Tim Maas Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

Despite the fact that Shechem had already forcibly raped Jacob's daughter Dinah (Genesis 34:2), he was apparently still observing the customs of that time and culture, in which official marriages were formally arranged through discussions or negotiations between the families of the prospective bride and groom, rather than between the couple themselves. (This was the same manner in which Isaac had married Rebekah (Genesis 24), in which they were betrothed to each other through discussions between the servant of Abraham (Isaac's father), Rebekah's father Bethuel, and Rebekah's brother Laban, before Isaac and Rebekah had even met face-to-face. Samson's marriage to a Philistine woman in Judges 14:1-10 also illustrates this principle.)

April 30 2018 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Gregory Tomlinson Minister, husband,father,grandfather,vet., college graduate

This rape took place before the law was given, tradition required an arrangement, between families before intimate relations. It was also not acceptable to Jacobs family that Shechem raped her against her will. The scriptures implies Shechem kidnapped and forced her compliance.

Jacob seems more concerned about the towns people hating them because he feared for his families safety, but the action taken against Shechem by Simeon and Levi seemed harsh but later we see God used It to put fear in the tribes around them.

I think Simeon and Levi may have viewed this as a trend of disrespect toward their family and moved to prevent or remove the potential threat. Times were violent and women were treated horribly without any respect. The penalty for this was death for the rapist. I have heard scoffers say that the bible requires the victim to marry the rapist this is a false narrative. 

Fornication (willful, or consensual)with an unpledged damsel required a fee be played to the father and they be married and to divorce her was forbidden.

In their time these were land mark views some of the first recorded laws for women's rights.

May 01 2018 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report