Massacre at Shechem

After Shechem son of Hamor assaulted Dinah, daughter of Jacob and Leah, Jacob’s sons demanded all the men of Shechem be circumcised as a condition for intermarriage. While the Shechemites were recovering from circumcision, Simeon and Levi attacked and killed all the males, plundered the city, and took the women and children captive.

Jacob condemned the violence: “You have brought trouble on me by making me stink to the inhabitants of the land” (Genesis 34:30). In his final blessing, Jacob cursed their fierce anger: “Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce… I will divide them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel” (Genesis 49:7)—fulfilled when Simeon was absorbed into Judah’s territory and Levi was scattered as priests throughout Israel.