The episode known as the Revenge of Dinah's Brothers is a significant event recorded in the Book of Genesis, specifically in Genesis 34. This narrative unfolds in the patriarchal period and involves the family of Jacob, one of the key patriarchs of Israel.

Background and Context

Dinah, the daughter of Jacob and Leah, went out to visit the women of the land. During her visit, Shechem, the son of Hamor the Hivite, the prince of the region, saw her, took her, and violated her. Despite this grievous act, Shechem's soul was drawn to Dinah, and he loved the young woman and spoke tenderly to her. He then asked his father, Hamor, to obtain Dinah for him as a wife (Genesis 34:1-4).

Jacob's Reaction

When Jacob heard that Shechem had defiled his daughter Dinah, his sons were in the fields with his livestock, so he held his peace until they returned. Hamor, Shechem's father, went out to speak with Jacob to negotiate a marriage arrangement (Genesis 34:5-6).

The Response of Dinah's Brothers

Upon hearing of the defilement of their sister, Jacob's sons were deeply grieved and very angry, because Shechem had committed an outrage in Israel by lying with Jacob's daughter—a thing that should not be done (Genesis 34:7). Hamor spoke with them, proposing intermarriage between their peoples and offering generous terms, including the opportunity to dwell in the land and trade freely (Genesis 34:8-10).

Shechem himself pleaded with Jacob and Dinah's brothers, expressing his willingness to pay any bride price or gift they demanded, as long as they would give him Dinah as his wife (Genesis 34:11-12).

The Deceptive Agreement

Dinah's brothers, however, acted deceitfully because of the defilement of their sister. They agreed to the marriage on the condition that all the males in Shechem's city be circumcised, stating that they could not give their sister to a man who was uncircumcised, as that would be a disgrace to them (Genesis 34:13-17).

Hamor and Shechem agreed to this condition and convinced the men of their city to undergo circumcision, arguing that it would be beneficial for them to intermarry with Jacob's family and share in their wealth (Genesis 34:18-24).

The Act of Revenge

On the third day, when the men of the city were still in pain from their circumcision, Simeon and Levi, Dinah's full brothers, took their swords and attacked the unsuspecting city, killing all the males, including Hamor and Shechem. They rescued Dinah from Shechem's house and left (Genesis 34:25-26).

The other sons of Jacob then joined in, plundering the city because their sister had been defiled. They seized the flocks, herds, donkeys, and everything else of value, including the women and children, and took them as captives (Genesis 34:27-29).

Jacob's Concern

After the massacre, Jacob expressed his concern to Simeon and Levi, fearing that their actions would bring trouble upon him by making him odious to the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites and the Perizzites. He worried that, being few in number, his household would be attacked and destroyed (Genesis 34:30).

Simeon and Levi, however, justified their actions by asking, "Should he have treated our sister like a prostitute?" (Genesis 34:31).

Theological and Moral Considerations

The narrative of Dinah's defilement and the subsequent revenge by her brothers raises complex theological and moral questions. It highlights the themes of justice, honor, and the consequences of deceit and violence. The actions of Simeon and Levi, while driven by a sense of familial honor and justice, resulted in further violence and moral ambiguity, reflecting the challenges of living righteously in a fallen world. This account serves as a sobering reminder of the human propensity for sin and the need for divine guidance and redemption.