Gen 34: Revenge in the Bible and the Ancient Near East

Guest: Dr. Deborah Geller.  Was revenge always considered morally wrong? In the ancient Near East, avenging an offense could be a matter of honor, justice, and even moral obligation. How does this cultural background illuminate the troubling story of Dinah and the violent response of her brothers, Simeon and Levi?In this episode, Dr. Deborah Geller draws on her comparative research into revenge narratives in the Hebrew Bible and ancient Near Eastern literature. We explore the role of honor in motivating revenge, the elaborate strategies employed by avengers, and the striking differences between how revenge is portrayed in ancient Near Eastern epics and in the Bible.Does Genesis 34 condemn Simeon and Levi, or does it leave room for understanding their actions? And what does the story reveal about the Bible's distinctive and often ambivalent attitude toward revenge?