“The Dinah Incident” as the NKJV captions it in Genesis 34. The last verse is extremely vital to the entire chapter: “But they said, ‘Should he treat our sister like a harlot?’ ” This verse says a lot considering in our modern era, the answer may be a “yes”.
An old acquaintance from years past revealed in his youth a time his sister requested he go collect the money from some man that had gone to her for adult relations and had failed to pay her.
In our story from Genesis 34, despite the family of the man who “hooked” up with their only sister Dinah, agreeing to marry her and even agreeing to have all the men in that town circumcised, Jacob’s sons still decided to kill all the males in that town and take their sister back with them. Jacob is fearful of the repercussions and potential retaliation from the other nations. But their response solidifies their reason for their actions. “Should he treat our sister like a harlot?”
The man who decided to have relations with her prior to marriage, prior to talking to Jacob and family was impulsive and lustful. Jacob’s sons being men, I’m sure had a truer and more in depth understanding of what that actually meant compared to Dinah’s understanding.
In today’s western culture that act would not have been seen as sexual assault. No big deal and no one’s business.
Their family customs and traditions much different and not expected to be replicated in modern day, but still something we can absolutely learn from. Standing up for the honor of your sister in Christ. 1 Timothy 5:2 “Older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, will all purity.”
Also, talking to our younger men and women about the standards God has laid out for us regarding marriage and relations and how to conduct oneself, reminding women to demand respect from men and Godly men standing up for women, with the mindset, “Should he treat our sister like a harlot?” The correct answer is “No”.
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