Outline of Post on the Scripture Session held on 11/24/13
- Previous Week’s [11/17/13] Review
SEE PREVIOUS POST FOR #1 ABOVE. THIS POST WILL ADDRESS THE NEXT THREE ITEMS
- Background to today’s Reading
- Reading: Gen. 33: 18 – 34:31
- Discussion
Background to today’s Reading
Most probably the editors of your version of the Bible have titled this episode as The Rape of Dinah. What has proven helpful is to walk through the passage verse by verse which we did; doing that however limits what can be covered in the allotted time.
V. 02: The passage states clearly in this verse that Shechem “seized her and lay with her by force.”
The remainder of the passage, however, tells a conflicting and probably different story about the relationship between Shechem and Dinah, directly from the words and deeds of Shechem and what might be assumed or implied by the account of Dinah in the passage. Jacob’s sons interpret what happened to Dinah in different terms as well and the sons themselves carry out not only a violent but deceitful revenge that includes raping.
V. 03: Immediately after the “rape” we read that “He [Shechem] was strongly attracted to Dinah, daughter of Jacob, and was in love with the young woman. So he spoke affectionately to her.” Later in the passage similar terms are used. Thus in v. 08 we read “My son Shechem has his heart set on your daughter” and in v. 19 “ .. he wanted Jacob’s daughter.” These are not the words of a rapist as we understand that term. In our world rape is understood in terms of an act of domination. It is a crime that psychologically is inimical to love, tenderness, marriage etc.
As we move forward it might be helpful to read two passages, one from Exodus and the other from Deuteronomy that reflect the legal tradition the Israelites developed to protect and preserve as much as possible women who were violated in this way.
Ex. 22: 16 – 17: – “When a man seduces a virgin who is not betrothed, and lies with her, he shall make her his wife by paying the bride price. If her father refuses to give her to him, he must still pay him the bride price for virgins.
Dt. 22: 28 – 29: – If a man comes upon a young woman, a virgin who is not betrothed, seizes her and lies with her, and they are discovered, the man who lay with her shall give the young woman’s father fifty silver shekels and she will be his wife, because he has violated her. He may not divorce her as long as he lives.
In light of these two passages we will read in verse 08 – 12 that Hamor, the father of Shechem, and Shechem himself not only comply with these laws, they exceed them.
V. 04: As we read this verse, we need to place it in the context of a patriarchal society in which marriage was a prearrange event that occurred between the two families of the bride and groom. The word translated “get” really has the connotation of negotiating with the bride’s family to arrange the marriage. Up to this point, we know next to nothing about Dinah’s feelings, thoughts, desires; a point brought out later in our discussion by Heber.
V. 05: We are not told by whom but Jacob finds out what has happened. The term that is used to name what has happened is a “defilement.” Almost at every turn the biblical world leaps out of the words used. What does “defilement” in this context mean? A clue can be uncovered in the words and deeds of Jacob’s sons. When they hear of what has happened, their response is described in
V. 07: We learn that this act of Shechem is “an outrage in [against] Israel.” We move from what has happened to Dinah to what it means in Israel. There is a bit of a time lapse in that one word “Israel.” Now it means not Jacob renamed but the Israelite community at a different time in human history. In their world, and we need to expand our consciousness to hear them speaking, what has happened to an individual, Dinah, has impacted all of them, Israel. Thus they “… were indignant and extremely angry.”
Vv. 08 – 12: Hamor and Shechem are willing to far exceed the demands of the Israelites in order to win their daughter, Dinah.
Reading: Gen. 33: 18 – 34: 31 http://usccb.org/bible/genesis/34
Discussion
What is the narrator’s point in this passage what my question. Annette however shared that she could identify with the story from events that had occurred in stories told about her dad and his efforts to marry her mom. At that time, her dad felt obliged to talk with her grandfather about his desire to marry.
Rosemary’s question, why didn’t anyone try to stop Shechem, assumed a setting that might not actually have existed. Our story doesn’t really tell us the details of when, where, etc. After all sexual intercourse is normally an event that occurs in private.
We began to discuss the notion of “defilement” when “the bell rang” and our session was over.
For those who might be interested, John P. Meier, A Marginal Jew: Vol. IV, Law and Love, Ch. 35 “Jesus and Purity Laws” P. 342 ff. presents an illuminating account of an aspect of Jewish life that is quite foreign in our world view.
You are invited to respond to these or other questions that might arise within you as you read this passage. Your comments, observations, questions are welcomed. See “comment” link below