Genesis 34 tells us what happened to Leah and Jacob’s daughter named Dinah. One day Dinah went out to see the daughters of the land. A man named Shechem, who was the prince of the country raped her. He fell in love with her and asked his father, Hamor to go to Jacob and get her as a wife.
Jacob heard that Hamor had defiled Dinah while his sons were with his livestock in the field but he held his peace until they returned home. Meanwhile, Hamor came to speak with Jacob. Jacob’s sons were grieved and very angry to hear what a disgraceful thing Shechem had done to their sister. Hamor told them, “The soul of my son Shechem longs for your daughter. Please give her to him as a wife (Gen. 34:8).” He suggested their people intermarry with each other and dwell in the land with each other. Shechem was willing to give them anything they wanted as bride price for Dinah.
Jacob’s sons answered Shechem and Hamor deceitfully, because Shechem had already defiled Dinah. They explained “We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one who is uncircumcised, for that would be a reproach to us. But on this condition we will consent to you: If you will become as we are, if every male of you is circumcised, then we will give our daughters to you, and we will take your daughters to us; and we will dwell with you, and we will become one people. But if you will not heed us and be circumcised, then we will take our daughter and be gone.” (Gen. 34:14-17)
Remember, circumcision was the mark or sign of the covenant God had with His people…but…
Hamor and Shechem were pleased with this idea. Hamor and Shechem also spoke with the men of their city, encouraged them to intermarry with Jacob’s family, and convinced the men of the city to be circumcised too. They assumed Jacob’s livestock, property, and animals would become theirs. All who went out of the gate of their city heeded Hamor and Shechem and were circumcised.
According to Jasher, this plan was from the Lord who planned to give this city into Levi and Simeon’s hands. Chiddekkem (Hamor’s father) and his six brothers refused to be circumcised. Instead, they scolded Hamor, Shechem, and the inhabitants of the city and said they would assemble the Cannaanites to destroy them and Jacob’s family. After hearing this, Hamor, Shechem, and the rest of the people repented of what they had done. Dinah heard what was said and sent one of her handmaidens to warn her father of their plans to destroy her family. (Jasher 33:52-34:21)
Three days after the men of the city had been circumcised and were still in pain, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brothers, attacked the city and killed all the males with their swords including Hamor and Shechem. They took Dinah from Shechem’s house and returned home. Jacob’s sons came upon the slain, plundered the city, and took their wives and children.
Jacob was upset with Simeon and Levi fearing that the inhabitants of Canaan would gather themselves together against him to kill him and his household but Levi and Simeon still didn’t think Dinah should have been treated like a harlot.
According to Jasher 34, two men had hidden themselves in the city during the attack and eventually escaped to tell their Canaanite brothers what had happened. The Canaanites gathered together to attack Jacob and his family yet backed down in fear after considering how God had protected Jacob and his ancestors over the years.
This story has the potential for a great pattern for the final 3 ½ years of tribulation. We don’t know exactly how the Beast and the False Prophet will take over in the middle of the seven year peace treaty but we can speculate. Let’s consider the possibility of the following:
We know that the Beast will negotiate a 7 year peace deal. At some time either before or after the peace treaty is agreed to, the Temple of Jerusalem will be built and the daily sacrifices will resume. There are many people in Israel who have been making clothing and furnishings for the Temple behind the scenes in order to make this happen very quickly when the time is right.
The Beast will desire to have the Temple for himself. In the middle of the 7 year peace treaty, he will defile its Most Holy Place with his image (seed) against the will of the Israelis. The Beast will strongly desire the Temple and may initially speak kindly to Israel even after he’s defiled it in order to completely take over and there proclaim he is God.
Perhaps Israel will hear their Temple has been violated but will hold her peace long enough to strategize a proper response. Maybe there will be negotiations between the False Prophet and Israel like there were between Jacob and Hamor. The False Prophet may suggest the Jews live together in peace and assimilate with one another although God’s people have been commanded to “come out of Babylon.”
As part of the negotiation process, the enemy will ask Israel to name their price. There is no doubt deception will take place by both parties.
The sacrifices will have been “cut off” because the Temple would have become defiled by the abomination of desolation. The mark of the Beast which may be the sign of a “new covenant” will be implemented although the 144,000 will already be marked/sealed by God. The rest of the beast’s people will be convinced to receive the mark thinking that they will acquire the wealth of the Israelis but many will oppose the idea. The Beast’s people will still desire to destroy the Jews.
By the end of the 3rd day of this process, many people may be killed. At the end of the 3 ½ years of tribulation, Jesus will return and kill Israel’s enemies who are in Jerusalem but a few will escape to tell the world what has happened. The city will eventually be plundered and Jesus will take his people to safety.
Meanwhile, the world will hear what happened in Jerusalem and plan retaliation. They will assemble for Armageddon. Instead of backing off, they will fight the Lord who has protected Israel since the days of the Patriarchs and they will be defeated.
Is this how it will all transpire? It’s hard to say for sure but I think this is a good guess.
Highway to Holiness 