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A HORRIFYING EXPERIENCE IN SHECHEM

Text: Genesis 34
5 February 2013

(I) A HORRIFYING EXPERIENCE IN SHECHEM

Genesis 34:1-4

1. Jacob had settled down in Shechem

2. Dinah went out to see her friends in Shechem

3. Prince Shechem, son of Hamor

a) Saw Dinah

b) Raped her

c) Asked his father Hamor to ask Jacob for her hand in marriage

(II) A TENSE MOMENT

1. Jacob and his sons (Genesis 34:1-7)

a) Jacob kept silent after he heard about the rape of Dinah (Genesis 34:5)

b) The reaction of his sons (Genesis 34:7)

i) Grieved

ii) Very angry

2. Hamor (Genesis 34:8-10)

a) Hamor asks for Dinah’s hand in marriage on behalf of his son

b) He pleads the sincere love of Shechem for Dinah

c) He offers a treaty

i) Marriage alliances

ii) Trade

iii) Settling in the land

3. Shechem (Genesis 34:11-12)

a) He offers to pay any dowry Jacob asks

b) He asks humbly for the hand of Dinah in marriage

(III) THE DECEIT OF THE SONS OF JACOB

Genesis 34:13-17

1. They appear to consent to the request for marriage

2. However they insisted that if marriage is to take place, the rite of circumcision must be observed

(IV) ACCEPTANCE OF HAMOR AND SHECHEM

Genesis 34:18-24

1. Hamor and Shechem were pleased with the offer

2. They spoke to the men in the city of Shechem about the rite of circumcision

3. The men listened to their chieftain and his prince and were circumcised

(V) THE MASSACRE OF THE CITY OF SHECHEM

Genesis 34:25-29

1. Simeon and Levi were the perpetrators

2. They went into the city of Shechem on the third day after the circumcision

3. They slew Hamor and Shechem

4. They took Dinah from Shechem’s home

5. They plundered the city of Shechem

6. They took captive all the women and children

(VI) THE REBUKE OF JACOB

Genesis 34:30-31

1. Jacob rebuked Simeon and Levi for their rash act

2. Their family was now in danger of reprisal from the other inhabitants of Canaan

3. Simeon and Levi remained stubbornly unrepentant!