“And Jacob came safely to the city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan ...” (33:18). God brought Jacob’s large family safely to Canaan, which God had promised to Abraham’s descendants. However, their first choices in the land brought terrible suffering. No one protected Jacob’s only daughter Dinah as she went into the city, and Shechem’s prince violated her. Her rape led to Jacob’s sons slaughtering all the city’s men, provoking Jacob’s lament: “You have brought trouble on me ...” (34:30). Dinah’s pain was not healed, but simply led to more violence.

“God has dealt graciously with me” (33:11). Shechem reveals the power struggles of human life that lead to suffering and death. But God calls broken humanity to give up their violent grasping and receive life from His hand.