“And Dinah…went out to see the daughters of the land.”
Vs.1
Jacob bought ground in the land of Canaan, by the city of Shalem, apparently planning to make it his home. He has just met with Esau again and all is well between them. (Read Gen 28:1 - They were not to take a wife of the Canaan, like Esau did.)
Jacob’s daughter by Leah, Dinah, decides to go out to see the daughters of the land. Some sources state she may have been going to a festival or party-type gathering. It seems many agree with Josephus, a Bible historian, that the gathering was likely an annual festival of nature worship. What we do know is that she went to see the daughters of Canaan, girls Dinah shouldn’t have had any fellowship with. While out, Shechem, the son of Hamor (who Jacob had purchased the land from), saw Dinah, took her and defiled her. The next verse tells us that he loved her, his soul clave unto her and he spoke kindly unto her, so he asked his father to arrange the marriage. He father was told not to marry a daughter of Canaan, thus Dinah shouldn’t have been hanging out with those girls and neither should she get tangled up with a man of Canaan. But both happened to her because she wanted friends.
Meanwhile, Dinah went home and told Daddy what had happened. The Bible says that Jacob, “held his peace until they (Dinah’s brothers) were come.” Her brothers eventually avenged for Dinah, meaning they fought for her cause, resulting in the death of all that cities men.
Important Facts to Consider:
Dinah was the only girls with 12 brothers
She was probably 15 or 16 at the time
Most likely she was spoiled and used to getting what she wanted.
She probably craved female companionship like most women do.
Dinah’s decision to go off “to Town” alone to make friends or maybe hang out with friends she had already made affected the rest of her life. One commentator said that Dinah “went out to see” the world and it’s people instead of being a “keeper at home” like young ladies are supposed to be. She probably was of marrying age, but a husband shouldn’t have been looked for in Canaan. I think it’s safe to say that single women of marrying age and younger should be extra careful in what they do and where they go. The world is alluring but it is oh, so dangerous. The same thing that happened to Dinah, defilement (rape), may not happen to you but other life changing things could.
Be careful who you become friends with and where you spend your time, it will change your life forever, good or bad.
*Note: I know that rape is a serious thing and I can’t excuse the fact that Shechem did what he did, but I think it could have been prevented if Dinah hadn’t gone where she shouldn’t have to make friends with girls she shouldn’t have. I believe Shechem saw her, lusted after her and acted on that lust, but I think that he did love her. The Story seems different in the case of Amnon and Tamar in 2 Sam. 13, he defiled her, but then immediately after the act it says that he hated her more then he had loved her before the act. In any case, God gives healing to those who have gone through these situations, but there are some ways to safe guard against it happening to you.
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