marry Dinah. Jacobs sons answered them, saying that they could only let this happen if all the men in Shechem were to be circumcised, because it would be a disgrace otherwise. It was a lie, in order for Jacobs slighted sons to get revenge on Shechem and his family. Shechem was fine with it, and he and Hamor spoke with the men of the city, saying that they could have many of the daughters of Jacobs large group. So all the men of the city including Hamor and Shechem circumcised themselves. Three days later, when the men of Shechem were still in pain, Simeon and Levi took their weapons and went into the city. The other sons of Jacob joined in. They plundered the city and killed everyone in it. Jacob was disturbed by this, and told Simeon and Levi, the leaders of the attack, that it was unwise to do what they did, offending these peoples, that if they should go up in arms against Jacobs small group, he shall be destroyed. But they said, Should our sister be treated like a whore? (Gen 34:31)(530)God told Jacob to go back to the place where he dreamt of heaven and the ladder, what he called Bethel. He told Jacob to make an altar there to god. Jacob told his household to get rid of their old gods, to purify themselves and change their clothes. Everyone gave Jacob their old gods, and removed their earrings, and Jacob hid them under an oak that was near Shechem. On Jacobs journey to Bethel, god made calamites befall the cities around them, so that they would not be pursued. Jacob arrived at Bethel and built an altar to god and called the place El-Bethel, because it was there when he saw god in his time of trouble.When Jacob was coming from Paddan-aram, god told him his name was no longer to be Jacob, but Israel. God also renewed his covenant he made with Abraham, to Jacob, saying I am god almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall come from you, and kings shall spring from you. The land that I gave to Abraham and...
