READ: Gen. 49:5–7: …For in their anger they slew a man, … Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce; and their wrath, for it is cruel! … I will divide them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel.
Jacob turns to his second and third sons, Simeon and Levi, with a strong condemnation. Cursed be their anger, he says, in the presence of all his sons. Indeed, they must all hear what God thinks of the actions of Simeon and Levi during the incident at Shechem (Gen. 34).
When the brothers heard of the assault on their sister by a man from the heathen city of Shechem, they were rightly angry. This anger is not what earns God’s curse. Anger over sin can be a holy fire. However, they handled their anger inappropriately: a sinful, devilish thirst for revenge consumed them.
Ephesians 4:26 says, “Be angry and do not sin… do not give place to the devil. Simeon and Levi allowed their anger to become fierce, and their wrath harsh (v.7). What began as holy fire turned into unholy flames. They deceitfully misused the sacred rite of circumcision so that the men of Shechem would be unable to defend themselves.
They then slaughtered them all in cold blood, plundered the city, and took everything of value, including women and children. They even maimed the cattle by cutting their tendons, rendering them useless. In doing so, they violated God’s explicit command: Whoever sheds man’s blood, by man his blood shall be shed; for in the image of God He made man.
This differs from situations where God Himself commands destruction, as during the conquest of Canaan, when the sins of the Amorites had reached their full measure. In Shechem, however, that measure was not yet full, and no divine command had been given for such actions.
Both sons hear the curse upon their deeds, though not upon themselves. Nevertheless, they are denied a land inheritance, a decision meant to prompt reflection and repentance for their ultimate benefit. Even this is an act of grace.
How can these words lead us to repentance and healing?
Sing: Ps. 51:4