Interesting Facts

• Dinah went to see the daughters of the city.
• She was taken by force and defiled by Shechem, the son of Hamor.
• After the incident with Shechem, Jacob sent two maidens to care for Dinah in Shechem’s house.
• One source indicates Simeon married Dinah and she bore him five sons: Memuel, Yamin, Ohad, Jachin, and Zochar. Another source mentions Simeon’s wife as ‘Adlba’a, a Canaanite.
• One account suggests Dinah died after Joseph perished. However, another account states that she was given provisions by Joseph 21 years after the events at Shechem.
• Dinah, along with the wives of Jacob’s sons, wept before the Lord to deliver their fathers from the hand of the king of Egypt.
• Dinah’s niece, Serach, daughter of Asher, used her harp playing and singing to relay the news of Joseph being alive to Jacob.

Genealogy

• Dinah was a daughter of Jacob and Leah.
• Her full brothers were Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Issachar, and Zebulun.
• Her half-brothers (sons of Rachel) were Joseph and Benjamin.
• Her half-brothers (sons of Zilpah, Leah’s handmaid) were Gad and Asher.
• Her half-brothers (sons of Bilhah, Rachel’s handmaid) were Dan and Naphtali.
• One source states Simeon took Dinah for a wife and she bore him five sons: Memuel, Yamin, Ohad, Jachin, and Zochar.

Historical Context

Dinah’s story is significantly shaped by the patriarchal society in which she lived and the cultural norms of the time. Her going out to see the daughters of the city, while seemingly innocuous, led to a violent act against her. The response of her brothers, particularly Simeon and Levi, to the defilement of their sister reveals the strong emphasis on family honor and the perceived shame brought upon them. The subsequent deceitful agreement regarding circumcision and the violent retribution enacted by Simeon and Levi illustrate the volatile dynamics between Jacob’s family and the inhabitants of Shechem. The texts highlight the communal responsibility and the severe consequences for acts viewed as dishonoring the family and their religious customs. Furthermore, the accounts of marriages within Jacob’s family during this period, sometimes with Canaanite women despite disapproval, provide a broader context for understanding intergroup relations and familial practices. The narrative also takes place before the full establishment of laws concerning such defilements, as mentioned in one source which states that the law concerning sleeping with a father’s wife was ordained on the heavenly tablets around the time of Reuben’s transgression.

Narrative

Dinah’s narrative begins with her venturing out to interact with the women of Shechem, a seemingly ordinary social act that takes a dark turn when she is noticed by Shechem, the son of Hamor, the prince of the land. Shechem seizes her by force, lies with her, and defiles her. Despite this violent act, Shechem’s soul becomes attached to Dinah, and he expresses a desire to marry her, seeking his father Hamor to arrange the marriage. News of Dinah’s defilement reaches Jacob, who remains silent until his sons return from tending the cattle. Upon their return, Jacob’s sons, fueled by wrath and a sense of profound dishonor, condemn Shechem’s actions as a transgression against divine law and a unique vileness. Simeon and Levi devise a deceitful plan, proposing that the men of Shechem undergo circumcision as a condition for marriage and peaceful coexistence. Hamor and Shechem, eager for the union, persuade the men of their city to comply. While the men of Shechem are still recovering from the circumcision, Simeon and Levi, with swords, enter the city and slay all the males, taking Dinah from Shechem’s house. Jacob rebukes Simeon and Levi for their violent and deceitful actions, fearing retribution from the surrounding Canaanite populations. Following these events, Dinah’s personal narrative becomes less prominent. One source suggests she later married Simeon and had sons. Another account implies she remained in Shechem for a period, with Jacob sending maidens to care for her. There are conflicting accounts regarding her death, with one stating she died mourning Joseph, while another suggests she was alive decades later. Despite the limited direct information about Dinah’s life after the incident at Shechem, her story serves as a pivotal event highlighting themes of honor, vengeance, and the complex interactions between Jacob’s family and the indigenous populations of Canaan. Her experience also leads to pronouncements and judgments concerning the defilement of Hebrew virgins in later texts.