Genesis 34 Summary - 5 Minute Bible Study

Genesis 34

WHEN:

• There isn’t enough information in the text to date the events of this chapter with precision.

• It’s likely the events of Genesis 34 took place shortly after Jacob’s return to Canaan, sometime between 1745-1725 B.C.

CHARACTERS:

• Jacob – The son of Isaac and Rebekah and twin brother of Esau. He had recently returned from Haran to dwell in Canaan.  

• Dinah – Jacob’s daughter with Leah (30:21).

• Hamor – A ruler of the city of Shechem from the family of the Hivites.  

• Shechem – Son of Hamor. He is described as the “prince of the land.”

• Simeon – Jacob’s second oldest son. He was the son of Leah.

• Levi – Jacob’s third oldest son. He was the son of Leah.  

WHERE:

• The story in Genesis 24 played out near the city of Shechem in the land of Canaan (33:18-19).

• Keep in mind, “Shechem” is the name of a city AND the name of a key character in this chapter.

OUTLINE:

• DINAH, JACOB’S DAUGHTER, IS DEFILED (34:1-4):

  • While Dinah, the daughter of Leah and Jacob, was out visiting the women of the land, Shechem, “the prince of the land,” seized her and raped her.

  • Shechem became obsessed with Dinah and asked his father, Hamor, to get her for him as a wife.

• JACOB’S SONS TRICK HAMOR INTO MAKING A PACT WITH THEM (34:5-18):

  • When Dinah’s brothers heard what had happened to their sister, they were furious, but they held their peace when Hamor and Shechem came to speak with Jacob.  

  • Hamor proposed a treaty of peace between Jacob’s family and the people of his land.

  • He invited Jacob’s sons to marry their women and trade amongst them.

  • Shechem offered to pay any bride-price Jacob wanted for Dinah.

  • Jacob’s sons pretended to agree with Hamor’s proposal but told him they would only accept if he and all his people were circumcised.

  • Hamor agreed to their terms.

• LEVI AND SIMEON ATTACK HAMOR’S CITY (34:19-31):

  • Hamor returned to his city and convinced all the men to be circumcised.

  • Three days later, while the men were still healing, Levi and Simeon, two of Jacob’s sons, attacked the city with swords and killed all the men.

  • They killed Hamor and Shechem and took Dinah back to Jacob’s house.

  • They plundered the city and took all their wives, young children, and animals.

  • Jacob was angry with Simeon and Levi because he feared the people of the land would ally against their household and destroy them.

APPLICATION:

• This is not so much an application as it is an observation that’s important to keep in mind as you read the Bible.

• The Bible doesn’t always speak to the morality of the history it records.  

• If you are like me, after reading this story you probably wanted to know God’s thoughts on the matter.

• In God’s eyes, were Levi and Simeon justified in their actions? Was their response to extreme? What did God think of Shechem’s actions?

• In Genesis 34, God doesn’t provide a definitive statement about who was right and who was wrong.

• In these instances, it’s important for us to focus on the information we are given and to add it to the larger story God is telling us through these narratives.