Dinah Bible Study

Dinah Bible Study

Dinah Story

Welcome to our Christianity Oasis Daily Bread study program. This is our Dinah Bible study on the very interesting Dinah story in the Bible and how it affects your be-YOU-tiful Christian walk.

Dinah Bible Study
Dinah Story

It's good to have you back again. Let's dig into our slice of the Bible with Daily Bread.

The last thing we learned, was that Jacob had returned to Canaan and Esau welcomed him peacefully. Jacob built a house and shelters for his cattle in a city called Succoth.

There was a city about 20 miles west of there called Shechem. It was named after the son of Hamor who was the prince of that land. They were descendants of Canaan. Jacob went to Shechem and bought a field from Hamor's children and put up an altar there.

One day, Dinah, which is Jacob and Leah's daughter, went out to make some friends in the city, and when Shechem saw her, he took advantage of her and seduced her. He fell in love with her and asked Hamor to get Dinah to be his wife.

Jacob heard what Shechem had done to his daughter. His sons were out in the field with the cattle, and Jacob didn't say anything until they came in. Hamor went to talk to Jacob when Jacob's sons heard what happened. They were very upset and angry because Shechem not only brought shame to Dinah, but to their whole family as well.

Hamor began, My son Shechem loves you daughter. I beg you, give her to him to be his wife. Let your daughters marry our people and take our daughters to marry your people and live and trade peacefully in the land.

Dinah Bible Study Lesson
Dinah Story Explanation

Shechem continued, Let me find grace in your eyes and whatever you ask, I will give you. Ask for as big of a dowry as you wish and I will pay it, but give me your daughter to be my wife.

Well, Jacob's sons had no intention of giving their sister to Shechem. In revenge they said, We can't give her to you unless all the males of your people be circumcised as we are, then we'll give our daughters to marry your people and take your daughters to marry us and we'll become one people. But if you don't, we'll take Dinah and be gone.

Hamor and Shechem accepted their offer because Shechem's soul longed for Dinah so badly. And they didn't hesitate. All the men of the city agreed to it because they figured that all of Jacob's cattle and property would become part theirs too as part of the agreement.

On the third day, two of Jacob's sons, Simeon and Levi, Dinah's brothers each took a sword and killed every male in the city of Shechem. They took all their livestock and valuables and they took the women and children of the city captive. They took their sister Dinah home.

Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, You have caused me trouble, because Jacob had made the deal, not knowing that Simeon and Levi were deceiving Shechem. He said, Now I'll stink to the Canaanites and the people of this land and because my family is small compared to all of them, they'll gather together and kill me and I and my family will be destroyed.

Dinah Bible Story Summary
Dinah Bible Story Conclusion

Simeon and Levi answered, Should Shechem be able to treat our sister like a harlot? They didn't much care how much Shechem loved Dinah. An injustice was done, and they felt like they had to defend their sister and their family. It doesn't sound as if the people of the land had Shechem's happiness in mind either. They agreed to the deal as to profit for themselves dishonestly.

Wow ... What a mess. How are we to comprehend the moral of this story. Many will think that since Shechem loved Dinah, what was wrong. Others will believe that since a deal about circumcision had been made, that it was all good. Still others, especially parents and family members, will see it differently in that this man seduced their young daughter or sister and defiled her.

The Truth will be revealed. What does God think about it all? If God disagreed with their actions, you can bet that misfortune will be ahead for Simeon and Levi. Come back and find out next time as we find out the answer to that and about another baby son for Jacob on Daily Bread.

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