Dinah ~ Woman of the Week

This is one of the hard to read stories in the Bible.  The Genesis Record, along with other commentaries, gave much insight.

Verses:  Genesis 30:21, Genesis 34:1-31, Genesis 46:15

Background – parents, husband, children, siblings
Dinah was the daughter of Jacob and Leah, she had eleven older brothers and one younger brother, Benjamin.  She and Joseph were probably born around the same time.

What is she most known for? Victories? Defeats? How can I be like her? How can I avoid being like her?
There is very little known about Dinah.  One incident in her life is all we read about.  Most commentaries agree that she was between 12 and 15 years old at this time.  Genesis 34:1 seems to start out innocently enough, "And Dinah the daughter of Leah, which she bare unto Jacob, went out to see the daughters of the land."  As the only girl in the family, it seemed she was looking for female companionship.  Unfortunately there were no godly young women for her to spend time with so she turned her eyes to the daughters of the land.

Her pretense 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 to see, yet that was not all, she went to be seen too; she went to see the daughters of the land, but, it may be, with some thoughts of the sons of the land too.  (Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible)  It's a dangerous thing when we start looking to the world (fashion magazines, models, celebrities) to help us decide how to act and dress.

The Genesis Record explains how it was in that time:
Unattached young women were considered fair game in cities of the time, in which promiscuity was not only common but, in fact, a part of the very religious system itself. It seems likely that Dinah must have been warned about such dangers by her parents, but perhaps she felt she could look out for herself and resented their overprotective attitude. 

Verse 2 says, "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."  A trip to the city to make friends had turned her life upside down.
 
To what extent she may actually have encouraged Shechem, who must have seemed a rather glamorous figure to a young girl like Dinah, is not stated. In any case, it was only a matter of time until she had been seduced by Shechem while she was visiting some of her girl friends in the city. Shechem may or may not have actually forced her, but in view of her age it was at least a case of what today would be called “statutory” rape. (The Genesis Record)

Things went from bad to worse in the event.  Shechem "spake kindly" to her and wanted to marry her.  Dinah seems to have no say in the matter and she is kept in Shechem's house until after her brother's take their revenge.  The Genesis Record says:

Word quickly reached Jacob concerning what had happened to Dinah, probably by way of some of her girl friends in the town. Jacob no doubt was grief-stricken and angry, but decided not to do anything without first consulting Dinah’s brothers, who were still out in the field with the cattle.

While Jacob was waiting for his sons to come home, Hamor appeared at his house, with the proposal that Dinah be given as Shechem’s wife. No word of apology or sympathy was offered, nor any suggestion that his son be punished in any way. He merely suggested a proposition of marriage. As this interchange between Jacob and Hamor was taking place, the sons of Jacob came bursting into the room. They also had heard the story by now, and were grieved and bitterly angry. Dinah had been the only and beloved sister in a large family of boys, and they had all been taught the sacredness of the marriage relation. Even though they had been raised in a polygamous household, at least Jacob had not sought women other than his wives, and his wives had been faithful to him. 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 on them. Not only did they resent the affair for Dinah’s sake, but because Shechem had “wrought folly in Israel,” disrupting that national purity which they had regarded as so vital. Their use of the generic name of Israel in this connection indicates that they must have had a substantial comprehension and recognition of the deeper values and implications of this event.

Starting in verse 13, the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and his father deceitfully.  This is a great example of two wrongs not making a right.  No matter what was done to Dinah, the lying, the murder of every man in the city, the spoiling of all the goods was never justified.  "Simeon and Levi were most unrighteous. Those who act wickedly, under the pretext of religion, are the worst enemies of the truth, and harden the hearts of many to destruction. The crimes of others form no excuse for us. Alas! how one sin leads on to another, and, like flames of fire, spread desolation in every direction! Foolish pleasures lead to seduction; seduction produces wrath; wrath thirsts for revenge; the thirst of revenge has recourse to treachery; treachery issues in murder; and murder is followed by other lawless actions." (Matthew Henry)

Did she reach a place when she needed to reset?  If so, did she?  For good or evil?
As far as we know, there was no reset for Dinah.  I'm left with more questions than answers as she is never mentioned again, other than her name as a daughter of Leah in chapter 46.  What happened to this young teenager?  Did she ever marry?  Was she shamed and scarred for life?  How did she feel about her brothers after they slew all the men of the city? It is a tragedy with more tragedy heaped upon it.

Dinah is certainly a story of warning that we should heed.  "For what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?" 2 Corinthians 6:14