DINAH: A VOICELESS VICTIM OF RAPE

Dinah the daughter of Jacob is raped, her brothers enraged moved to avenge their sister while the victim’s father Jacob sees opportunity to enrich himself. What caught my attention in this tragic story of Dinah is that her voice is silent. We hear the voices of the rapist and his father. We also hear the voice of the victim’s father and her brothers, but Dinah has no voice. Maybe Dinah is still traumatized after the ordeal that she loses her voice, where is her mother Leah’s voice gone? What about the voices of other women in Jacobs’ house? In this ordeal, God’s name is neither mentioned nor consulted. What the victim of rape goes through can only be best described by the description of this ordeal in (Genesis 34) 1. She is seized, raped and humiliated (vs. 2) 2. She is defiled (vs. 5, 13, 27) 3. She is disgraced (vs. 7) 4. She is violently taken by her brothers (vs.26) 5. She was treated like a prostitute (vs. 31) At this point my blood pressure is getting high, like the sons of Jacob I am enraged. I want to see to it that the rapist does not go unpunished, and that justice must prevail. Who do I blame in this unfortunate sexual violation of a young virgin girl? Who are the bad guys in the story? Who are the heroes? Before I get in front of myself, and lose my audience let me take a step back, and get you my dear readers on the same page. “After Jacob came from Paddan Aram, he arrived safely at the city of Shechem in Canaan and camped within sight of the city. For a hundred pieces of silver, he bought from the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem, the plot of ground where he pitched his tent” (Gen.33: 18-20). When God called Abraham the plan was that through Abraham and his wife Sarah God will begin a new people group called “God’s people”, gave them the promise of land called “God’s land” and put them under the rule called “God’s rule”. Jacob whose name is changed to Israel is now the father of the nation of God’s people called Israel. He has arrived in Canaan which is God’s promised land, though Canaan is occupied with other people, God’s ultimate plan is that God’s people Israel be under the rule of God called Theocracy. Precisely why the sign of circumcision is important as a sign of a covenant, that distinguishes Israel from other nations. Though he lives next to other people groups, to ensure that God’s people are not absorbed by other nations, inter-marriages are forbidden so that Abraham’s line and blood is preserved. Why does Jacob go the route of buying a piece of land which by God’s promise and theologically belongs to him and his descendants? We know that Jacob is a deceiver, but he is not a violent man. Jacob is the kind of man that steals from you while you are awake. He uses words, persuasion, negotiations, tactics and deception without shedding blood. When Esau planned violence on him he escaped instead of fighting. Before he could face his brother Esau he sent gifts to him to soften his heart and avoid physical confrontation. Is he a coward? Oh no! Jacob is the father of prosperity! Profit and the wellbeing of his family was more important than physical confrontation. To me Jacob is a shrewd businessman, and a tactful diplomat. Instead of the land repossession without compensation, he buys the piece of land in order to build good diplomatic relationships. There are things that God has promised you, but meanwhile between now and the day of promise you have to act wisely. You can’t begin possessing the land, until you have built a strong army with vast experience in war. An army that can stand and defeat the undefeated Egyptian Army, precisely why God allowed them to be enslaved for 400 years in Egypt before releasing them to go and take possession of the land. “Now Dinah, the daughter Leah had borne to Jacob, went out to visit the women of the land. When Shechem’ son of Hamor the Hivite, the ruler of that area, saw her, he took her and violated her. His heart was drawn to Dinah daughter of Jacob, and he loved the girl and spoke tenderly to her” (Gen. 34: 1-3). The first introduction speaks volumes, “Dinah the daughter of Leah” informs the reader that Dinah’s mother was the unloved wife of Jacob. Will this explain why Jacob does not emotionally react to the rape of his daughter? Surely I don’t expect him to react like his sons, but I still expect the reaction of a father whose daughter has been sexually violated. This is followed by the narrator informing us that Dinah went to chill with the women of the land. Unfortunately some scholars, theologians and commentators have jumped on this verse to try and put the blame on the victim. Why would a young beautiful unmarried girl walk out of her father’s house to go mix with the women of Shechem without male escort? Dinah put herself in a dangerous position, and this rape happened because she caused it on herself. Doesn’t this sound familiar? And you wonder why Dinah and other women victims of rape remain silent? The victim of rape is treated like a common prostitute who was asking for it. What gets Lawrence Musunte upset is that even respected men and women in our communities today buy into that similar narrative