Genesis 34:24 All the men who went out of the city gate agreed with Hamor and his son Shechem, and every male in the city was circumcised.
This revenge was planned, calculated. From the first suggestion of circumcision to win Dinah’s hand, the sons of Jacob had this end in mind. But not only did they kill all the males in the city, they also looted the city after the massacre. As with Dinah’s rape, the word that comes to mind here is evil.
Genesis 34:25 Three days later, while all of them were still in pain, two of Jacob’s sons, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brothers, took their swords and attacked the unsuspecting city, killing every male.
A quick scripture search leads me to Matthew 5:21-22, where Jesus equates anger with murder. What does He do with this scripture? Rape led to mass circumcision led to mass murder led to looting. Jesus has no sin-o-meter. It’s all wrong. It’s all sin. The brothers’ actions didn’t balance any scale.
Genesis 34:26 They put Hamor and his son Shechem to the sword and took Dinah from Shechem’s house and left.
Precious Savior, Thank You for reinforcing the fact that vengeance is Yours, not ours. We can’t handle that responsibility. Help us to focus on loving You and loving others, in seeing You in all who we encounter. Help us to know how to move forward from tragedy and heartbreak in a way that leads to light, to healing, to You and not in a way that leads to destruction. Help us, Jesus. Amen.
Genesis 34:27 The sons of Jacob came upon the dead bodies and looted the city where their sister had been defiled.
Have a blessed day.