Sin and Slaughter of Shekhem/2

Shimon and Levi in Shekhem

Exegetical Approaches

Justified

The entire city was guilty

Sources:Baalei Hatosafot,  RambamHilkhot Melakhim 9:14About R. Moshe Maimonides, R. Yosef ibn KaspiBereshit 34:27About R. Yosef ibn Kaspi, AbarbanelBereshit 34:25-29About R. Yitzchak Abarbanel, Or HaChayyim #2Bereshit 34:25About R. Chayyim b. Atar

Yaakov's reaction

Hashem's evaluation

"וַיַּעֲנוּ בְנֵי יַעֲקֹב... בְּמִרְמָה"

"אֲשֶׁר טִמְּאוּ"

Why did they kill them on the third day?

Taking of the Spoils

Shimon and Levi versus the other brothers

Yaakov's blessing in Bereshit 49

Polemical motivations

Practical necessity so as to retrieve Dina

Sources:RalbagBeiur Divrei HaParashah Bereshit 34:30-31About R. Levi b. Gershon, Or HaChayyim #1Bereshit 34:25About R. Chayyim b. Atar

Yaakov's reaction

Hashem's evaluation

"וַיַּעֲנוּ בְנֵי יַעֲקֹב... בְּמִרְמָה"

"אֲשֶׁר טִמְּאוּ"

Why did they kill them on the third day?

Taking of the Spoils

Shimon and Levi versus the other brothers

Yaakov's blessing in Bereshit 49

Polemical motivations

Shechemites reneged on the deal

Yaakov's reaction

Hashem's evaluation

"וַיַּעֲנוּ בְנֵי יַעֲקֹב... בְּמִרְמָה"

"אֲשֶׁר טִמְּאוּ"

Why did they kill them on the third day?

Taking of the Spoils

Shimon and Levi versus the other brothers

Yaakov's blessing in Bereshit 49

Polemical motivations

Deterrence for the future

Yaakov's reaction

Hashem's evaluation

"וַיַּעֲנוּ בְנֵי יַעֲקֹב... בְּמִרְמָה"

"אֲשֶׁר טִמְּאוּ"

Why did they kill them on the third day?

Taking of the Spoils

Shimon and Levi versus the other brothers

Yaakov's blessing in Bereshit 49

Polemical motivations

Sinned

Sources:RambanBereshit 34:13Bereshit 49:5-6About R. Moshe Nachmanides, R. D"Z Hoffmann

Yaakov's reaction

Hashem's evaluation

"וַיַּעֲנוּ בְנֵי יַעֲקֹב... בְּמִרְמָה"

"אֲשֶׁר טִמְּאוּ"

Why did they kill them on the third day?

Taking of the Spoils

Shimon and Levi versus the other brothers

Yaakov's blessing in Bereshit 49

Polemical motivations