I had to add this story to my blog if only for the extreme tactical brilliance of it...
So the only daughter of Jacob decides to go out and visit some friends (her name is Dinah by-the-way) and while she is out a local prince, Shechem, notices her, takes her to his bed, and defiles her. Now, Shechem is so taken by Dinah that he decides he must have her as a wife and tells his father, Hamor the king of Shalem, to make it happen. Hamor and Shechem visit Jacob and do their best to convince him that it would be in the best interest of all to give the marriage his blessing. Obviously there was some anger amongst Jacob and his twelve sons but they adequately maintained their collective cool and did not seek retribution. However, two of the boys, Simeon and Levi, had other plans...they came up with what seemed like an amicable solution and explained that the marriage could only be allowed if Hamor, and all the men in Hamor's house, were circumcised. Hamor and Shechem agreed to the terms, surely believing they had dodged a bullet, and all the men were circumcised...
GENESIS 34:25-29
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.What a strategic masterpiece - played out to perfection...all the men were sore, extremely so, and could not manage much resistance. In fact, given the location of circumcision, I am sure that several of the men were relieved to die! A fantastic tale!
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.
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,
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.
Simeon and Levi were not applauded in their action and certainly did not have permission or guidance from Jacob or the Lord to do what they did; but it was an ingenious revenge. I would tie in some sort of uplifting quote or spiritual thought to add relevance to this tale but, as far as the story is concerned, there is no happy ending for any of the individuals involved so I will end with a cautionary quote about the evils of revenge...
"In taking revenge, a man is but even with his enemy; but in passing it over, he is superior."
-Sir Francis Bacon
~Kipling
Next: Genesis 36-38
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