Lesson 74: Revenge of the Brothers 34:24-31

And it Came to Pass.

Now here’s the text of the revenge:

King James Version (Chapter 34)

24 And unto Hamor and unto Shechem his son hearkened all that went out of the gate of his city; and every male was circumcised, all that went out of the gate of his city. 25 And it came to pass on the third day, when they were sore, that two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brethren, took each man his sword, and came upon the city boldly, and slew all the males. 26 And they slew Hamor and Shechem his son with the edge of the sword, and took Dinah out of Shechem’s house, and went out. 27 The sons of Jacob came upon the slain, and spoiled the city, because they had defiled their sister.

Some new details have emerged. The most striking is:

1.) They had to rescue their sister from Shechem. verse 26 says “and took Dinah out of Shechem’s house”. She was captive after the assault. The assault happened on his property or she was taken there. Two of Dinah’s brothers, Simeon and Levi, did the killing on behalf of the family. This reads like the Navy seals going in and carrying out a pinpoint raid and rescue.

2.) The family of Jacob/Israel never intended in honoring the bargaining price of circumcision that we read about last week.

3.) They took advantage of the soreness of Shechem and the people of his city from the circumcision and killed every man in the city. We are not told how many men were killed. It was some sort of mass killing.

4.) Shechem probably intended on seizing Jacobs belongings from him as we read in verse 23

“Shall not their cattle and their substance and every beast of theirs be ours? only let us consent unto them, and they will dwell with us.”

The Holy Bible: King James Version, Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version. (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009), Ge 34:23.

But the brothers saw through their plans and turned the tables on Hamor, his son Shechem, and their town of Shechem/Shalem. Sin has an awful tentacle wrapped around this town and situation. But did every male deserve to die? And, did Shechem really care for Dinah or was she just another notch on his belt? The brothers thought the latter.

5.) The brothers agreed that the issue at hand was dealing with their sister like a prostitute. This gives us an inkling that Shechem may have been involved ( in our way of thinking,) in some form of human trafficking?The idea of prostitution comes from the buying of their sister after the fact of rape and assault. The brothers of Dinah would not stand for it.

English Standard Version (Chapter 34)

31 But they said, “Should he treat our sister like a prostitute?”

6.) The trickery of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob has now filtered down another generation. The sons have learned their lessons well. They gave their word and did not keep it. Should they have done so or does the situation merit telling a lie?

This is definitely something God would not do, but He did allow the brothers to get by with it. Leviticus 19:11 says

King James Version (Chapter 19)

Ye shall not steal, neither deal falsely, neither lie one to another.

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Numbers 23:19 (KJV 1900)

God is not a man, that he should lie; Neither the son of man, that he should repent:

Hath he said, and shall he not do it? Or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?

The passage from Numbers comes from the story involving Balaam, who managed to be a grief to Israel for many years.

7.) The city of Shalem/Shechem has now fallen to the tribe of the sons of Israel. Jacob/Israel now fears the Canaanites and the Perrizites. Both tribes are pre-”promised land” inhabitants of Israel.

The chapter ends, begging the question for us: What is the response of today’s man to the act of sexual assault upon one of our own? We will try to answer that in a broad form but try to be as succinct as possible.

Get medical help for the assaulted.

You must, at the first hearing of it, commit it to prayer and the whole armor of God. Never underestimate your need of this!

King James Version (Chapter 6)

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Each piece of the armor is put on with prayer. The armor is for your and the individual attacked.

2. Make sure the authorities know. Don’t miss this. Call them even it is your son doing the perpetrating. Judgment comes through the authorities and will be protection for each side.

3. Call your pastor. Don’t let him be out of the loop. If you want it to be kept confidential, then insist on it.

4. Get legal assistance. You have not gone this way before. They will probably keep you from doing something or saying something that could land you in jail also.

5 Revenge will come to your mind, but that is God’s territory. Don’t cross over this line. This is where the opposite of what we want to do is the only thing that will help.

King James Version (Chapter 12)

19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.

21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

Take time to memorize this passage today, this month, or this year.

When you have done all you can, having done this, you can stand with your loved one through this crisis.

Purpose in your heart to be a mighty man of God, taking your stand in the evil day behind your shield of faith. Wearing your full armor, you will make it as you carve a path for your loved ones.