Dont Do that To My Sister

Genesis 34

And Dinah the daughter of Leah, which she bare unto Jacob, went out to see the daughters of the land. 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. And his soul clave unto Dinah the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the damsel, and spake kindly unto the damsel. ...

Here is another classic case of sex without marriage. He took her and lay with her. Then we are told that he loved her and told his father “get this damsel for me to wife”. We can easily conclude that Shechem had sex with Dinah. But her brothers were enraged because they said 31 And they said, Should he deal with our sister as with an harlot? The Bible said he took her and lay with her but the sons of Jacob said he dealth with her as with an harlot. Obviously Simeon and Levi considered Shechem’s sexual act with Dinah equivalent to having intercourse with an harlot. They said “ because he had wrought folly in Israel in lying with Jacob's daughter: which thing ought not to be done.” What was the folly? Was it that he was a Hivite or was it that he was not married to Dinah. I think the former reason could be discarded because Joseph married Asenath who was an Egyptian, Moses married Jochebed who was an Ethiopian. This is similar to what obtains today. A man sees a young lady whom he likes and without marrying her strikes up a relationship to get into her undergarments. This was called “folly in Israel”. This sin is further exacerbated when the male concern is a child of God.

Obviously, the children of Jacob would have been happier if they were married because they consented to Shechem marrying Dinah. Surely this sentiment is echoed in Hebrews 13:4  Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. In other words sexual activities (the bed) done within the confines of the marriage is an honourable thing. Done outside the confines of the marriage vows, it becomes dishonourabe and is equated to whormongering and committing adultery.

Take aways

Brothers and sisters should have comparative care and concern for their sisters in Christ like that of Simeon and Levi and extend the same protective care and concern.