Genesis 34:1 Now Dinah, the daughter Leah had borne to Jacob, went out to visit the women of the land.
Commentary says, ““Unattached young women were considered fair game in cities of the time,” laying some of the blame of this heinous act on Dinah for going out without familial males to protect her, laying some of the blame on Jacob and Leah for not being sure she was supervised, and laying some of the blame on Shechem for violating her.
Genesis 34:2 When Shechem son of Hamor the Hivite, the ruler of that area, saw her, he took her and raped her.
The unfortunate truth is that many women today face similar violation–men who take what is not theirs, who say the females were “asking for it” in their dress or behavior, who, like Shechem, speak tenderly and claim to love their victims yet violate them all the same.
Genesis 34:3 His heart was drawn to Dinah daughter of Jacob; he loved the young woman and spoke tenderly to her.
Precious Savior, My heart breaks for all who have been shamed and violated in this world. Be with them. Help them to heal and move forward. Be a light in their darkness, a peace in their distress. Help them to feel Your presence. Always. Amen.
Genesis 34: 4 And Shechem said to his father Hamor, “Get me this girl as my wife.”
Have a blessed day.