Trickery, Discrimination, and Dinah--Genesis 34

<p>Trigger Warning: This show contains references to sexual assault and extreme violence which comes directly out of Genesis chapter 34. (Who said the Bible is "family-friendly?")</p> <p>Liam Hooper takes on a difficult text: <a href='https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+34&version=NRSV'>Genesis 34</a> which tells the story of Dinah, the daughter of Leah and of Jacob. One day Dinah, a young woman of marrying age, leaves the family compound on the edge of a Hivite settlement to visit the women of the region. According to the writer of the account:</p> <p>2 When Shechem son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the region, saw her, he seized her and lay with her by force. 3 And his soul was drawn to Dinah daughter of Jacob; he loved the girl, and spoke tenderly to her. 4 So Shechem spoke to his father Hamor, saying, “Get me this girl to be my wife.”</p> <p>This sets off a string of bloody events, intrigue, and depending how you look at it, a heroic or horrific response. </p> <p>9 Make marriages with us; give your daughters to us, and take our daughters for yourselves. 10 You shall live with us; and the land shall be open to you; live and trade in it, and get property in it.” 11 Shechem also said to her father and to her brothers, “Let me find favor with you, and whatever you say to me I will give. 12 Put the marriage present and gift as high as you like, and I will give whatever you ask me; only give me the girl to be my wife.”</p> <p>13 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 consent to you: that you will become as we are and every male among you be circumcised...25 On the third day, when they were still in pain, two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brothers, took their swords and came against the city unawares, and killed all the males. 26 They