The Rape of Dinah. Ethics of priestly class. Collective guilt

[Graufreud]

Firstly, I would like to give a little disclaimer: I don't think that the story from Genesis 34 actually happened.  

But it is an entertaining and instructive story, nevertheless.


"Dinah, also spelled Dina, in the Old Testament (Genesis 30:21; 34; 46:15), daughter of Jacob by Leah; Dinah was abducted and raped near the city of Shechem, by Shechem, son of Hamor the Hivite (the Hivites were a Canaanitish people). Because Shechem then wished to marry Dinah, Hamor suggested to Jacob that their two peoples initiate a policy of commercial and social intercourse. Dinah’s brothers Simeon and Levi pretended to agree to the marriage and the  if Shechem and all the other males of the city of Shechem were circumcised. After the operations, while the men were still weakened, Simeon and Levi attacked the city, killed all the males, including Shechem and Hamor, and freed Dinah. They then joined in plundering the city."

Seriously, I find the story fascinating because

1. Levi then became a priest and his descendants, Levites were priests too. 

2. Why did they kill ALL males? 

If a member of a church commits murder, should all members of this church be stoned to death?

[Minimalist]

Maybe all members of all churches should be stoned to death.  Would solve a lot of problems.

[Succubus]

Firstly, I would like to give a little disclaimer: I don't think that the story from Genesis 34 actually happened.  

But it is an entertaining and instructive story, nevertheless.


"Dinah, also spelled Dina, in the Old Testament (Genesis 30:21; 34; 46:15), daughter of Jacob by Leah; Dinah was abducted and raped near the city of Shechem, by Shechem, son of Hamor the Hivite (the Hivites were a Canaanitish people). Because Shechem then wished to marry Dinah, Hamor suggested to Jacob that their two peoples initiate a policy of commercial and social intercourse. Dinah’s brothers Simeon and Levi pretended to agree to the marriage and the  if Shechem and all the other males of the city of Shechem were circumcised. After the operations, while the men were still weakened, Simeon and Levi attacked the city, killed all the males, including Shechem and Hamor, and freed Dinah. They then joined in plundering the city."

Seriously, I find the story fascinating because

1. Levi then became a priest and his descendants, Levites were priests too. 

2. Why did they kill ALL males? 

If a member of a church commits murder, should all members of this church be stoned to death?

What happened to this?

"Firstly, I would like to give a little disclaimer: I don't think that the story from Genesis 34 actually happened."

My bold.

[chimp3]

Bronze age nonsense!

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

Bronze age nonsense!

Iron age, actually, but let's not quibble.  Rubbish is rubbish, amiright?

Boru

[Graufreud]

Bronze age nonsense!

Iron age, actually, but let's not quibble.  Rubbish is rubbish, amiright?

Boru

Well, it doesn't matter if it Iron or Bronze or Stone Age, if it's in the Bible, it is good and true. (just like talking donkeys) 

But soppose Huggy, Godscreated, Drich, JairCrawford, with their families and some random Christian dude are traveling abroad and the random dude would rape a girl. Then the whole company of Christians together with their wives and children and pets would be put on trial and be condemned to death. 
Will they complain before the execution that it is unjust?

-----
  Then Joshua, together with all Israel, took Achan son of Zerah, the silver, the robe, the gold bar, his sons and daughters, his cattle, donkeys and sheep, his tent and all that he had, to the Valley of Achor. 25 Joshua said, “Why have you brought this trouble on us? The Lord will bring trouble on you today.”

Then all Israel stoned him, and after they had stoned the rest, they burned them. 
Joshua 7.

[SteveII]

@OP

Your repeated efforts to pull an OT passage out and then try to derive some principles for today are misguided and shows a real lack of comprehending what you are reading. Look these terms up. 

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermeneutics
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exegesis

Specifically, you are taking what is meant as a historical account and reading it as though it was some sort of moral instruction. Your methods are way off and your conclusions end up being nothing but nonsense.

Plus, Levi never was a priest.

[Minimalist]

Bronze age nonsense!

Iron age, actually, but let's not quibble.  Rubbish is rubbish, amiright?

Boru

Probably not written down until the Hellenistic age...along with all the rest of the early bullshit.

[brewer]

In a weakened state from circumcision. What's that tell you?

[Graufreud]

@OP

Your repeated efforts to pull an OT passage out and then try to derive some principles for today are misguided and shows a real lack of comprehending what you are reading. Look these terms up. 

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermeneutics
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exegesis

Specifically, you are talking what is meant as a historical account and reading it as though it was some sort of moral instruction. Your methods are way off and your conclusions end up being nothing but nonsense.

Plus, Levi never was a priest.

Ok, Levi was not a priest... sorry about that. 
--------------------

I think the story of Dinah was not meant primarily (if at all) as a historical account when it was written down. It was written and was/is used as some sort of moral instruction.

Furthermore, the story of Dinah (just like the whole Genesis) it is as historical as something from Odyssey. Which was based on some historical facts (Ancient Greeks sailed on ships and they encountered some serious dangers such as storms and there were hostile natives). But it doesn't make Odyssey a real historical account. But even if you don't believe that Poseidon causes storms, (we know that Yahweh does that  ), Odyssey can still be used for moral instruction, i.e. Odysseus could marry Calypso and become immortal, but he returned home to his wife and son.