What can we learn about Shechem's character from Genesis 34:11? Text in Focus “Then Shechem said to Dinah’s father and brothers, ‘Grant me favor in your eyes, and whatever you tell me, I will give.’” (Genesis 34:11) Immediate Setting • Shechem has already “seized her and lay with her and violated her” (Genesis 34:2). • Yet “his heart was drawn to Dinah” and he “spoke kindly to the young woman” (Genesis 34:3). • Verse 11 records his first words to Jacob and Dinah’s brothers after the assault. What the Words Reveal About Shechem • Intense Desire Coupled with Entitlement – “Whatever you tell me, I will give.” – His passion drives him, but there is no mention of repentance—only determination to possess Dinah. • Confidence in Wealth and Power – He presumes money or gifts can repair the damage. – Contrast Proverbs 11:4, “Riches are worthless in the day of wrath”. • Lack of Moral Awareness – He seeks “favor” without addressing sin. – Proverbs 28:13 reminds that “He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper”. • Manipulative Diplomacy – Speaking to Jacob and the brothers rather than to Dinah shows he treats her more as property than person. – Deuteronomy 22:28-29 later legislates bride-price for sexual violation, yet the law’s intent is restitution, not purchase. • Self-Serving “Kindness” – His offer sounds generous, but true love “is not self-seeking” (1 Corinthians 13:5). – Shechem’s kindness aims to secure what he wants. Contrasts and Implications • Genuine repentance owns wrongdoing (Psalm 51:4); Shechem offers payment instead. • Genuine love guards purity (1 Thessalonians 4:3-4); Shechem violated purity first, negotiated later. • Genuine humility submits to God’s standards (Micah 6:8); Shechem leans on cultural bargaining. Takeaways for Today • Sin cannot be masked with gifts; it must be confessed and forsaken. • Wealth, influence, or social standing never replace heartfelt repentance. • Relationships must honor God’s design from the outset, not seek to retrofit obedience after transgression. |
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