BRAGADAYJAH 115

Rape: It happened that after Israel had settled into the land that Dinah, Leah’s daughter which she had with Jacob, went sightseeing, no doubt to show the ladies of the land how much more beautiful she was. However, while she was visiting among them, Hamor’s son Shechem saw her and raped her, although the Bible put it in less dramatic terms, describing it as, “he took her and defiled her.” In the course of or after the violation, however, Shechem fell in love with Dinah, and spoke with her lovingly and decided that he wanted to marry her; so he approached his father Hamor and told him to get him Dinah for his wife. In the meantime, while his sons were in the field, Israel heard about the assault on her daughter, but said nothing of it until later when his sons returned from their work. Hamor, in the meanwhile approached Israel on behalf of his son and discussed with him a proposal whereby Dinah could be given to his son as his wife. Israel’s sons when they returned and heard of the indignity suffered by their sister were very upset and were not in a mood for any compromise, as in their view, nothing could atone for the rape of their sister; not even Hamor’s pleading and interceding with them accompanied by an offer of marriage, together with what they were willing to give in return in the form of land, and property. Shechem also interceded on his own behalf and begged the brothers to let him make amends by among others, marry their sister and so, to his way of thinking remove the shame to Dinah. Undoubtedly, Shechem was sincere in his approach both to Dinah and her father and brothers when he offered to marry her. Said he, “please, let me find grace in your sight; and whatever you say unto me and ask me to do I will do, and whatever you ask me to give I will give. Whatever you ask in gift, and dowry be it ever so much I will give; but let me have your sister to be my wife. Would Dinah’s father and her brothers be appeased by gifts and dowry and any amount of property? Let us find out tomorrow. More.