Simeon and Levi Take Vengeance for Dinah at Shechem

(Genesis 34:25) "And it came to pass on the third day, when they were in pain." We learned: one may bathe the infant. The school of Rabbi taught: one may bathe the place of circumcision. Rabbi Assi said: of necessity there is a teaching that one may bathe the infant. Rabbi Ze'era said: at any time Rabbi Assi would say, recite your teaching, for we learned, one withholds neither oil nor hot water from a wound on the Sabbath; and more than that, one may even sprinkle hot water over a wound on the Sabbath. And if you should say one may bathe the place of circumcision, how is the wound of an infant different from the wound of an adult? Rabbi Elazar ben Azariah said: one may bathe the infant on the third day of circumcision that falls on the Sabbath. Rabbi Yaakov bar Aha said: at all times Rabbi Yonatan and Rabbi Yochanan would instruct the midwives, saying to them, everything you do for a sick person you may do on the third day that falls on the Sabbath. Shmuel said: because of the danger. Rabbi Yose said to him: if because of the danger, then we may even make hot water for him on the Sabbath, for we learned, a man may heat a cloth and place it on his belly on the Sabbath. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: there is no prohibition here, only permission. "And two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, took." From the fact that it says "Simeon and Levi," do I not know they are the sons of Jacob? Rather, it teaches that they did not take counsel from Jacob; "Simeon and Levi" - that they did not take counsel from one another. "Dinah's brothers" - was she the sister of only those two? Was she not the sister of all the tribes? But because they risked their lives for her, she was called by their name. And likewise, "And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took" (Exodus 15:20) - was she only Aaron's sister? Was she not the sister of both? But because Aaron risked himself for her, she was called by his name. And likewise, "And concerning Cozbi the daughter of a prince of Midian, their sister" (Numbers 25:18) - was she their sister? She was a daughter of their nation; but because she gave her life for her people, the nation was named after her. "Each man his sword" - they were thirteen years old. "And they came upon the city secure" - they were secure in the strength of the old man. And Jacob our father did not know that his sons had done that deed; he said, shall I leave my sons to fall into the hand of the nations of the world? I will fight against them. This is what he says to Joseph, "which I took from the hand of the Amorite with my sword" (Genesis 48:22). (Genesis 34:26) "And they took Dinah out of Shechem's house and went away" - they were dragging her as they went out. Rav Huna said: a woman who has lain with an uncircumcised man finds it hard to part from him. She said, and where shall I carry my shame? - until Simeon swore to her that he would marry her. This is what is written, "and Shaul the son of the Canaanitess" (Genesis 46:10). Rabbi Yehuda says: she did as a Canaanite woman does. Rabbi Nehemiah says: she had lain with a Hivite, who is included in Canaan. And the Rabbis say: Simeon took her and buried her in the land of Canaan. (Genesis 34:30-31) "And Jacob said to Simeon and to Levi, you have brought trouble on me" - the cask was clear and you have muddied it. It is a tradition in the hand of the Canaanites that they are destined to fall into the hand of my sons; but the Holy One, blessed be He, said, "until you increase and inherit the land" (Exodus 23:30), with six hundred thousand. They said: the cask was muddy and we have clarified it. And they said, "Should he deal with our sister as with a harlot?" - do they treat us like ownerless people? Who caused it? "And Dinah the daughter of Leah went out."