THE DEATH OF SHECHEM

Bill Fitzhenry's Thoughts For Today…

Understanding important truths from the Bible…. 

THE DEATH OF SHECHEM                       

Genesis 34:25-26 NKJV

²⁵ Now it came to pass on the third day, when they were in pain, that two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brothers, each took his sword and came boldly upon the city and killed all the males.

²⁶ And they killed Hamor and Shechem his son with the edge of the sword, and took Dinah from Shechem’s house, and went out. 

Jacob had been returned from Laban about 12 years.  Dinah was about 14 years old when Shechem raped her and then desired her as a wife.  The determination of Jacob’s sons to avenge the honor of their sister was deceitfully wicked and providentially necessary.

Genesis 34:19 speaks of the intention of Shechem and his honorable commitment to Dinah.  But the scheming of Hamor has little to do with the wrong done by his son to Dinah and everything to do with his commercial intentions for Jacob’s family.  Hamor saw this as events in the interest of him and his kinsmen.  The wealth and the women of the tribe of Israel made for a desirable profit and offered easily found marriageable women. 

Here lay the trap, Israel would be mixed with the nations.  This did not fit with God’s purpose of separation for the covenant people.  To be sure at this time the sons of Jacob were marrying women of the land.  This was necessary for the tribe to grow and to prevent incest.  But marrying individuals who were brought into their family religion and become a part of the covenant people was far different from inter-marrying with another tribe and entering into both marriage and commercial unity. 

Simeon and Levi committed the act to which all the sons other than Joseph and Benjamin were in agreement.  Through this act the two men fell out of favor with their father and lost any consideration of receiving the Birthright and the Blessing from their Father. 

Later when Reuben sins against his father and loses favor also, the Birthright and Blessing came to Judah.  He (Judah) did not receive these privileges arbitrarily.  He was in the line of succession and was providentially intended by God. 

So many different later events were determined by Shechem and his death.  This is a cardinal instance of God’s sovereign will being worked out in the seemingly unrelated events of history. 

History that appeared so random was divinely determined that God’s purpose would be unfailingly accomplished.  When the genealogy of Jesus is read, remember Simeon and Levi’s cruel deed done for no other reason than to vent their anger and secure their honor. 

Proverbs 16:33.

³³ The lot is cast into the lap,
But its every decision is from the LORD.

Application:

1. Violence begets violence.  Equitable resolutions to differences should be accepted.
2. God’s purpose is unfailing.  The gifts and callings of God are without recall.