Wednesday Bible Study 5/25/22

Genesis 34

The Dinah Incident (34:1-24)

1. A local prince violates Dinah and then wants to marry her

This chapter contains one of the most shameful incidents in Israel’s history.

When the Bible shows its leaders and heroes in such terrible, plain truth, we can know for sure that it’s a book from God.

Men don’t normally write about themselves and their ancestors like this.

Genesis 34:1–4 NKJV

1 Now Dinah the daughter of Leah, whom she had borne to Jacob, went out to see the daughters of the land. 2 And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he took her and lay with her, and violated her. 3 His soul was strongly attracted to Dinah the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the young woman and spoke kindly to the young woman. 4 So Shechem spoke to his father Hamor, saying, “Get me this young woman as a wife.”

Violated = Raped

Remember: Jacob brought his family to a place God didn’t really want them to be.

He had directed them to Bethel

Genesis 31:13 NKJV

13 I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed the pillar and where you made a vow to Me. Now arise, get out of this land, and return to the land of your family.’ ”

Instead, Jacob took his family to Shechem and it did a lot of harm to them.

Jacob chose a place to live for all the wrong reasons.

He wanted to be close to the city, even though the city was ungodly

God called him to Bethel

Jacob’s poor choice of a place to live left his family open to ungodly influence.

V. 1 tells us that Dinah “went out to see the daughters of the land.”

She wasn’t looking for men or trouble

She’s the sole daughter of eleven brothers - of course she needed some female companionship!

But just like today, it was risky for an unmarried woman to venture out on her own.

v. 2 - Shechem, who happens to be a prince of Shechem the city, sees her, violates her, and causes her to suffer.

“took her” in Hebrew is the phrase vayina-e-hah which literally means, “he made her suffer”

Dinah didn’t want any of what happened to her, therefore this was rape.

v. 3 After this, Shechem fell in love with Dinah

Violence and love are two juxtaposing portrayals

So he “spoke kindly” to her in order to convince her to marry him - either because he really did think he loved her or because he hoped her agreement to marry him would render him acceptable ot her family, who would then not seek to exact revenge for the rape.

What ever the reason, he clearly was not confident that his feelings were reciprocated by Dinah, so he kept her under a form of house arrest (kidnapping, really)

v. 4 Shechem tells his father “GET me this young woman as a wife.”

His view of women (and much of the world’s view of women at the time): They were property to be acquired

“Hamor” means DONKEY in Hebrew

Shechem was therefore the “son of a donkey”

I imagine that over the years this would’ve made a lot of ancient Israelites laugh as the told this story!

2. Jacob’s lack of outrage; the anger of Simeon and Levi (v. 5-7)

Genesis 34:5–7 NKJV

5 And Jacob heard that he had defiled Dinah his daughter. Now his sons were with his livestock in the field; so Jacob held his peace until they came. 6 Then Hamor the father of Shechem went out to Jacob to speak with him. 7 And the sons of Jacob came in from the field when they heard it; and the men were grieved and very angry, because he had done a disgraceful thing in Israel by lying with Jacob’s daughter, a thing which ought not to be done.

Jacob shows a lack of outrage here; he seemed to take the news of his daughter’s rape easily.

His refusal to do what is right in regard to his family will encourage tow of his sons to DO SOMETHING - however, it was not a godly response.

When God-appointed leaders do not take appropriate leadership, it creates a void - often that void is filled sinfully.

When God’s appointed leaders don’t stand up for what is right in the day the live in, it creates a void. Someone will fill that void.

Dinah’s brothers feel the responsibility to protect their sister - their father did not accept that responsibility. It should have been Jacob.

3. Hamor and Shechem seek to arrange the marriage of Dinah (v. 8-12)

Genesis 34:8–12 NKJV

8 But Hamor spoke with them, saying, “The soul of my son Shechem longs for your daughter. Please give her to him as a wife. 9 And make marriages with us; give your daughters to us, and take our daughters to yourselves. 10 So you shall dwell with us, and the land shall be before you. Dwell and trade in it, and acquire possessions for yourselves in it.” 11 Then Shechem said to her father and her brothers, “Let me find favor in your eyes, and whatever you say to me I will give. 12 Ask me ever so much dowry and gift, and I will give according to what you say to me; but give me the young woman as a wife.”

Hamor and Shechem challenge Jacob and his family to intermarry with them, Canaanites in the land

This was harmful to a family that has such a big plan in God’s redemptive plan

“Anything you want!” They may have thought they were generous with their offer. They thought money and marriage could make her disgrace go away.

Sound familiar?

