C.
Genesis
34:8 - And Hamor communed
with them, saying, The soul of my son Shechem longeth for your daughter: I pray
you give her him to wife.
1.
We have a
Canaanite asking to marry an Israelite, knowing what we know up to this point
about the character and nature of God,
a)
Does this sound
like something that would be pleasing to Him? Why or Why not?
b)
Why is it
important that Israel Israel
§
But all came from Noah aren’t all the
bloodlines pure? Not necessarily, the Nephilim, offspring of the fallen angels
from Genesis 6 were mixed in with the Canaanites and therefore corrupting their
bloodline.
§
See the book of
Ruth for in-depth look at the role of Kinsman redeemer which Christ fulfills.
c)
We continue to
see this tactic employed by Satan, possess the land that is promised to
Abraham, attempt to defile the promised “seed”.
§
Happened to Sarah
twice, Pharoah and Abimalech were both warned supernaturally not to take Sarah
to wife.
§
Happened to
Rebekah, Abimalech prevented from lying with Rebekah by means of supernatural
intervention.
§
Here we have a
successful assault on the seed of Abraham by attacking Jacob’s daughter Dinah
who may have been the only daughter at this time. It would not have been out of
the questions for one of her half-brothers to take her for a wife.
i. Satan knows God’s plan and tries to thwart it at every
opportunity
ii. This was not just a chance act, but a carefully
scripted assault
iii. Provides insight on how Satan attacks, he is very
organized and tactical and uses our own choices against us, especially young
people.
2.
Note here that
Dinah is being held in the house of Shechem, so even though this appears to be
a genuine “request”. Shechem never
relinquishes possession of Dinah, who does not belong to him. He is attempting to negotiate from a position
of strength giving limited options to Dinah’s family.
3.
This was not part
of God’s Will, he wanted Israel
4.
The behavior of
both Abraham and Isaac indicate that God intended them to remain separate,
Esau, who married outside the appropriate genealogy, was displeasing to God and
displeasing to his father Isaac.
5.
What about other
races and cultures, should they intermingle? Argument for and against…
a)
God created the
races distinct
§
Why would God
create separate and distinct races if He intended them to eventually be blended
into one?
§
Is it racist to
ask the question?
§
Ultimately it’s
an individual’s choice, just like finding any mate, the individual needs to act
on convictions to determine what relationships are pleasing to the Lord.
b)
God also made it
possible for inter-racial unions to produce offspring
§
Why would God
make it possible to pro-create interracially if He intended humans to remain in
separate and distinct races?
§
Seems that if he
wanted races to remain separate and distinct He could have made them
incompatible with each other.
c)
We have these
conflicting questions that complicate this issue, along with the political
rhetoric that once made this a major issue
d)
Is it a matter of
individual convictions?
e)
What are the
unknown factors?
§
Why did God
create separate and distinct races?
§
What about the
dilution of cultural identity?
§
Are there genetic
ramifications?
§
Are there
spiritual ramifications?
§
Others?
D.
Genesis
34:9 - And make ye marriages
with us, [and] give your daughters unto us, and take our daughters unto you.
1.
Speaking of
plural daughters, an indication that Jacob has other daughters? Or referring to
future generations?
2.
The enemy always
wants us to compromise and dilute God’s perfect plan, God did not want Israel
a)
Romans
1:3-6 - Concerning his Son
Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the
flesh; And declared [to be] the Son of God with power, according to the spirit
of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the
faith among all nations, for his name: Among whom are ye also the
called of Jesus Christ:
E.
Genesis
34:10 - And ye shall dwell
with us: and the land shall be before you; dwell and trade ye therein, and get
you possessions therein.
1.
What’s the
problem with this offer? Hamor’s offer sounds genuine, but what he is offering God
has already promised to Jacob
2.
Compare this to
Satan in Matthew 4 taking Jesus up to a high mountain and showing Him all the
kingdoms of the world and said he would give them to Him if only He would fall
down and worship him. God has already promised to place
everything under His Son, why would He compromise and take a shortcut.
3.
Likewise, why
would Israel
4.
How often do we
sacrifice the promises that God has made to us for a shortcut an easy means to
achieve what we perceive in our own flesh eyes as the same end.
a)
God’s way is the
best way, the narrow path. Sometimes its
hard to see the destination when you are traveling a narrow path
b)
A wide path
allows you to see miles ahead and you walk by sight, a narrow path may need to
take a machete (or a sword) to chop away the overgrown vegetation, you walk by
faith that it leads to the desired destination.
c)
Which path are we
walking?
F.
Genesis
34:11 - And Shechem said unto
her father and unto her brethren, Let me find grace in your eyes, and what ye
shall say unto me I will give.
1.
