On the third day, when they were sore: this assumes that all the males were circumcised on the same day. Note Good News Translation “Three days later.” We may also say, for example, “Three days after they had been circumcised.” For discussion of they see verse 24. The pain or soreness is due to swelling where the foreskin of the penis has been removed. As Kidner comments, “Crudely performed, circumcision could be quite incapacitating, particularly after two or three days.”

Two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi: these are the second and third sons respectively of Leah and full brothers of Dinah. Nothing is said regarding Reuben, the oldest brother.

Took their swords: swords is used in 3.24 and 27.40. In contrast with those verses, here the focus is on the sword as a weapon for killing people. In languages in which this instrument is unknown, it may be possible to use a borrowed term, an equivalent local term, or to shift to a more general level and say “took their weapons.”

Came upon the city unawares: unawares, which means “without being noticed,” “without the people being aware that they were there,” is literally “in security.” Some understand that it is the city that is dwelling securely (BDB). However, if the city were secure, the attackers would not have succeeded. Most modern versions interpret “in security” to refer to the manner in which the brothers invaded the city, namely, “unopposed,” “without any resistance.” See Good News Translation “without arousing suspicion.” Examples of other translations are “went into the town in a quiet way” and “walked right inside the town and nobody prevented them.”

Killed all the males: see the discussion concerning who is circumcised and who is killed in verse 24. Aside from the soreness of the recently circumcised men, the narrator is not concerned to explain how two men could carry out such a massacre.

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .