The sons of Jacob take violent revenge against the city of Shechem after Shechem, the prince of the land, sexually assaults their sister Dinah. When Shechem expresses his desire to marry Dinah, her brothers agree but deceive the men of Shechem by convincing them to circumcise themselves. On the third day after circumcision while the men are still in pain, Simeon and Levi kill all the men in the city with their swords, including Hamor and Shechem, and rescue Dinah. They plunder the city, taking the people, livestock, and possessions. Jacob criticizes their actions for endangering his family, though the brothers defend themselves by saying Shechem dishonored their sister.

1. Save the Children
Genesis 34
Genesis 34

2. Big Idea
Whoever causes one of these little ones who
believe to stumble, it would be better for him if,
with a heavy millstone hung around his neck, he
had been cast into the sea.
Mark 9:42 (NASB95) 2

3. Save the Children no lead in
Genesis 34

4. Not something we like to talk about
Now Dinah the daughter of Leah, whom she had
borne to Jacob, went out to see the women of the
land. And when Shechem the son of Hamor the
Hivite, the prince of the land, saw her, he seized
her and lay with her and humiliated her.
Genesis 34:1–2 4

5. What we don’t
consider
Unescorted state
Her Clothing
Her actions
5

6. Nonconsensual
Seized
Lay with
Humiliated
6

7. We have a problem
Every 9 minutes
Of victims under 18
Girls and boys
7

8. Perpetrators
7% strangers
59% acquaintances
34% family members
8

9. Be involved in the child’s life.
 Show interest in their day-to-day lives.
 Get to know the people in your child’s life.
 Choose caregivers carefully.
 Talk about it.
9

10. Encourage children to speak up
 Teach your child about boundaries.
 Teach your child how to talk about their
bodies.
 Let them know they won’t get in trouble.
 Be available!
10

11. Solutions for everyone
1. Equip your children and youth for online safety
2. Volunteer at afterschool programs
3. Learn the signs of substance abuse
4. Mental health resources are available
5. Involvement in your homeless ministry
6. Welcome the foreigner
11

12. A familiar tactic
And his soul was drawn to Dinah the
daughter of Jacob. He loved the young
woman and spoke tenderly to her.
Genesis 34:3 12

13. Brings his father into it
So Shechem spoke to his father
Hamor, saying, “Get me this girl for
my wife.”
Genesis 34:4 13

14. Not a shinning moment for Jacob
Now Jacob heard that he had defiled his daughter Dinah.
But his sons were with his livestock in the field, so Jacob
held his peace until they came. And Hamor the father of
Shechem went out to Jacob to speak with him.
Genesis 34:5–6 14

15. Reaction
Passive
Justice
Damages
Retribution
15

16. Leadership Vacuum
The sons of Jacob had come in from the field as
soon as they heard of it, and the men were
indignant and very angry, because he had done an
outrageous thing in Israel by lying with Jacob’s
daughter, for such a thing must not be done.
Genesis 34:7 16

17. Taboos needed
He had done an outrageous thing in Israel…
Sexual Assault
Sex Trafficking
Transgender Ideology
Erosion of Parental Rights
17

18. Hamor speaks
The soul of my son Shechem longs for your
daughter. Please give her to him to be his wife.
Make marriages with us. Give your daughters to
Genesis 34:8–10 18

19. Hamor speaks
us, and take our daughters for yourselves. You
shall dwell with us, and the land shall be open
to you. Dwell, trade in it, and get property in it.
Genesis 34:8–10 19

20. Legislate immorality
Doesn’t mention the rape
Give her in marriage
Take our daughters
Make profit
20

21. The Assailant Speaks
Genesis
34:11–12
Let me find favor in your eyes, and whatever you say
to me I will give. Ask me for as great a bride-price
and gift as you will, and I will give whatever you say.
Only give me the young woman to be my wife.
21

22. Jacob doesn’t speak up
Genesis 34:13–17 The sons of Jacob answered Shechem and his
father Hamor deceitfully, because he had defiled their sister
Dinah. 14 They said to them, “We cannot do this thing, to give
our sister to one who is uncircumcised, for that would be a
disgrace to us. 15 Only on this condition will we agree with
you—that you will become as we are by every male among you
being circumcised. 16 Then we will give our daughters to you,
and we will take your daughters to ourselves, and we will dwell
with you and become one people. 17 But if you will not listen to
us and be circumcised, then we will take our daughter, and we
will be gone.”
Genesis 34:13–17 22

23. Their words pleased Hamor and his son Shechem. And the
young man did not delay to do the thing, because he
delighted in Jacob’s daughter. Now he was the most
honored of all his father’s house.
Genesis 34:18–19 23

24. 20 So Hamor and his son Shechem came to the gate of
their city and spoke to the men of their city, saying, 21
“These men are at peace with us; let them dwell in the
land and trade in it, for behold, the land is large enough for
them. Let us take their daughters as wives, and let us give
them our daughters. 22 Only on this condition will the
men agree to dwell with us to become one people—when
every male among us is circumcised as they are
circumcised. 23 Will not their livestock, their property and
all their beasts be ours? Only let us agree with them, and
they will dwell with us.”
Genesis 34:20–23 24

25. Greed
Will not their livestock, their
property and all their beasts
be ours? Only let us agree
with them, and they will
dwell with us.
25

26. Good Salesmen
And all who went out of the gate of his city
listened to Hamor and his son Shechem,
and every male was circumcised, all who
went out of the gate of his city.
Genesis 34:24 26

27. The trap is sprung
On the third day, when they
were sore, two of the sons
of Jacob, Simeon and Levi,
Dinah’s brothers, took their
swords and came against
the city while
Genesis 34:25–26 27

28. The trap is sprung
it felt secure and killed all
the males. They killed
Hamor and his son Shechem
with the sword and took
Dinah out of Shechem’s
house and went away.
Genesis 34:25–26 28

29. The rest participated
Genesis 34:27–29 (ESV)
27 The sons of Jacob came upon the slain and
plundered the city, because they had defiled their
sister. 28 They took their flocks and their herds,
their donkeys, and whatever was in the city and in
the field. 29 All their wealth, all their little ones
and their wives, all that was in the houses, they
captured and plundered.
29

30. The Head of House Speaks (finally)
Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, “You
have brought trouble on me by making me
stink to the inhabitants of the land, the
Canaanites and the Perizzites.
Genesis 34:30 30

31. The Head of House Speaks (finally)
My numbers are few, and if they gather
themselves against me and attack me, I
shall be destroyed, both I and my
household.”
Genesis 34:30 31

32. The Brothers Speak
Should he treat our sister
like a prostitute?
Genesis 34:31 32

33. Our Take-Away
1. Actively protect our children
2. Be aware
3. Be assertive
4. Be involved
33

34. Save the Children
Genesis 34