The treacherous cruelty of Simeon and Levi was not unprovoked; yet in their course toward the Shechemites they committed a grievous sin. They had carefully concealed from Jacob their 205 intentions, and the tidings of their revenge filled him with horror. Heartsick at the deceit and violence of his sons, he only said, "Ye have troubled me to make me to stink among the inhabitants of the land: . . . and I being few in number, they shall gather themselves together against me, and slay me; and I shall be destroyed, I and my house." But the grief and abhorrence with which he regarded their bloody deed is shown by the words in which, nearly fifty years later, he referred to it, as he lay upon his deathbed in Egypt: Simeon and Levi are brethren; instruments of cruelty are in their habitations. O my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, mine honor, be not thou united. . . . Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel." Genesis 49:5-7.

Simeons og Levis lumske grusomhed var ikke umotiveret, men i deres handlemåde over for Sikems indbyggere begik de alligevel en frygtelig synd. De havde omhyggeligt skjult deres hensigt for Jakob, og meddelelsen om deres hævn fyldte ham med rædsel. I sin dybe bedrøvelse over sine sønners bedrageri og vold sagde han kun: "I styrter mig i ulykke ved at lægge mig for had hos landets indbyggere; ..... thi jeg råder kun over få folk; samler de sig mod mig og slår mig, så er det ude med mig og mit hus!" Men den sorg og afsky, hvormed han betragtede deres blodige handling, ses af de ord, hvormed han 50 år senere omtalte den på sin dødsseng i Ægypten: "Simeon og Levi, det broderpar, voldsredskaber er deres våben. I deres råd giver min sjæl ej møde, i deres forsamling tager min ære ej del. ..... Forbandet være deres vrede, så vild den er, deres hidsighed, så voldsom den er!" 1. Mos.. 49, 5-7.