes. Shechem’s father made an offer to the brothers. You give Dinah to Shechem. We’ll give women to you.
Dinah’s brothers told Shechem, “We cannot allow you to marry our sister, because you are not circumcised” (verse 14). So, every male in the city was circumcised. Three days later, when they were in the pain of healing, Jacob’s sons attacked, killing all the men and plundering the city.
Such a despicable, despicable story. We wonder why is it included in Scripture? Simple. We need the reminder. Apart from God’s help, we are a disaster.
