Once upon a time there was a family of God in the land of Canaan. This family was blessed with many children-eleven sons and a daughter. They were travelers and strangers in Canaan for they were going to a promise land. At this point in time they settled in Shalem, a city of Shechem. They lived in tent, so they pitch their tent outside the city on a parcel of land bought by their father. They have relationship with God; they knew God and worship Him. They were covenant carriers, and as such made a special place where they worshipped Him-El-Elohel-Israel (God, the God of Israel).
Dinah, the only daughter of the family, usually stayed at home when her brothers were away in the field with their animals-cattle, sheep and goats. She sometimes helped with the house chores and when there was nothing to do at home, she played around. They had been in this land for about seven to eight years. They were quite acquainted with the people of the land. One day, after attending to the normal house chores, sister Dinah decided to visit her friends in the city as usual, but this time not in the company of her brothers. She went alone and something happened
Genesis 33:18-20 (NKJV)
Then Jacob came safely to the city of Shechem, which [is] in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padan Aram; and he pitched his tent before the city.
And he bought the parcel of land, where he had pitched his tent, from the children of Hamor, Shechem's father, for one hundred pieces of money.
Then he erected an altar there and called it El Elohe Israel.
They were sojourning in Shechem. They did not have a continue city there as a result they built temporary place of abode (camp) and lived in tent. They had their own lifestyles which they strictly adhered to. They did not abandon their God for the gods of the land.
Genesis 34:1 (KJV)
And Dinah the daughter of Leah, which she bare unto Jacob, went out to see the daughters of the land.
ONE DAY
She went out to see, and to be seen. Sister Dinah went out for a purpose,-to see her friends (the young women living in the land), but it may be with same thought of seeing the sons of the land too. Her pretence was to see the daughters of the land, to see how they dressed, and how they danced, and what was fashionable among them. She went out to get acquaintance with those Canaanites, and to learn their ways. Her vain curiosity exposed her to danger. The pride and vanity of young people push them into many snares. She went out perhaps unknown to her father but by the connivance of her mother ot see the daughters of the land. You must be wary of where you go, or the occasion/function you attend-carnivals, parties, etc. Don’t allow sentiment to push you there: “It is my friend, relative, boss etc that is organizing the party, therefore I must attend.” Foul! Have you asked God? There may be danger ahead.
Judges19
19. Then they said, Behold, [there is] a feast of the LORD in Shiloh yearly [in a place] which [is] on the north side of Bethel, on the east side of the highway that goeth up from Bethel to Shechem, and on the south of Lebonah.
20. Therefore they commanded the children of Benjamin, saying, Go and lie in wait in the vineyards;
21. And see, and, behold, if the daughters of Shiloh come out to dance in dances, then come ye out of the vineyards, and catch you every man his wife of the daughters of Shiloh, and go to the land of Benjamin.
22. And it shall be, when their fathers or their brethren come unto us to complain, that we will say unto them, be favourable unto them for our sakes: because we reserved not to each man his wife in the war: for ye did not give unto them at this time, [that] ye should be guilty.
23. And the children of Benjamin did so, and took [them] wives, according to their number, of them that danced, whom they caught: and they went and returned unto their inheritance, and repaired the cities, and dwelt in them.
You need to enquire from God, should I go? Should I stay back at home? They were women in Shiloh-house of God. They were people of God so to say. They went to that annual carnival and became wives overnight. Prematurely!
And Shechem saw her……
Genesis 34:2 (KJV).And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he took her, and lay with her, and defiled her.
It is highly probable that sister Dinah had been often and freely mixing in the society of the palace and she, being simple an inexperienced, and vain young woman, had been flattered by the attention of the ruler’s son. Shechem the prince of the country, but a slave to his own lusts, took her and raped.
(To be continued)
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