So when did
Shechem show up? Did he come with his
father Hamor? The previous verses
indicate that Hamor is negotiating on behalf of Shechem who was absent.
a)
Jasher 33:26 –
And Hamor ceased speaking unto Jacob and his sons, and behold Shechem his son
had come after him, and he sat before them.
2.
Up until this
point Hamor has been doing all of the negotiating on behalf of his son
Shechem. It seems Shechem, possibly
charged with emotions jumps into the fray and makes this additional offer.
a)
Did Shechem see
something in Jacob’s face that would cause him to immediately follow-up with
this offer?
b)
It seems like a plea
of desperation
3.
It seems that the
initial offer must not have been all that appealing to Israel
G.
Genesis
34:12 - Ask me never so much
dowry and gift, and I will give according as ye shall say unto me: but give me
the damsel to wife.
1.
Matthew
4:9 – And saith unto Him,
‘All these things will I give thee, if Thou wilt fall down and worship me.’
2.
Mark 8:36 – For
what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his
soul?
a)
Think about this
verse for a moment…
b)
If you gain the
whole world for a lifetime, you enjoy it for all of a whisper in eternity
c)
Could Shechem
possibly offered Jacob anything worth the price of his daughter?
H.
Genesis
34:13 - And the sons of Jacob
answered Shechem and Hamor his father deceitfully, and said, because he had
defiled Dinah their sister:
1.
One sin leads to
another, leads to another, leads to another…Dinah went where she shouldn’t have
gone, Shechem did something he shouldn’t have done, the sons of Israel are
plotting there revenge.
a)
A carefully
scripted plot
2.
When we sin its
rarely isolated, it usually snowballs, the subsequent sins may not even be
committed by the initial sinner
3.
One quality that
Jacob passed to his sons was his capacity to employ deception where it benefits
him
I.
Genesis
34:14 - And they said unto
them, We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one that is uncircumcised;
for that [were] a reproach unto us:
1.
Reproach - חרפה cherpah, scorn, taunt
2.
Here we have the
sons of Jacob using the outward sign of their covenant with the Lord as a
manipulative tool to exact their revenge
3.
Down through the
years religious “requirements” have been used to manipulate behavior of
individuals and groups of people to gain a desired result. It’s
about control, and using God’s Word as a means of control is against
the Will of God for God is a God of Liberty and not a God of Control.
a)
The enemy seeks
to control and manipulate
b)
God seeks to
liberate
J.
Genesis
34:15 - But in this will we
consent unto you: If ye will be as we [be], that every male of you be
circumcised;
1.
Remember that
circumcision normally takes place when the child is 8 days old, not grown adult
males
2.
Would this bring
them under the covenant of circumcision that God made with Abraham?
3.
Though this was
an insincere effort, it is not enough to only signify an outward expression,
but must be instructed of the meaning, understanding and power behind it.
K.
Genesis
34:16 - Then will we give our
daughters unto you, and we will take your daughters to us, and we will dwell
with you, and we will become one people.
L.
Genesis
34:17 - But if ye will not
hearken unto us, to be circumcised; then will we take our daughter, and we will
be gone.
M.
Genesis
34:18 - And their words
pleased Hamor, and Shechem Hamor's son.
1.
Shechem must have
really loved Dinah (or at least thought he did) and Hamor must have really
loved his son
2.
Did the Hivites
have any knowledge of the covenant?
3.
Why was Shechem
so willing to go through with this without even attempting to negotiate? It
appears that he views this as a good deal?
4.
What was the
covenant
a)
Genesis
17:7-10 – And I will
establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their
generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed
after thee. And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein
thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan
b)
So by being
circumcised were they brought into this covenant?
c)
Read on…
II.
The Circumcision of the Males of Shechem (v.19-24)
A.
Genesis
34:19 - And the young man
deferred not to do the thing, because he had delight in Jacob's daughter: and
he [was] more honourable than all the house of his father.
1.
If Shechem is
more honorable than the rest of his father’s house, this doesn’t speak well for
his father’s house.
a)
Could read that
Shechem was the most respected among his father’s house
2.
Nonetheless, it
does appear that Shechem is attempting to right a wrong in the best way he
knows how
B.
Genesis
34:20 - And Hamor and Shechem
his son came unto the gate of their city, and communed with the men of their
city, saying,
1.
Gate of the city
– place of judgment, city hall
C.
Genesis
34:21 - These men [are] peaceable
with us; therefore let them dwell in the land, and trade therein; for the land,
behold, [it is] large enough for them; let us take their daughters to us for
wives, and let us give them our daughters.
D.
Genesis
34:22 - Only herein will the
men consent unto us for to dwell with us, to be one people, if every male among
us be circumcised, as they [are] circumcised.
E.
Genesis
34:23 - [Shall] not their
cattle and their substance and every beast of theirs [be] ours? only let us
consent unto them, and they will dwell with us.
1.
