Genesis 34 – The Defilement of Dinah & The Revenge of Simeon & Levi
Genesis 34 records one of the darkest events in Jacob’s family history—the defilement of Dinah and the violent retaliation of Simeon and Levi. This chapter highlights moral corruption, deception, the consequences of vengeance, and the absence of God’s direct guidance.
Genesis 34 – Deep Study & Prophetic Revelation
Genesis 34 is a tragic chapter that exposes the dangers of compromise, unchecked anger, and taking justice into one’s own hands. It reveals Jacob’s failure to lead, the consequences of Dinah’s vulnerability, and the recklessness of Simeon and Levi’s vengeance.
✔ Dinah, Jacob’s daughter, is defiled by Shechem, a Canaanite prince.
✔ Shechem desires to marry Dinah and proposes a treaty with Jacob’s family.
✔ Simeon and Levi deceive the Shechemites and slaughter them in revenge.
✔ Jacob rebukes his sons for their actions, fearing repercussions.
📖 Key Verse: “And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, Ye have troubled me to make me to stink among the inhabitants of the land.” – Genesis 34:30
🔎 This chapter serves as a warning against moral compromise and seeking revenge outside of God’s justice.
Genesis Chapter 34 Overview
Genesis 34:1-12 – Dinah’s Defilement & Shechem’s Proposal
📖 Genesis 34:1-2 – “And Dinah the daughter of Leah, which she bare unto Jacob, went out to see the daughters of the land. And when Shechem the son of Hamor… took her, and lay with her, and defiled her.”
🔎 Dinah’s vulnerability led to tragedy. She ventured into Canaanite society, where moral corruption was rampant.
📖 Genesis 34:4-6 – “And Shechem spake unto his father Hamor, saying, Get me this damsel to wife.”
🔎 Shechem sought to legitimize his act through marriage, but his actions were already dishonorable.
📖 Genesis 34:8-10 – “And Hamor communed with them, saying, The soul of my son Shechem longeth for your daughter: give her, I pray you, unto him to wife.”
🔎 Hamor proposes intermarriage and unity between the two peoples. This was a dangerous compromise for Jacob’s family, who were called to remain set apart.
Genesis 34:13-24 – The Deception of Simeon & Levi
📖 Genesis 34:13 – “And the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father deceitfully.”
🔎 Simeon and Levi devised a plan for revenge, rather than seeking justice through God.
📖 Genesis 34:15-17 – “If ye be circumcised, then will we give our daughters unto you… but if ye will not hearken unto us, then will we take our daughter, and we will be gone.”
🔎 They falsely used circumcision, a sacred covenant sign, as a tool for deception.
📖 Genesis 34:24 – “And unto Hamor and unto Shechem his son hearkened all that went out of the gate of his city.”
🔎 The men of Shechem agreed, not realizing it was a trap.
Genesis 34:25-31 – Massacre & Jacob’s Rebuke
📖 Genesis 34:25-26 – “And it came to pass on the third day… two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, took each man his sword, and came upon the city boldly, and slew all the males.”
🔎 Their act of vengeance was excessive. They did not just punish Shechem but slaughtered an entire city.
📖 Genesis 34:27-29 – “The sons of Jacob came upon the slain, and spoiled the city.”
🔎 Other sons of Jacob joined in looting the city, showing how anger led to further sin.
📖 Genesis 34:30 – “And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, Ye have troubled me to make me to stink among the inhabitants of the land.”
🔎 Jacob rebukes his sons, fearing retaliation from other nations. However, he does not condemn the act itself—only its consequences.
📖 Genesis 49:5-7 – “Simeon and Levi are brethren; instruments of cruelty are in their habitations.”
🔎 Their actions lead to their future scattering in Israel. The tribe of Levi is later redeemed by becoming the priestly tribe (Exodus 32:26-28), while Simeon’s inheritance is absorbed by Judah (Joshua 19:1-9).
Genesis Chapter 34 - Deeper Study
Overview: Corruption, Deception, & Reckless Vengeance
🔹 Timeframe: After Jacob’s reunion with Esau, now settled in Shechem.
🔹 Setting: The city of Shechem, a Canaanite territory.
🔹 Theme: Compromise leads to defilement, and unchecked anger leads to destruction.
🔹 Connection to Future Events: Simeon and Levi’s actions lead to their tribes being scattered in Israel (Genesis 49:5-7).
Key Takeaways
🔑 Moral compromise leads to spiritual danger.
🔑 Vengeance belongs to God, not man (Romans 12:19).
🔑 Even justified anger can lead to sin if not handled properly.
🔑 Unrestrained violence leads to long-term consequences.
Prophetic Patterns & Dual Fulfillment
🔮 Simeon & Levi’s Actions Lead to Judgment & Redemption – Levi’s tribe is later set apart for priesthood, showing God’s ability to redeem even the violent.
