Matthew Poole and continuators on Genesis 34:25

25 And it came to pass on the third day , when they were sore , that two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi , Dinahs brethren , took each man his sword, and came upon the city boldly and slew all the males .

When the pain and grief of wounds is the greatest, as Physitians note.

And therefore not well able to defend themselves; for circumcision caused great pain in children, which was the ground of that exclamation, Exod. 4. 25. much more in grown men. See Ios. 5. 8.

These two onely are mentioned, because they were authors of the counsel, and conductors of the rest in the Execution; but it is probable from ver. 27. that most of their brethren were confederate with them, and that they had a considerable number of their servants with them who would be ready enough to revenge their masters quarrel and to punish so great a Villany: but all that was done is justly ascribed to them two, as it is common for all writers to say this or that was done by such a Captain or General, when in truth it was done by his Souldiers.

So they were both by the father and mother; which made them more forward and zealous than the rest.

Such of them as were grown up, by comparing, ver. 29. for these or some of them seem to have been the abettors of the injury against their sister and family. Their sin in this act was manifold; that they did it without sufficient authority; and against their fathers mind, as appears from ver. 30. and Gen. 49. 6. which they well knew; and without all bounds, rashly, unjustly and cruelly punished the innocent and the guilty together, and usher'd in this fact with horrible deceit and lying, and that under pretence of friendship and shew of Religion.

Marginal references: chap. 49. 6.