The story of Shechem is one of those stories.
You see, according to Legends of the Jews, the people of Shechem weren't just a little bit bad; they were profoundly wicked. It wasn't just the incident with Dinah, Jacob’s daughter. The text suggests this was part of a pattern. They’d reportedly tried to do the same to Sarah and Rebekah, Abraham's wife and Isaac's wife respectively! Thankfully, the Lord intervened, preventing them from succeeding.
But the list goes on. They had persecuted Abraham when he was just a stranger passing through, causing trouble for his flocks, especially the pregnant ones. And, perhaps most disturbingly, they shamefully mistreated Eblaen, who was born in Abraham's own household. As Ginzberg retells these events, it paints a picture of a city that had a reputation for preying on outsiders, especially targeting their wives.
So, what happened after Simon and Levi took their vengeance on Shechem? The surrounding nations were terrified! Imagine the whispers around the campfires: "If just two of Jacob's sons could destroy a great city like Shechem, what would the entire family do if they united?"
Jacob, sensing the unease, decided it was time to move on. He packed up his possessions and set off to rejoin his father, Isaac. He left Shechem, unhindered, but the relief was short-lived. After eight days of travel, they encountered a formidable army.
This wasn’t just any army. It was dispatched from Nineveh, the great ancient city, with the mission to levy tribute on the whole world and bring everyone under their control. As they approached Shechem, they heard about the city’s fate at the hands of Jacob's sons.
Fury ignited within them. Can you imagine the scene? Commanders shouting, soldiers clenching their fists. They decided, then and there, to wage war on Jacob and his family.
What happens next? That’s a story for another time. But it’s a stark reminder of how actions, especially those rooted in injustice and violence, can have far-reaching and unexpected consequences. And how the fear of retribution can quickly escalate into something far more dangerous.