Leah’s daughter, Dinah, decided to check out the young girls of Shechem. The leader of the city’s son, also named Shechem, got involved with her and took her home and basically raped her. He then wanted her for a wife and got his father, Hamor, to approach Jacob. But when Jacob’s sons found out that their sister had been raped and kidnapped, they were itching for a fight. Hamor, the ruler, plotted to intermarry with Jacob’s clan and absorb their wealth. Jacob’s sons counter-plotted revenge by insisting the men of Shechem be circumcised, as they were, before they would marry. The men of Shechem agreed and then the brothers of Dinah went and killed them all when they were bed-bound by the circumcision. Following the brutality, all the sons of Jacob sacked the city and took possessions, women, children and animals. Jacob was troubled that the Canaanites in the land would destroy him but his sons felt it was worth it to avenge their sister.
Some commentaries show the necessity of this carnage to keep Jacob’s bloodline pure and that God has to work through even broken and sinful men to accomplish His ultimate plan. It would have been wonderful to see how His plan would have been implemented through Godly behavior on the part of Jacob’s sons. We will never know. However, this story gives me hope in my life that even though I am a sinful and flawed vessel, God can turn my imperfections to accomplish His will and salvage my pitiful behavior to His and my glory.