¹ And Dinah the daughter of Leah, which she bare unto Jacob, went out to see the daughters of the land.

² And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he took her, and lay with her, and defiled her.

³ And his soul clave unto Dinah the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the damsel, and spake kindly unto the damsel.

⁴ And Shechem spake unto his father Hamor, saying, Get me this damsel to wife.

⁵ And Jacob heard that he had defiled Dinah his daughter: now his sons were with his cattle in the field: and Jacob held his peace until they were come.

⁶ And Hamor the father of Shechem went out unto Jacob to commune with him.

⁷ And the sons of Jacob came out of the field when they heard it: and the men were grieved, and they were very wroth, because he had wrought folly in Israel in lying with Jacob’s daughter: which thing ought not to be done.

⁸ And Hamor communed with them, saying, The soul of my son Shechem longeth for your daughter: I pray you give her him to wife.

⁹ And make ye marriages with us, and give your daughters unto us, and take our daughters unto you.

¹⁰ And ye shall dwell with us: and the land shall be before you; dwell and trade ye therein, and get you possessions therein.

¹¹ And Shechem said unto her father and unto her brethren, Let me find grace in your eyes, and what ye shall say unto me I will give.

¹² Ask me never so much dowry and gift, and I will give according as ye shall say unto me: but give me the damsel to wife.

¹³ And the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father deceitfully, and said, because he had defiled Dinah their sister:

¹⁴ And they said unto them, We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one that is uncircumcised; for that were a reproach unto us:

¹⁵ But in this will we consent unto you: If ye will be as we be, that every male of you be circumcised;

¹⁶ Then will we give our daughters unto you, and we will take your daughters to us, and we will dwell with you, and we will become one people.

¹⁷ But if ye will not hearken unto us, to be circumcised; then will we take our daughter, and we will be gone.

¹⁸ And their words pleased Hamor, and Shechem Hamor’s son.

¹⁹ And the young man deferred not to do the thing, because he had delight in Jacob’s daughter: and he was more honourable than all the house of his father.

²⁰ And Hamor and Shechem his son came unto the gate of their city, and communed with the men of their city, saying,

²¹ These men are peaceable with us; therefore let them dwell in the land, and trade therein; for the land, behold, it is large enough for them; let us take their daughters to us for wives, and let us give them our daughters.

²² Only herein will the men consent unto us for to dwell with us, to be one people, if every male among us be circumcised, as they are circumcised.

²³ Shall not their cattle and their substance and every beast of their’s be our’s? only let us consent unto them, and they will dwell with us.

²⁴ And unto Hamor and unto Shechem his son hearkened all that went out of the gate of his city; and every male was circumcised, all that went out of the gate of his city.

²⁵ And it came to pass on the third day, when they were sore, that two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brethren, took each man his sword, and came upon the city boldly, and slew all the males.

²⁶ And they slew Hamor and Shechem his son with the edge of the sword, and took Dinah out of Shechem’s house, and went out.

²⁷ The sons of Jacob came upon the slain, and spoiled the city, because they had defiled their sister.

²⁸ They took their sheep, and their oxen, and their asses, and that which was in the city, and that which was in the field,

²⁹ And all their wealth, and all their little ones, and their wives took they captive, and spoiled even all that was in the house.

³⁰ And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, Ye have troubled me to make me to stink among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites: and I being few in number, they shall gather themselves together against me, and slay me; and I shall be destroyed, I and my house.

³¹ And they said, Should he deal with our sister as with an harlot?

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Introduction

Genesis 34 describes one of the most tragic and dramatic episodes in Jacob’s life: the rape of his daughter Dinah by Shechem, prince of the Hivite city. It is a narrative of violence, deceit, cultural tension, and bloody vengeance. Shechem’s crime is answered by Simeon and Levi’s treacherous plot that leads to the city’s destruction. The chapter raises difficult questions about justice and retribution, family honor, and God’s role amid human wrath. No direct mention of God appears here, making it a sobering warning.

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Commentary

1. Dinah’s outing and Shechem’s crime (vv. 1–4)

   • Dinah seeks friendship with the local women but is violently assaulted by Shechem. Though he later professes love and wants to marry her, the initial crime remains grave.

2. Jacob’s silence and his sons’ anger (vv. 5–7)

   • Jacob learns but says nothing until his sons return. Their righteous indignation highlights the offense against both family and community.

3. Negotiations with Hamor and Shechem (vv. 8–12)

   • They propose marriage alliances and economic integration, almost treating the offense as a business deal.

