Genesis 34-36

What’s Happening?

Jacob and his family are returning from their long stay with Laban when a horrifying event takes place. Jacob’s daughter Dinah is defiled by Shechem, the prince of the land (Genesis 34:2). Her brothers are enraged, but Jacob remains strangely passive (Genesis 34:5).

Shechem then begs to marry Dinah. In revenge, Jacob’s sons deceive him and his people, demanding circumcision as the price of acceptance into their family (Genesis 34:15). But it was no true invitation—only a trick.

When the men of the city are still in pain, Simeon and Levi slaughter every male, reclaim their sister, and the rest of the brothers plunder the town (Genesis 34:25–29). The people of God use the covenant sign, not as a marker of blessing, but as a weapon of deceit and violence.

Yet even after this act of brutality, God protects Jacob’s family and brings them safely to Bethel (Genesis 35:5). There God reaffirms his covenant with Jacob, blessing him with the promise of fruitfulness and kings (Genesis 35:11). Despite Jacob’s passivity and his sons’ violence, the covenant of blessing is not canceled.

The passage closes with both sorrow and hope: Rachel dies giving birth to Jacob’s twelfth son, Benjamin (Genesis 35:18). The family of promise is complete, even as death shadows the gift. And alongside Jacob’s line, Esau’s descendants are also listed (Genesis 36:1), reminding us that God’s ability to make nations and bring blessing extends far beyond human failure.

Where is the Gospel?

This story forces us to face the ugliest parts of humanity—defilement, deceit, vengeance, and grief. Israel’s fathers are shown to be deeply broken. Yet the covenant of blessing remains intact. God will not let even the worst sins undo his plan.

This is where Jesus steps in as the true Son of Jacob. Unlike his forefathers Jesus did not remain passive in the face of evil like Jacob. He did not repay violence with violence like Simeon and Levi. Instead, he entered into both sides of the human condition.

On the cross, Jesus becomes like Dinah, taking on the shame of the defiled—bearing the world’s scorn and abuse though he was innocent. And rather than perpetuating the cycle of vengeance, he breaks it. He receives the blows of human hatred and cruelty into himself. His blood does not cry out for revenge, but for forgiveness (Hebrews 12:24).

In him, both victims and perpetrators find healing. The defiled are restored to honor. The guilty are offered mercy. And God’s covenant promise is kept, not by the failures of Jacob’s sons, but by the faithfulness of Jesus, the true Son.

See for Yourself

I pray that the Holy Spirit would give you eyes to see the God who does not abandon his promises, even in the face of humanity’s greatest sins. And may you see Jesus as the faithful Son of Jacob who enters into both our shame and our violence to bring forgiveness, healing, and life.