# Was rape permitted in the Bible? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 20, 2001, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-rape-permitted-in-the-bible/58663 "2001-03-20T02:51:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![AWB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bb73d2/32.png) [@AWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AWB)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2001, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-rape-permitted-in-the-bible/58663/21 "2001-03-21T13:58:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by astorian \* > \*\*To get an understanding of how ancient Jews viewed rape, read the story of the rape of Dinah in the book of Genesis. > \*\* Genesis, chapter 34, to be exact. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2001, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-rape-permitted-in-the-bible/58663/22 "2001-03-21T14:45:48Z")
Opus does an excellent job of playing Paul Harvey, and giving “the rest of the story.” My point in citing the Dinah story, however, was NOT to suggest that Simeon and Levi were heroes. They weren’t. What they did was cruel and barbaric. When Jacob learned what they’d done, he was horrified, fearing that he and his people would be pariahs, hated and feared, throughout the region. I merely cite the story to show that rape was NOT viewed as a mere property crime. IF the Israelites had viewed women as mere chattel, Simeon and Levi would have been mollified when the rapist offered to marry Dinah, thereby taking the “damaged goods” off their hands. The fury and anger of Dinah’s brothers seems to show that this was NOT the case. ---
**Author:** ![YTMezoan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/eada6e/32.png) [@YTMezoan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YTMezoan)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2001, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-rape-permitted-in-the-bible/58663/23 "2001-03-21T17:38:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by C K Dexter Haven \* > **And Jacob’s inaction – shrugging his shoulders when he hears what his sons have done, rather than condemning them – is viewed as a shameful behavior on Jacob’s part.** I direct you to Genesis 49:5-7, in the section where Jacob blesses his sons. By Simeon and Levi, rather than blessing them, Jacob rebukes them for their violence and curses their anger. Even at the time of the action itself (in Genesis 34), while the Bible does not relate a moral rebuke given by Jacob, he does not simply “shrug his shoulders”, but at least rebukes one aspect of their actions (the political aspect). ---
**Author:** ![Needs2know](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5e925/32.png) [@Needs2know](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Needs2know)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2001, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-rape-permitted-in-the-bible/58663/24 "2001-03-21T19:19:31Z")
I never understood Simeon and Levi’s actions to actually be of benefit to their wronged sister. Correct me if I’m wrong but their reaction to the rape of their sister always appeared to me to be retribution for a wrong to THEM, or the honor of their family. Perhaps I’m nitpicking here but it also seemed to me to be the reason that they were wrong or over reacted. A type of extreme form of family pride. I could be completely off the mark. Also didn’t David’s son, Absolum rape his sister? What was his original punishment for that? I’m forgetting but he was eventually forgiven, right? Needs2know ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2001, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-rape-permitted-in-the-bible/58663/25 "2001-03-21T20:05:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Needs2know \* > **Also didn’t David’s son, Absolum rape his sister? What was his original punishment for that? I’m forgetting but he was eventually forgiven, right?** No, David’s son Amnon raped his half sister Tamar. Two years later, her full brother Absalom invited all of David’s sons out for a picnic, got Amnon drunk and killed him for raping his sister, revenge being best served cold, and all. Later on, he started a civil war. II Samuel 13 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-rape-permitted-in-the-bible/58663.md?page=1)