Dinah

From Bible Exegesis

dī´na (דּינה, dīnāh, “justice,” "judged," "vindicated"):

The daughter of Jacob and Leah, and sister of Simeon and Levi (Genesis 30:21), whose violation by Shechem, son of Hamor, caused her brothers, especially Simeon and Levi, to slay the inhabitants of Shechem, although they had induced the Shechemites to believe, if they would submit to circumcision, Shechem, the most honored of all the house of his father, would be permitted to have the maiden to whom his soul clave for wife (Genesis 34:1-31). The political elements of the story (compare Genesis 34:21-23 and Genesis 34:30) suggest a tribal rather than a personal significance for the narrative.

She was seduced by Shechem, the son of Hamor, the Hivite chief, when Jacob's camp was in the neighbourhood of Shechem. This led to the terrible revenge of Simeon and Levi in putting the Shechemites to death (Genesis 34). Jacob makes frequent reference to this deed of blood with abhorrence and regret (Genesis 34:30; Genesis 49:5-7). She is mentioned among the rest of Jacob's family that went down into Egypt (Genesis 46:8, Genesis 46:15).