Genesis 34

Genesis 34 is the account of Dinah and the Shechemites.

Jacob's daughter Dinah goes out to visit the women of the land. Shechem, son of Hamor the Hivite (the local ruler), “saw her, he took her, and lay with her, and defiled her.” Shechem falls in love with Dinah and asks his father to arrange a marriage. Hamor approaches Jacob about the marriage and proposes an alliance between their peoples, offering intermarriage and land.

Jacob’s sons, upon hearing what happened to their sister, are furious about the dishonor brought upon their family. When negotiating with Hamor and Shechem, Jacob’s sons propose that all the men of the city must be circumcised before any marriage can take place. But it turned out to be a setup.

Shechem and Hamor agree to this condition and convince all the men of their city to undergo circumcision. While the men are recovering and in pain, two of Jacob’s sons — Simeon and Levi (Dinah’s full brothers) — attack the city, kill all the men, and take Dinah home. The other brothers then plunder the city, taking wealth, livestock, women, and children.

Jacob chastises Simeon and Levi for endangering the family by making them odious to the surrounding peoples. But they defend their actions, asking, “Should he deal with our sister as with an harlot?”