DINAH
Learn: Matthew 5:16
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Read: Genesis 33: 18-20; 34:1-31
1.According to Genesis 33: 18 where had Jacob settled after coming back to the land of Canaan from Padan-Aram?
2. According to verse 19 of Genesis 33, how do we know that Jacob planned to stay in this location for some period of time?
3. What was one of the first things that Jacob did upon settling in this place? Genesis 33:20
4. The meaning of El-Elohe-Israel is “a mighty God is the God of Israel.” What had occurred shortly before Jacob’s settling here that he wanted to commemorate by naming his place of worship in this way? Review Genesis 33 if needed.
NOTE: We are reminded again of Jacob’s commitment to the LORD, but at the same time realize that he is living in the world that is constantly at war with God and his people.
5. Who was Dinah? Genesis 34:1a
6. Where did Dinah go in her search for companionship of other girls her age? Genesis 34:1b
7. Why would fellowship with the daughters of the land, who were pagan idol worshippers raised in ungodly homes, be dangerous? I Corinthians 15:33; Proverbs 22:24, 25
8. What are some of the dangers of spending time in ungodly company? Proverbs 1:10a, 29-31; 4:14-17, 19; 5:3-5, 6b
9. What happened to Dinah because she was away from her family and unprotected from the world? Genesis 34:2
10. What the prince of Shechem did to Dinah was wicked. After such a wicked act, what change came to the heart of Shechem? vv 3, 4
11. Jacob was no doubt grief-stricken and angry over what had been done to Dinah, but the situation was difficult, and Jacob had no immediate answer. How did Jacob respond when he heard what had happened to his daughter? v 5
12. What did Hamor do in response to his son Shechem’s desire to gain Dinah for his wife? vv 6, 8-10
13. Considering the wickedness that Shechem had done to Dinah, what was missing in Shechem’s request to gain Dinah for his wife? vv 11, 12
14. What were Dinah’s brother’s feelings concerning what had been done to their sister? v 7a
NOTE: Dinah was the only and beloved sister in a large family of boys, and they had all been taught the sacredness of the marriage relation. They all knew of God’s purpose to raise up a holy nation through their family, and that the maintenance of national integrity and purity was essential to assure God’s continued blessing upon them. The anger of the brothers must have been very evident, but apparently made little impression on Hamor, as he continued to urge them to accept his proposition. THE GENESIS RECORD Dr. Henry Morris p 511
15. What PHRASE in verse 7 defines why the brother’s anger was great against Shechem?
16. How did the sons of Jacob answer the proposal of marriage for their sister Dinah by Shechem? vv 14-17
17. Did Shechem and Hamor agree to the terms which the sons of Jacob proposed?
vv 18-19, Explain.
18. How did Hamor and Shechem convince the whole city to agree to such exorbitant terms which on the surface would only seem to benefit Shechem?
vv 20-23
19. What PHRASE in this passage indicates that the willingness to agree to the terms put forth by Jacob’s sons by the whole city was a result of greed?
vv 20-23
20. According to verse 24 all the men of the city of Shechem willingly submitted to the painful procedure of adult circumcision. What happened at the point when the men were completely vulnerable because of the operation?
v 25
21. Make a LIST of the specific actions of Dinah’s two brothers.
vv 25-29
22. If the crime of rape was punishable by death, and it is clear that Shechem was guilty of raping Dinah, therefore worthy of death, should the whole city of men have been put to death for one man’s crime? Deuteronomy 24:16
23. By using God’s name and acting in this cruel manner, rather than portraying God as the just and merciful God that he is, how did Simeon and Levi portray God to the people around them?
24. How did Simeon and Levi justify their actions in their own eyes?
v 27b
25. Because the right of circumcision was used as a means of vengeance, whose name was brought into the situation, misused for the wicked devices of Simeon and Levi, and was thereby degraded as to his true character in the eyes of the peoples around them?
Genesis 17:1, 7-10
26. After studying this account, what are four things that the brothers Simeon and Levi were guilty of as seen by their behavior throughout the incident?
27. From verse 26, we realize that Dinah had not been allowed to return home after being raped by Shechem. The family of Jacob was probably of not the strength to go and bring her back home by force from the men of the whole city. Use a concordance and the word “wisdom” to find Scripture that shows what they should have done before making any decision as to a course of action.
28. Neither Jacob nor the other brothers had any knowledge or part in what Simeon and Levi planned to do and then carried out upon the men of Shechem. How did Jacob react to what the two brothers had done?
v 30
29. When confronted by their father for murdering all the men of Shechem, what did Simeon and Levi answer?
v 31
30. Though nothing more is recorded at this time as being said by Jacob to Simeon and Levi concerning this sad affair, did Jacob and the LORD simply forget about it and let the two men get by with what they had done? In other words, were there permanent consequences for the wickedness of the two brothers?
Genesis 49:5-7
31. It is clear from this account that we, God’s people are accountable for what our actions portray to the people around us about the _________________ _____ ________.