“Genesis 34:25-31”

Tuesday, March 03, 2020

“Now it came about on the third day, when they were in pain, that two of Jacob’s sons, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brothers, each took his sword and came upon the city unawares, and killed every male. They killed Hamor and his son Shechem with the edge of the sword, and took Dinah from Shechem’s house, and went forth. Jacob’s sons came upon the slain and looted the city, because they had defiled their sister. They took their flocks and their herds and their donkeys, and that which was in the city and that which was in the field; and they captured and looted all their wealth and all their little ones and their wives, even all that was in the houses. Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, ‘You have brought trouble on me by making me odious among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites; and my men being few in number, they will gather together against me and attack me and I will be destroyed, I and my household.’ But they said, ‘Should he treat our sister as a harlot?’”

---End of Scripture verses---

“Now it came about on the third day, when they were in pain…” (verse 25) Anyone who has had surgery understands how the pain intensifies on the second and even third day afterward. And it could only have been much worse for these men when considering the very sensitive members that had recently been cut on. After three days all the men would have been circumcised and rendered unable to offer much if any resistance because of the extreme soreness they were experiencing. In their dreadful condition and current state of convalescence, and since they had no good reason to expect such a brutal attack from “friends” (verse 21), they were caught completely off their guard and “unawares” of the slaughter that was about to take place.

“Two of Jacob’s sons, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brothers, each took his sword and came upon the city…” (verse 26) Simeon and Levi were full brothers of Dinah, so that would explain why they were exceedingly enraged and vengeance driven. “As born of the same mother, they, with Reuben and Judah, were especially bound to espouse their sister’s cause, but the method they took was cruel in the extreme. And it seems that these two were the leaders in the plot, having probably excluded Reuben from it, as a man of feeble character and opposed to bloodshed (Genesis 37:22); and Judah, as one too honourable to take part in so nefarious a transaction.” (Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers)

“They killed Hamor and his son Shechem with the edge of the sword, and took Dinah from Shechem’s house, and went forth.” (verse 26) After Simeon and Levi “took” their swords and “killed every male” among the inhabitants of the city including their two most prominent leaders, they then “took” their sister from Shechem’s house and fled the scene of her captivity. “The entire affair began with Dinah ‘going out’ and being ‘taken’ (vv. 1,2). It concludes with the same two words but in reverse order. As far as Simeon and Levi are concerned, the account is settled. These two take no part in the plunder of the city.” (Nahum Sarna)

“Jacob’s sons came upon the slain and looted the city, because they had defiled their sister.” (verse 27) While Simeon and Levi were the masterminds of the massacre and the most brash and heartless in wielding their swords, it is obvious that all of their brothers participated in this shameful event in one way or another. Overwhelmed by a deep thirst for revenge, each of them abandoned any semblance of self-restraint and looted the whole city “because they had defiled their sister.” Of course, their feelings of outrage could also have provided them good cover to seize upon the opportunity to enrich themselves. The green-eyed monster of greed knows no shame.

“They took their flocks and their herds and their donkeys, and that which was in the city and that which was in the field; and they captured and looted all their wealth and all their little ones and their wives, even all that was in the houses.” (verses 28-29) In an ironic twist, instead of all of Israel’s “livestock and their property and all their animals” belonging to the men of the city as Hamor had promised (verse 23), all of Shechem’s belongings were taken by the sons of Israel. Including “their little ones and their wives.” “No mention is made of these captives afterward: nor is it easy to conjecture what became of them. Perhaps the most probable supposition is, that Jacob restored both them and the property taken by his sons to their surviving relatives and countrymen.” (Benson Commentary)

“Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, ‘You have brought trouble on me by making me odious among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites…’ (verse 30) Nahum Sarna observes that the phrase “brought trouble” is an “ellipsis for ‘muddy the waters,’” and “making me odious” is an “ellipsis for ‘making my breath to stink.’” Israel feared he would be viewed: “As a cruel and bloodthirsty man that spared none, made no difference between the innocent and the guilty; and as a robber and plunderer, that stopped at nothing, committing the greatest outrages to get possession of the substance of others.” (Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible)

“And my men being few in number, they will gather together against me and attack me and I will be destroyed, I and my household.’” (verse 30) In Israel’s state of vexation and mortification he feared that all hope was lost for his family and his future, and he even despaired of his life. But once he had regained his right mind, he came to remember, believe and trust in God’s promises that He would bless him, protect him, prosper him and multiply him. Even so, the memory of this dreadful incident haunted Israel for the rest of his life. Before his death he prophesied of them: “Simeon and Levi are brothers; their swords are implements of violence. Let my soul not enter into their council; let not my glory be united with their assembly; because in their anger they slew men, and in their self-will they lamed oxen. Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce; and their wrath, for it is cruel. I will disperse them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel.” (Genesis 49:5-7)

“Should he treat our sister as a harlot?” (verse 31) This was the only defense Simeon and Levi offered for their unspeakable actions. Somehow they justified the murder of scores of innocent men because one monster molested their beloved sister. “If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.” (Genesis 4:7) Friends, we always need to set our sights on doing what is right by the Lord and leaving vengeance in His perfectly capable hands. Repayment for wrongdoing is the Lord’s business and we are always in over our heads when we take it upon ourselves to seek our own revenge.

Please read Genesis 35:1-8 for tomorrow.

Have a great day!

-Louie Taylor

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