How does Genesis 34:4 reflect Shechem's intentions toward Dinah? Text Under Review “Shechem said to his father Hamor, ‘Get me this girl as a wife.’ ” What the Sentence Shows at First Glance • A proposal of marriage, voiced immediately after the assault (vv. 2-3) • Shechem speaking in the imperative—“Get me”—reveals urgency and demand • The girl is referred to as “this girl,” reducing Dinah to an object rather than a covenant partner A Closer Look at Shechem’s Heart • Entitlement – His first recorded words are a command; he assumes the right to acquire Dinah – No repentance for the violation in v. 2, only a push to formalize what he already took • Desire to Legitimize – Old-world custom allowed marriage after sexual sin (cf. Deuteronomy 22:28-29) – Shechem may hope legal marriage will erase guilt and placate Dinah’s family • Self-Centered “Love” – v. 3 says “his soul clung to Dinah,” yet his actions focus on satisfying himself – True biblical love protects and honors (Ephesians 5:25); Shechem’s words do neither Contrast with God’s Design for Marriage • Biblical courtship honors the woman’s family (Genesis 24:50-53) • Covenant love serves sacrificially, not forcefully (1 Corinthians 13:4-5) • Repentance precedes restoration; Shechem offers none (Psalm 51:3-4) Ripple Effects in the Narrative • Hamor negotiates bride-price, ignoring justice (vv. 6-12) • Jacob’s sons, incensed, devise revenge (vv. 13-29) • The entire city suffers because one man pursued desire without righteousness Takeaways for Today • Sinful passion often seeks a quick legal cover instead of genuine repentance • Words that objectify—“get me this girl”—betray a heart out of line with God’s view of personhood • Righteous intentions honor God, family, and the one pursued; selfish intentions, like Shechem’s, unleash far-reaching harm |
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