4. The counteroffer of Simeon and Levi: all the men of the city of Shechem should be circumcised (v. 13-17)

Genesis 34:13–17 NKJV

13 But the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father, and spoke deceitfully, because he had defiled Dinah their sister. 14 And they said to them, “We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one who is uncircumcised, for that would be a reproach to us. 15 But on this condition we will consent to you: If you will become as we are, if every male of you is circumcised, 16 then we will give our daughters to you, and we will take your daughters to us; and we will dwell with you, and we will become one people. 17 But if you will not heed us and be circumcised, then we will take our daughter and be gone.”

It sounds spiritual: Be like one of us. Commit yourselves to our God

But their plan had evil intentions

Something that was so holy to God - the sign of his covenant with His people - should never be used like this as revenge

5. Hamor and Shechem convince the men of the city to go along with the plan (v. 18-24)

Genesis 34:18–24 NKJV

18 And their words pleased Hamor and Shechem, Hamor’s son. 19 So the young man did not delay to do the thing, because he delighted in Jacob’s daughter. He was more honorable than all the household of his father. 20 And Hamor and Shechem his son came to the gate of their city, and spoke with the men of their city, saying: 21 “These men are at peace with us. Therefore let them dwell in the land and trade in it. For indeed the land is large enough for them. Let us take their daughters to us as wives, and let us give them our daughters. 22 Only on this condition will the men consent to dwell with us, to be one people: if every male among us is circumcised as they are circumcised. 23 Will not their livestock, their property, and every animal of theirs be ours? Only let us consent to them, and they will dwell with us.” 24 And all who went out of the gate of his city heeded Hamor and Shechem his son; every male was circumcised, all who went out of the gate of his city.

“And their words pleased Hamor and Shechem”

They were pleased with this plan

Beyond the obviously deep attraction Shechem has for Dinah, they were also pleased to begin to marry into a family so large, wealthy, and influential. “Will not their livestock, their property, and every animal of theirs be ours?” (v. 23)

It’s crazy what men will do for women and money.

A whole city of men submits to circumcision so they can take women and possessions

B. Simeon and Levi destroy the city of Shechem (34:25-31)

1. The massacre of the men of the city of Shechem (v. 25)

Genesis 34:25 NKJV

25 Now it came to pass on the third day, when they were in pain, that two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brothers, each took his sword and came boldly upon the city and killed all the males.

While the men were still in pain on the third day…yikes…they came and killed all the males

This wasn’t just a brutal, deceptive act, but it also disgraced God’s covenant of circumcision

A violent act of deception

It probably wasn’t just Simeon and Levi do the killing

It was also a betrayal of trust

2. They rescue Dinah and plunder the city (v. 26-29)

Genesis 34:26–29 NKJV

26 And they killed Hamor and Shechem his son with the edge of the sword, and took Dinah from Shechem’s house, and went out. 27 The sons of Jacob came upon the slain, and plundered the city, because their sister had been defiled. 28 They took their sheep, their oxen, and their donkeys, what was in the city and what was in the field, 29 and all their wealth. All their little ones and their wives they took captive; and they plundered even all that was in the houses.

They killed Hamor and Shechem

They took everything from their homes (maybe they thought God blessed their murderous plans with great success)

3. Jacob’s reaction (v. 30-31)

Genesis 34:30–31 NKJV

30 Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, “You have troubled me by making me obnoxious among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites; and since I am few in number, they will gather themselves together against me and kill me. I shall be destroyed, my household and I.” 31 But they said, “Should he treat our sister like a harlot?”

Who is Jacob the most concerned about here? Himself.

You have troubled me by making me obnoxious among the inhabitants of the land

This is why Jacob isn’t always called by his new name, Israel

What about what HE had done?

He had passed his own deceitful nature on to his boys

They heard you lie to Esau and start northwest after he went southeast.

They saw your interest in the fat pastures when you pitched your tent at Shechem

You said nothing when Dinah was violated

Talk to God about your own sin before talking to these boys about theirs!

Genesis 3. Jacob’s Reaction (30–31)

i. When Jacob was about to die, he prophesied over each of his 12 sons. This is what he said about Simeon and Levi: Simeon and Levi are brothers; instruments of cruelty are in their dwelling place. Let not my soul enter their council; let not my honor be united to their assembly; for in their anger they slew a man, and in their self-will they hamstrung an ox. Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce; and their wrath, for it is cruel! I will divide them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel. (Genesis 49:5–7) He saw Simeon and Levi for who they were, but he rebuked them far too late.

ii. The prophetic word of God through Jacob proved true. God did in fact both divide the tribes of Simeon and Levi, and scatter them among Israel. But, significantly, the way it happened for each tribe was different. The tribe of Simeon, because of their lack of faithfulness, was effectively dissolved as a tribe, and the tribe of Simeon was absorbed into the tribal area of Judah. The tribe of Levi was also scattered, but because of the faithfulness of this tribe during the rebellion of the golden calf (Exodus 32:26–28), the tribe was scattered as a blessing throughout the whole nation of Israel. Both were scattered, but one as a blessing and the other as curse.