that she was raped because she was wearing a short skirt above the knees, a topless top that was too revealing. When thugs in bus terminals undress a woman because she was wearing indecently causing her to be humiliated as she is now completely naked and vulnerable. This narrative seeks to suggest that there are no rapists, only indecently dressed women who entice the weak men, and leave them with no option but to force themselves on a woman. How do you then explain why a man would rape a two month daughter in nappies? Are these babies also indecently dressed? How do you then explain why a 92 years old woman would be raped by a 21 year old man? Is it because our Gogos are also dressing up indecently? This male dominance, “and he shall rule over you” is misunderstood to mean any man can rule over any woman. If we must set boundaries around dress codes let us set these boundaries legislatively. And once it is a law, allow the law enforcement agents to investigate, arrest and prosecute than the vigilante style of women abuse. She was raped because she was wearing just a chitenge material that was too revealing. She was raped because she was wearing a night dress. She was raped because she just wrapped a bath towel around her body. She was raped because she went to have a drink at a club. A rapist is not moved by the sight of nudity, even those women who wore underpants, with a petticoat on top, and a long dress that reaches ground zero got raped. I find shifting of the conversation from rape to dress code unfortunate, and an effort by men to excuse their uncontrollable appetites on a piece of cloth. There is a twist in this story of rape that confuses the modern day reader of scripture. The rapist is in love with the raped woman, the villain is in love with the victim, the oppressor is in love with the oppressed . How does this really work? In Biblical culture the rapist was forced to marry their victim, and would pay both the bride price, and the gift. Once married the rapist is not allowed to divorce because he has disgraced her. That was a penalty for rape which this generation would never accept. Just the thought of marrying a rapist is traumatic enough. Lets compare and contrast the Dinah story and the story of Tamar. Genesis 34 and 2 Samuel 13 1. Dinah was lusted by a stranger, Tamar was loved by her step brother Amnon. 2. Dinah didn’t negotiate with the rapist, Tamar tried to negotiate her way out. 3. Dinah was raped by a stranger, Tamar was raped by her step brother, an insider. 4. Dinah is loved by the rapist, Tamar is hated by the rapist. 5. Dinah is kept by the rapist, Tamar is chased by her rapist 6. Dinah was comforted by the rapist as he spoke to her tenderly, Tamar was comforted by her brother Absalom. 7. Dinah is avenged by all her brothers from both mothers, Tamar is avenged by only one blood brother Absalom. The Jacob character is about to disappear behind the stage curtains, as the Joseph character takes the center stage leading us into exile in Egypt. Talking about exile, life in a foreign country is not easy. It is hard to be welcomed in a foreign country and be given equal privileges and opportunities like the citizens of that nation. Cross border marriages, interracial marriages, intercultural and inter-tribal marriages sometimes become the option for peace, security and prosperity in the foreign country. “But Hamor said to them, “My son Shechem has his heart set on your daughter, please give her to him as his wife. Intermarry with us; give us your daughters and take our daughters for yourselves. You can settle here among us; the land is open to you. Live in it, trade in it, and acquire property in it” (34: 8-10). From couples accompanying visa to permanent residence, intermarriages might help one to settle among the people, opens doors to many opportunities to work, do business, acquire property and prosper therein. This offer is indeed a peace offering, an out of court settlement too tempting to deny. Jacob was willing to take on this offer, but his sons were not having it. But never ever be blinded by the narrator of this story, because Shechem is negotiating from a position of advantage. The raped girl Dinah is still held hostage in the rapists home, to be used as a bait in the negotiations. “Jacob’s sons replied deceitfully…” These words give the reader here a hint that the deal made here is not in good faith. Deceit is used in Jacob stealing his brother’s blessing. Deceit is used when Laban gives Jacob Leah instead of Rachel. Now the sons of the deceiver uses deceit as a means to rescue their sister who is still in Shechem’s house. The shift in language from “his daughter” to “their sister” indicates that from here moving forward the brothers are taking over this responsibility to rescue their sister. Unfortunately, circumcision a symbol of the covenant to Abraham and his seed is now being used in deception. To this day many would use the symbols of our spirituality and Christian faith deceitfully in order to gain advantage over others. “Three days later, while all of them were still in pain, two of Jacob’s sons, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brothers, took their swords and attacked