4. The brothers’ deceitful counteroffer (vv. 13–17)

   • Simeon and Levi demand that every male in Shechem’s city be circumcised—a ruse to weaken the city physically and spiritually.

5. Shechem’s people consent (vv. 18–24)

   • For economic gain, the men undergo circumcision, unknowingly sealing their fate.

6. The massacre (vv. 25–29)

   • On the third day, while they are incapacitated, Simeon and Levi slaughter all the males, rescue Dinah, and sack the city.

7. Jacob’s distress (vv. 30–31)

   • Jacob fears retaliation, while his sons justify their actions with a single question of honor—yet offer no measure of restraint.

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Summary

Genesis 34 is a stark portrayal of unchecked vengeance. A heinous crime is met with disproportionate retribution. Jacob’s passivity contrasts with his sons’ zeal. God’s silence here underscores how far human actions can stray from divine guidance.

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Application Today

• Justice with compassion: Righteous anger must be tempered by mercy and proportional response.

• Evil begets evil: Responding to wrongdoing with greater wrongdoing never leads to true justice.

• God’s absence warns us: Where God is not invoked, human schemes prevail.

• Honor is not everything: Defending honor at any cost can bring dishonor to a whole community.

• Actions have consequences: Simeon and Levi’s violence brought long-term repercussions on their family (see Gen. 49:5–7).

“For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” – Matthew 6:14

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May 18–24, 2025

WEEKLY SPIRIT OF PROPHECY READING

Ellen G. White │ Patriarchs and Prophets – Chapter 6

Seth and Enoch

Read online here

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Introduction

In an age of growing godlessness, two men stand out as beacons of faith: Seth, the “substitute” for Abel, and Enoch, who “walked with God.” While Cain’s descendants indulged in progress without God and sin spread like a curse across the earth, a godly remnant remained through Seth’s line. Enoch, one of its greatest representatives, was a man of faith and vision. His translation is a prophetic preview of the redemption of the final generation.

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Commentary

1. Seth – a Substitute with a Responsibility
   Seth was no better by nature than Cain, yet he received God’s grace. His task was to carry on Abel’s spiritual legacy. With him began a line of people who consciously invoked God’s name (Gen. 4:26).
2. Two Lines, Two Cultures
   Seth’s descendants remained faithful to true worship, honored the Sabbath, and lived as “sojourners on the earth.” Cain’s offspring built cities and pursued wealth, culture, and pleasure. When the two lines intermingled, moral decay followed.
3. Adam’s Long Life – Testament to Grace and a Warning
   Adam lived nearly a thousand years to teach his descendants God’s will. Yet few listened; many blamed him for the world’s suffering. His death, after centuries of sorrow, was even seen as a mercy.
4. Enoch – the One Who Walked with God
   Enoch’s life of faith intensified after the birth of his son. For 300 years he maintained constant fellowship with God—in family, work, and community. His relationship deepened through prayer, retreat, meditation, and service to others.
5. Enoch’s Ministry – Preacher, Prophet, Example
   He proclaimed God’s judgment, warned of coming doom, and preached God’s love in Christ. He had prophetic insight into Christ’s second coming (Jude 14–15). His holy life and translation attest to divine approval.
6. Translation as a Sign of Hope
   Enoch was taken up before the Flood—a pattern for the righteous being caught up before final judgment. His disappearance shows that a life of obedience leads into eternity, refuting Satan’s lie that one cannot obey God.

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Summary

Seth was Abel’s righteous successor, preserving a godly line through his offspring. Enoch was the shining example of that line: a man of faith who walked with God in a godless world. His preaching, prophecy, and lifestyle bore witness to God’s will. While the masses forgot their Creator, Enoch lived with eternity in view—and did not experience death. His life demonstrates that it is possible to live holy even in dark times.

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Message for Us Today

1. Honor God amid the world. We live in an era like Enoch’s. Faithfulness to God is possible even when society turns away.
2. True faith shows itself in daily conduct. To “walk with God” means to live in relationship with Him every day—in family, community, and service.
3. Separation from evil preserves purity. Seth’s line was corrupted only when it joined with the ungodly—an urgent warning for today.
4. Prayer, meditation, and retreat are wells of strength. Enoch regularly sought God’s presence in silence—a model for anyone growing spiritually.
5. The end is coming—but with hope. Enoch’s translation symbolizes the future of the faithful. Those who walk with God today will be with Him at His return.