Genesis 49:7

The first action of Levi that the Scriptures record is an act of cruelty. Levi was one of Jacob's twelve sons. Excessive wrath drove him, and he acted in a deceitful way. Read the account in Genesis 34: "Simeon and Levi... took their swords and came against the city while it felt secure and killed all the males" (Gen. 34:25). Jacob had to say: "You have brought trouble on me" (Gen. 34:30). This is why, later, the blessing of the tribe of Levi was turned into a curse.

Simeon and Levi come next. Their father never forgot their cruel and violent action, recorded in Genesis 34. He dissociated himself from it. They claimed to be avenging the honour of their sister. But Jacob would not join his own honour to what they did, and he denounced it as the fruit of their anger.

These two brothers are considered together, and united in cruelty and violence... Then comes a prophetic sentence: "I will divide them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel." Their unity in evil would result in division even among the tribes.

As a consequence of Simeon and Levi's sin, these two brothers were "divided in Jacob and scattered in Israel" (Gen. 49:7). However, they differed from each other. In grace the Lord used Levi's dispersion to give him priestly functions suited to his position. It was otherwise for Simeon, who continued to bear the mark of God's judgment... Simeon was small in number. His land lay partly inside Judah's territory, was open to enemy attacks on the south, and had no definite borders.

It may be instructive to compare the case of Levi as an instance of God making His judgment an occasion of blessing. Genesis 49:7 says, "I will divide them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel." But in Deuteronomy 33:10 we see Him overrule that dividing and scattering. It made them teach "Jacob your rules, and Israel your law" more effectively. "Where sin increased, grace abounded all the more."

By nature he was "joined" in a covenant of murder; by grace "joined" in a covenant of life and peace... By nature Levi was familiar with the instruments of cruelty; by grace, with the instruments of God's tabernacle. By nature God could not come into Levi's assembly; by grace, Levi is brought into God's assembly.

It refers, we believe, to that terrible outbreak of anger and cruelty in the nation, which reached its climax in the rejection and death of Christ. Stephen speaks of Him as "the Righteous One," in contrast to the sinful men killed by Simeon and Levi. He added, "whom you have now betrayed and murdered" (Acts 7:52). Strikingly enough, Simeon and Levi achieved their murderous intent by a preliminary act of betrayal.

Anger is allowed in a believer, but it must not become a settled feeling... There is a holy indignation. The sight of shameless evil may stir it, and it is far from private hostility... When harboured as a lasting sentiment, it is sin; and in its results it is nearer to cursing than to blessing.