🔮 The Danger of Unequal Alliances – Shechem’s proposal foreshadows Israel’s later compromises with pagan nations, leading to judgment (Judges 3:5-7).
🔮 False Worship & Deception – Just as circumcision was misused here, later generations would use religious practices deceitfully, rather than in true faith.
Historical & Cultural Context
📜 Canaanite Practices & Moral Corruption – The Canaanites were known for lawlessness, immorality, and idol worship. Jacob’s presence among them was a spiritual risk.
📜 Marriages as Political Alliances – Shechem’s offer to intermarry with Jacob’s family reflects the ancient practice of using marriage to form treaties.
📜 Revenge in Ancient Law – While justice was often handled by tribal retaliation, Simeon and Levi’s response far exceeded what was just.
💡 Final Reflection: The Cost of Revenge & Compromise
Genesis 34 reminds us that anger, deception, and revenge bring destruction, but God’s justice is perfect.
📌 Are we trusting God’s justice, or taking matters into our own hands?
📌 Are we forming alliances that compromise our spiritual calling?
📌 Do we recognize that revenge can have generational consequences?
🚀 Genesis 34 is a warning—only God can bring true justice. Human anger leads to destruction, but divine righteousness restores!
The Defiling of Dinah
Gen 34:1 And Dinah the daughter of Leah, which she bare unto Jacob, went out to see the daughters of the land.
Gen 34:2 And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he took her, and lay with her, and defiled her.
Gen 34:3 And his soul clave unto Dinah the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the damsel, and spake kindly unto the damsel.
Gen 34:4 And Shechem spake unto his father Hamor, saying, Get me this damsel to wife.
Gen 34:5 And Jacob heard that he had defiled Dinah his daughter: now his sons were with his cattle in the field: and Jacob held his peace until they were come.
Gen 34:6 And Hamor the father of Shechem went out unto Jacob to commune with him.
Gen 34:7 And the sons of Jacob came out of the field when they heard it: and the men were grieved, and they were very wroth, because he had wrought folly in Israel in lying with Jacob’s daughter; which thing ought not to be done.
Gen 34:8 And Hamor communed with them, saying, The soul of my son Shechem longeth for your daughter: I pray you give her him to wife.
Gen 34:9 And make ye marriages with us, and give your daughters unto us, and take our daughters unto you.
Gen 34:10 And ye shall dwell with us: and the land shall be before you; dwell and trade ye therein, and get you possessions therein.
Gen 34:11 And Shechem said unto her father and unto her brethren, Let me find grace in your eyes, and what ye shall say unto me I will give.
Gen 34:12 Ask me never so much dowry and gift, and I will give according as ye shall say unto me: but give me the damsel to wife.
Gen 34:13 And the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father deceitfully, and said, because he had defiled Dinah their sister:
Gen 34:14 And they said unto them, We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one that is uncircumcised; for that were a reproach unto us:
Gen 34:15 But in this will we consent unto you: If ye will be as we be, that every male of you be circumcised;
Gen 34:16 Then will we give our daughters unto you, and we will take your daughters to us, and we will dwell with you, and we will become one people.
Gen 34:17 But if ye will not hearken unto us, to be circumcised; then will we take our daughter, and we will be gone.
Gen 34:18 And their words pleased Hamor, and Shechem Hamor’s son.
Gen 34:19 And the young man deferred not to do the thing, because he had delight in Jacob’s daughter: and he was more honourable than all the house of his father.
Gen 34:20 And Hamor and Shechem his son came unto the gate of their city, and communed with the men of their city, saying,
Gen 34:21 These men are peaceable with us; therefore let them dwell in the land, and trade therein; for the land, behold, it is large enough for them; let us take their daughters to us for wives, and let us give them our daughters.
Gen 34:22 Only herein will the men consent unto us for to dwell with us, to be one people, if every male among us be circumcised, as they are circumcised.
Gen 34:23 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.
Gen 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.
Gen 34:25 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.
Gen 34:26 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.
Gen 34:27 The sons of Jacob came upon the slain, and spoiled the city, because they had defiled their sister.
Gen 34:28 They took their sheep, and their oxen, and their asses, and that which was in the city, and that which was in the field,
Gen 34:29 And all their wealth, and all their little ones, and their wives took they captive, and spoiled even all that was in the house.
Gen 34:30 And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, Ye have troubled me to make me to stink among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites: and I being few in number, they shall gather themselves together against me, and slay me; and I shall be destroyed, I and my house.
Gen 34:31 And they said, Should he deal with our sister as with an harlot?
Date Written
1446-1406 BC
Written By
Moses (written under divine inspiration)
Language
Hebrew
Verses
31