Post by seth on Jan 21, 2014 1:40:03 GMT
It's an interesting account regarding the characters present in today's first-portion reading.
We start with Dinah, who left the company and safety of the camp in order to meet girls her own age in the lands around. It was a big risk to take, as shown by her eventual seduction by Shechem.
But Shechem's case is an interesting one in itself. Yes, he made a grievous error in taking advantage of the girl. But rather than pushing her aside as might be expected from many a one-night stand, something unexpected happened to him...he grew attached to her. And thus he decided to try and do what seemed to be the right thing in asking to take Dinah as his wife. It was said that he was more honorable than those around him, and made a sincere appeal to Jacob.
There was, however, no turning away of the wrath of Jacob's sons when they heard what happened to their sister. And thus, they hatched a plan. They told Shechem that if he truly wished to make this marriage happen, he and his entire community of males must adopt the token of circumcision they had observed since the time of their father Abraham.
While it's true that circumcision would have been a token of covenant between Jacob and Shechem's families, it was not what the brothers had in mind, Rather, they considered the painful side effect of the ritual itself. So while Shechem and the others DID go through with the process, they would require time to recover. This gave Simeon and Levi the opening they needed to fall upon the weakened men of the town and slay them, while all the others looted what remained.
This, of course, was a blatant misuse of the covenant symbol God had given to Abraham, and it brought a judgment upon the two brothers. At his death, Jacob prophesied that Simeon and Levi would be scattered among their brethren. As it came to pass, Simeon would eventually be absorbed into Judah, and Levi would not be given a territory of his own. Rather, his descendants would become priests unto God, living in suburbs throughout the land. And as someone mentioned to me once (for which I am grateful), their hands continued to shed blood like their father, but this time it was the animals brought to sacrifice.
So here is the sum. We are indeed expected to not wander into the ways of the world during our travels, for it may lead to harm. But we may encounter those in the world who seek to rise above their own origins, even if their past is a rough one. And in dealing with them, we must not use the ways of God improperly and in a judgmental manner, for who can tell if God has called them? It is as someone said to me once: "Be careful how you swing the sword of Truth, for it may be your own head you cut off."
We start with Dinah, who left the company and safety of the camp in order to meet girls her own age in the lands around. It was a big risk to take, as shown by her eventual seduction by Shechem.
But Shechem's case is an interesting one in itself. Yes, he made a grievous error in taking advantage of the girl. But rather than pushing her aside as might be expected from many a one-night stand, something unexpected happened to him...he grew attached to her. And thus he decided to try and do what seemed to be the right thing in asking to take Dinah as his wife. It was said that he was more honorable than those around him, and made a sincere appeal to Jacob.
There was, however, no turning away of the wrath of Jacob's sons when they heard what happened to their sister. And thus, they hatched a plan. They told Shechem that if he truly wished to make this marriage happen, he and his entire community of males must adopt the token of circumcision they had observed since the time of their father Abraham.
While it's true that circumcision would have been a token of covenant between Jacob and Shechem's families, it was not what the brothers had in mind, Rather, they considered the painful side effect of the ritual itself. So while Shechem and the others DID go through with the process, they would require time to recover. This gave Simeon and Levi the opening they needed to fall upon the weakened men of the town and slay them, while all the others looted what remained.
This, of course, was a blatant misuse of the covenant symbol God had given to Abraham, and it brought a judgment upon the two brothers. At his death, Jacob prophesied that Simeon and Levi would be scattered among their brethren. As it came to pass, Simeon would eventually be absorbed into Judah, and Levi would not be given a territory of his own. Rather, his descendants would become priests unto God, living in suburbs throughout the land. And as someone mentioned to me once (for which I am grateful), their hands continued to shed blood like their father, but this time it was the animals brought to sacrifice.
So here is the sum. We are indeed expected to not wander into the ways of the world during our travels, for it may lead to harm. But we may encounter those in the world who seek to rise above their own origins, even if their past is a rough one. And in dealing with them, we must not use the ways of God improperly and in a judgmental manner, for who can tell if God has called them? It is as someone said to me once: "Be careful how you swing the sword of Truth, for it may be your own head you cut off."