Dinah and Shechem

Dinah, the daughter of Leah and Jacob, went out to see the daughters of the land. Shechem, the son of Hamor the Hivite, saw her, took her, and lay with her (Genesis 34:1-2). Afterward, his soul was strongly attracted to Dinah, and he spoke kindly to her, asking his father Hamor to get her for him as a wife. Jacob heard that his daughter had been defiled while his sons were in the field with the livestock, but he remained silent until they returned. Hamor then approached Jacob to speak with him regarding the marriage proposal (Genesis 34:5-6).

When Jacob's sons returned from the field, they were grieved and very angry because Shechem had committed a disgraceful thing in Israel. Shechem offered to give whatever dowry was asked of him, and Hamor proposed that their peoples intermarry and trade together. The sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor deceitfully, stating they could not give their sister to an uncircumcised man. They agreed to the request only on the condition that every male among the Hivites be circumcised like them (Genesis 34:13-15). The text does not say if the brothers intended to follow through on the peace treaty.

Hamor and Shechem agreed to these terms, and the men of the city were circumcised at the city gate. On the third day, when the men were in pain, Simeon and Levi took their swords and came upon the city boldly. They killed every male, including Hamor and Shechem, with the edge of the sword (Genesis 34:25-26). They took Dinah out of Shechem’s house and left. The other sons of Jacob then plundered the city, taking flocks, herds, and wealth, and capturing the women and children. Jacob rebuked Simeon and Levi, stating they had made him a stench among the inhabitants of the land (Genesis 34:30).