the unsuspecting, killing every male” (Gen.34: 25). This chapter ends with the sons of Jacob returning from a blood bath, bringing in spoils and carrying women and children hostage. This they did in vengeance of their sister Dinah. Their father is clearly not happy with Simeon and Levi and he takes it very personal. • You have brought trouble on ME! • You have made a stench of ME! • We are few in number • If they join forces against ME! • I and MY household will be destroyed (Gen.34: 30) But the sons replied to the father, should we have folded our arms when the uncircumcised treat our sister like a whore? In this argument between father and sons, the sons seem to win the argument. But ultimately God has a final word. God does not approve of Jacobs’ inability to stand up and defend his family, nor does he approve of Simeon and Levi for taking the law in their own hands. “Then God said to Jacob, “Go up to Bethel and settle there, and build an altar there to God who appeared to you when you were fleeing from your brother Esau” The idea of living a comfortable life, to settle down in a place, to grow in that place and prosper is tempting. But being in a comfortable zone can cause us to forget that God’s people are covenant people, and that we supposed to be on the Go! We don’t belong here; we are on the move to the place that God has instore for us. The land of Shechem represents the physical; temporary stability, prosperity and security but Bethel has a spiritual significance. Bethel represents a spiritual significance, it is here where God revealed himself to Jacob, it is here where Jacob began his walk of faith. After this sad and traumatic event, Jacob is scared, he is afraid that the Canaanites will attack him and his household. Jacob couldn’t move until his comfort zone was shaken, he has been walking in the flesh but now he takes the step of faith by willing to move and Go to Bethel. Shechem says, “settle here”, God says, Go to Bethel and settle there”. But it is not just about going to settle, God is calling Jacob to settle the vow he made in (Gen.28:20-22) In (Gen. 35: 2), we see the reason why Jacob was not keen to go up to Bethel in the presence of God. Because in his household people carried foreign gods, idols that are objects of worship in the pagan nations. His beloved wife Rachel even stole her father Laban’s idols, and sat on it refusing to stand lying she was on her periods. He failed to lead his family from idolatry, and therefore failed to take the journey to Bethel sooner. But now he is showing spiritual leadership by instructing his household to give up the foreign gods, wash themselves, change garments in readiness to go into God’s presence at Bethel. In order to approach the only true God, one has to give up foreign gods. The brutal murder and plunder of Shechem had caused so much hatred for God’s people, who now are in danger of the revenge attack, being few in number God’s people needs divine protection. So in (35:5) God put His terror around the towns of Shechem that there was a heavy presence of God among God’s people. Jacob must learn that his strength is not in numbers but in a covenant keeping God. My Deep Reflections In This Story 1. I reflect with sadness that the voice of Dinah as well as other women are silent. It is the men who must define her fate. It is the men who are doing the raping. It is the men who are doing the talking. And it is the men who are doing the killings and rescuing without stopping to ask what the raped woman feels or wants. 2. The bloody revenge on the people of Shechem is not the way to resolve the issues relating to the abuse of women and children. Yes men killing, and disposing the victims body by burning it. Murders of passion breaks us deeply, but we can’t go take the law in our own hands and start killing not only the rapist but any one related to him by surname, clan, tribe or nationality. Innocent men died in Shechem paying for the sins of one son of the most powerful man. We have to teach our sons especially on how to use the voice effectively without resorting to violence. 3. We live in trying times with the growing need for political correctness as the only means of harmony and co-existence. We need to grow up, learn to disagree with other religious views, doctrinal differences & our faith convictions or persuasions without taking the shot-cut of violence. My opinions about homosexuality, or my opinions about foreigners, or my opinions about racism or my opinions on the current discourse on land should not turn me into a brutal murderer eliminating those with opposing views. As Christians we hold a huge responsibility to preach healing and reconciliation. Our reconciliation is not the negotiations of Shechem and Jacob, we bring our issues of contentions under the cross. The cross of Jesus Christ unifies us, not just political correctness. The killer of Karabo said, “I was trying to empower her”. Fathers, God forbid that we fail in raising and empowering our own daughters, so that sick twisted lunatics take advantage of our beautiful daughters in the name of empowering them. I rest my case, may her soul and the souls of others women rest in peace. -Lawrence Musunte-