Genesis 35

Revival in Jacob’s Life

A. Jacob returns to Bethel (35:1-15)

1. God speaks to Jacob, calling him back to Bethel (v. 1)

Genesis 35:1 NKJV

1 Then God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there; and make an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you fled from the face of Esau your brother.”

The whole Shechem incident happened because Jacob went there instead of Bethel, where he was supposed to be.

The only cure for worldliness: Separate yourself from it

Be where God wants you to be

We bring a lot of difficulty on ourselves and loved ones when we’re living in disobedience

“Make an altar there to God.”

Return to worship

When you feel you’ve gone down the wrong path, get back to a life of worship

Looking back on his life, I’m sure Jacob felt like his experience with God at Bethel was the high point of his life

But he came to a place where he refused to believe that his best years with God were behind him.

He returned to his first love, and God blessed it

Where moving to Shechem caused harm to his family, moving back to Bethel brought good things to them.

As parents, the best thing we can do for our children is to be in God’s will ourselves!

2. The cleansing of Jacob’s family

Genesis 35:2–4 NKJV

2 And Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, “Put away the foreign gods that are among you, purify yourselves, and change your garments. 3 Then let us arise and go up to Bethel; and I will make an altar there to God, who answered me in the day of my distress and has been with me in the way which I have gone.” 4 So they gave Jacob all the foreign gods which were in their hands, and the earrings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the terebinth tree which was by Shechem.

Jacob’s family only got right with God after he did.

This shows us the tremendous leadership role men have within their families.

A man resisting God will see the same effect in his children

A man who gets right with God will see that effect in his family also.

Jacob’s children kept foreign gods because their mother did. Rachel clung to the household idols of her father (31:19)

No matter how hard we try to teach our children godly conduct, they will continue to do what we do.

Jacob also told them “change your garments”

In the Bible, garments symbolize character

Ephesians 4:22–24 NKJV

22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

Their earrings also had a pagan connection.

It is important for everyone to take stock of what they may have in their home that is ungodly or connected to the occult and promptly get rid of those things!

3. God’s protection of Jacob; he comes to Bethel

Genesis 35:5–7 NKJV

5 And they journeyed, and the terror of God was upon the cities that were all around them, and they did not pursue the sons of Jacob. 6 So Jacob came to Luz (that is, Bethel), which is in the land of Canaan, he and all the people who were with him. 7 And he built an altar there and called the place El Bethel, because there God appeared to him when he fled from the face of his brother.

It would have been fair for God to leave Jacob to the consequences of his sinful lack of leadership in the family

But His grace covered Jacob even when his sin had made he and his family vulnerable.

They needed protection because of the massacre at Shechem had made them hated among the Canaanites

He built an altar there - though he had sinned, he now did what was right before God.

It was dangerous for Jacob to set out to Bethel.

It was even more dangerous for him to disobey God.

The only thing that could save him was a radical obedience to the Lord

No matter what the circumstances look like, the safest place is to do the will of God!

4. The death of Deborah, Rebekah’s beloved nurse (v. 8)

Genesis 35:8 NKJV

8 Now Deborah, Rebekah’s nurse, died, and she was buried below Bethel under the terebinth tree. So the name of it was called Allon Bachuth.

We don’t know anything of this woman before this account.

Obviously, she was a beloved member of the family because they named the place where she was buried Allon Bachuth, which means “oak of weeping”

5. God speaks to Jacob again at Bethel (v. 9-15)

Genesis 35:9–15 NKJV

9 Then God appeared to Jacob again, when he came from Padan Aram, and blessed him. 10 And God said to him, “Your name is Jacob; your name shall not be called Jacob anymore, but Israel shall be your name.” So He called his name Israel. 11 Also God said to him: “I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall proceed from you, and kings shall come from your body. 12 The land which I gave Abraham and Isaac I give to you; and to your descendants after you I give this land.” 13 Then God went up from him in the place where He talked with him. 14 So Jacob set up a pillar in the place where He talked with him, a pillar of stone; and he poured a drink offering on it, and he poured oil on it. 15 And Jacob called the name of the place where God spoke with him, Bethel.

