Genesis: These Are The Generations (XXXVI)

Two Wrongs (34:1-31)

Neal Pollard

Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had all practiced deceit. The first two did so in a misguided attempt to protect themselves from harm. Jacob’s deceit was more aggressive, an act calculated to steal his brother’s blessing away. Isn’t it interesting how the influence of our sin grows. Jacob has two sons, Simeon and Levi, whose deceit will be calculated to take the lives of a great many Hivite men. Not only will they be deceitful, but they will be murderous (25-26), avaricious (27-29), and proud (31). It has been observed that Jacob had changed, but “Jacob could not change his boys. God would have to bring them to a crisis of their own, as we will see later” (Strassner, 133-134).

Genesis 34 “possesses no prayers, no divine revelations, no mention of promissory blessings, and no explicit mention of God” (Matthews, NAC, 578). Virtually every action is driven by the flesh. We do not know if there was any questionable motive on Dinah’s part for consorting with the local women, but she did not deserve what happens to her. Shechem, though respected more than all in his father’s household (19), did the deplorable. He raped Dinah (2). While he “was deeply attracted to Dinah,” “loved the girl and spoke tenderly to her” (3), and wanted to marry her (4), the potential union was predicated upon sin and violence. Jacob heard about the rape and secretly told his sons (5). Jacob takes no decisive action and gives no recorded reply to Shechem’s father’s request for Dinah to marry Shechem (6-12).

Dinah’s brothers, Simeon and Levi, disgusted by the very marriage proposal but bent on revenge, answer Hamor and Shechem “with deceit, because he had defiled Dinah their sister” (13). We can talk ourselves into some horrible, sinful actions when we feel we are in the right or avenging some wrong! No wonder Scripture repeatedly says, “Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God” (Rom. 12:19; Deut. 32:35-36; Ps. 94:1; Heb. 10:30). 

The ploy is simple, ingenious, and successful. Dinah’s brothers’ request is rooted in truth, but is twisted for their vengeful plot. God had given Abraham’s descendants the covenant of circumcision, but Simeon and Levi had no intention for there to be any marriage or giving in marriage. For their part, the Hivites were eager to comply out of greed in sharing in Jacob’s wealth. The men of the city said, “Will not their livestock and their property and all their animals be ours? Only let us consent to them, and they will live with us” (23). So, they consent in unison to be circumcised. On the third day, when they are in pain from their operations and weakened, Simeon and Levi kill every male with the edge of the sword (25-26). All of Jacob’s sons appear guilty of looting (27-29). 

Now that the rage is assuaged and their bloodthirstiness is sated, there is the aftermath. This is a diplomatic disaster. Jacob rebukes Simeon and Levi, and explain the ramifications of their deeds. They will have to move, as they would become “odious” to the people of the land (30). The boys were so blind by their wrath that they still justified themselves for their actions, saying, “Should he treat our sister as a harlot?” (31). I am reminded of Solomon’s wise words, “All the ways of a man are clean in his own sight, But the Lord weighs the motives” (Prov. 16:2) and “Every man’s way is right in his own eyes, But the Lord weighs the hearts” (Prov. 21:2). On his deathbed, Jacob will call these boys into account and it will cost them their inheritance (49:5-7). 

Shechem fired the first shot. It was an awful act of violence. But that did not justify the reaction of Simeon and Levi. God would have handled the situation. He does not need our help to take matters into our own hands. It was a costly lesson and a great many paid the price!