Shechem is
himself being deceitful in that he is convincing his people to go through with
this in order to possess the belongings of Israel
2.
The men were only
interested in being circumcised for the purpose of gaining material wealth.
F.
Genesis
34:24 - And unto Hamor and
unto Shechem his son hearkened all that went out of the gate of his city; and
every male was circumcised, all that went out of the gate of his city.
1.
Picture whats
going on here, imagine the logistics…
2.
Was there a line,
were these men standing in line for this?
3.
What were the
wives of these men thinking? “I don’t think this is a good idea”
III.
Exacting of Revenge (v.25-31)
A.
Genesis
34:25 - And it came to pass
on the third day, when they were sore, that two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon
and Levi, Dinah's brethren, took each man his sword, and came upon the city
boldly, and slew all the males.
1.
Third day
reference
2.
Simeon and Levi
were full brothers to Dinah, acted as Kinsman redeemers
a)
What these
brothers failed to determine was Dinah’s level of censent
b)
Why the entire
city and not just Shechem?
3.
Was this act
condoned by God?
a)
He allowed it to
happen, just like He allows many things to happen that in our eyes seem so
cruel and inhumane, but He has a higher purpose.
b)
There is no passage
that provides any insight to God’s approval or disapproval in Genesis, we can
clearly see though that Jacob strongly opposed and lived in fear because of it.
c)
Jasher 33:52 –
And they circumcised Shechem and Hamor his father, and the five brothers of
Shechem, and then every one rose up and went home, for this thing was from the
Lord against the city of Shechem, and from the Lord was Simeon’s counsel in
this matter, in order that the Lord might deliver the city of Scechem into the
hands of Jacob’s two sons.
§
At least according
to Jasher this seems to have been condoned by God.
4.
Even with all the
males in the city in a delicate state, this act seems supernatural for two men
to wipe out an entire city
a)
Draws
similarities to the two angels that came to save Lot
and his family before the destruction
b)
The two witnesses
of Revelation 11 who will prophecy for 1,260 days before they are killed by the
enemy
5.
Genesis
27:40 – And by the sword
shalt thou live, and shalt serve thy brother…
a)
Words spoken by
Isaac over his son Esau, these sons of Jacob have embraced that lifestyle.
B.
Genesis
34:26 - And they slew Hamor
and Shechem his son with the edge of the sword, and took Dinah out of Shechem's house, and went out.
1.
Notice that Dinah
was not returned to Jacob to await the marriage, she was living in the house of
Shechem, possibly against her will
2.
Another
similarity to what the angels did with Lot ,
took him and his family out of his house to safety
3.
Were Simeon and
Levi wrong to do what they did? This
verse may provide justification for their actions, if Dinah was being held
against her will and locked away in a stronghold then it seems that their
actions as full blood brothers rescuing their sister by any and all means
necessary was completely justified.
a)
Just like Abraham
rescued Lot and his family when they were captured and carried
away by the unified invasion force from Babylonia .
b)
Just like Simeon
and Levi demonstrated that there is no length they would not go to rescue their
sister, there is no length that the Lord will not go to rescue even one of his
own “lost sheep”
C.
Genesis
34:27 - The sons of Jacob
came upon the slain, and spoiled the city, because they had defiled their
sister.
1.
Not only did they
kill all of the men, they took all of their possessions
a)
Opposite of
Shechem’s intentions in v. 23
2.
No indication
that Dinah was unhappy with them for rescuing her, another indication she was
being held against her will.
D.
Genesis
34:28 - They took their
sheep, and their oxen, and their asses, and that which [was] in the city, and
that which [was] in the field,
1.
That which the Hivites
thought they would gain through the performance of ritual circumcision, became
what they lost, including their very lives
2.
Sowing and
reaping
E.
Genesis
34:29 - And all their wealth,
and all their little ones, and their wives took they captive, and spoiled even
all that [was] in the house.
1.
What did they do
with all of the captive women and children?
2.
Likely they
became servants
F.
Genesis
34:30 - And Jacob said to
Simeon and Levi, Ye have troubled me
to make me to stink among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and
the Perizzites: and I [being] few in number, they shall gather themselves
together against me, and slay me; and I shall be destroyed, I and my house.
1.
Jacob, in his
flesh, shows his lack of faith in a righteous God who has made a covenant with
him.
2.
This signifies
the beginning of “Jacob’s trouble” in the land a period of six years and
foreshadows end times prophecy of Jeremiah
a)
Jeremiah
30:7 - Alas! for that day [is] great, so that none
[is] like it: it [is] even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved
out of it.
b)
God was with Israel
G.
Genesis
34:31 - And they said, Should
he deal with our sister as with an harlot?
1.
Just because the
answer to this question is obviously no, it does not necessarily justify the
slaughter of the entire city.
2.
It doesn’t
necessarily rebuke it either
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