When Jacob finally arrived at the place God told him to go, he immediately found great blessing.

God appeared to him

God bless him

God called him by his new name, Israel

This was a reminder: he had been acting like Jacob in stead of Israel

Yet, God wanted to set his mind on the new man He made him to be.

God does the same thing with us! He reminds us of who we are in Him. He wants us to remember and LIVE in the great names He gives us!

Relationship was restored.

This is a great example of what it means to get back to your first love.

Revelation 2:4–5 NKJV

4 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.

Jacob REMEMBERED to go back to Bethel

Jacob REPENTED by getting rid of all the idols and by building an altar and worshiping God as before.

And then he gave something wonderful to Jacob: a reminder of his place in God’s great covenant that He began with his grandfather, Abraham.

Jacob didn’t hear anything new from God hear, he just needed to be reminded of what was true, and encouraged to cling to it.

B. The birth of Benjamin and the death of Rachel (35:16-26)

1. The birth of another son (v. 16-17)

Genesis 35:16–17 NKJV

16 Then they journeyed from Bethel. And when there was but a little distance to go to Ephrath, Rachel labored in childbirth, and she had hard labor. 17 Now it came to pass, when she was in hard labor, that the midwife said to her, “Do not fear; you will have this son also.”

Unlike in years past, there doesn’t seem to be contentiousness and competitiveness surrounding the birth of this last son. (Probably because they were all older at this time)

2. The naming of the last son (v. 18)

Genesis 35:18 NKJV

18 And so it was, as her soul was departing (for she died), that she called his name Ben-Oni; but his father called him Benjamin.

Ben-Oni: “son of my sorrow”

But Jacob called him Benjamin “son of my right hand”

The right side was associated with greater strength and honor, because most people are right handed

Benjamin carries the idea of “son of my strength” or “son of my honor”

Psalm 16:8 NKJV

8 I have set the Lord always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.

Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father, the position of strength and honor

Colossians 3:1 NKJV

1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.

3. The death and burial of Rachel (v. 19-20)

Genesis 35:19–20 NKJV

19 So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem). 20 And Jacob set a pillar on her grave, which is the pillar of Rachel’s grave to this day.

Rachel’s death was a tragic fulfillment of the curse Jacob himself pronounced on the one who stole the idols of Laban

Genesis 31:32 NKJV

32 With whomever you find your gods, do not let him live. In the presence of our brethren, identify what I have of yours and take it with you.” For Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen them.

In 30:1, Rachel pleaded with Jacob, Give me children, or else I die! As it happened, both became true.

She had children and died as a result.

4. Reuben’s sin with his father’s concubine (v. 21-22a)

Genesis 35:21–22 NKJV

21 Then Israel journeyed and pitched his tent beyond the tower of Eder. 22 And it happened, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father’s concubine; and Israel heard about it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve:

Through their sin, Reuben, Simeon, and Levi seemed to disqualify themselves from the high calling of Abraham’s blessing

It will be up to the fourth son, Judah, to bring forth the Messiah

5. Jacob’s twelve sons (v. 22b-26)

Genesis 35:22–26 NKJV

22 And it happened, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father’s concubine; and Israel heard about it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve: 23 the sons of Leah were Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn, and Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun; 24 the sons of Rachel were Joseph and Benjamin; 25 the sons of Bilhah, Rachel’s maidservant, were Dan and Naphtali; 26 and the sons of Zilpah, Leah’s maidservant, were Gad and Asher. These were the sons of Jacob who were born to him in Padan Aram.

Jacob had 12 sons - from what we’ve seen in the last few chapters, this was not a collection of amazingly spiritual men.

This was actually a severely dysfunctional family.

God will use this family, not because they were great or spiritual men, but because He chose them by His grace alone!

C. The death of Isaac (35:27-29)

1. Jacob visits his father Isaac one last time (v. 27)

Genesis 35:27 NKJV

27 Then Jacob came to his father Isaac at Mamre, or Kirjath Arba (that is, Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac had dwelt.

Remember, Jacob had left his father’s home over 20 years earlier thinking his father’s death was at hand

Now, unexpectedly, he’s able to see his father one last time before death.

2. Jacob and Esau bury their father together (v. 28-29)

Genesis 35:28–29 NKJV

28 Now the days of Isaac were one hundred and eighty years. 29 So Isaac breathed his last and died, and was gathered to his people, being old and full of days. And his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.

The sons had already been brought together by God’s hand.

Now they worked together again, united by the death of their father.