Yay for tinyrabbit for pointing out the big elephant in the little room of replies!

The abuse in the dream is a literal image for a double edged sword. Note that this would be the atypical translation, please. This is a very tender issue and is meant for you to relate to yourself as much as you see fits. It's -never- black and white...

The sword is basically attention. You seek a connection and attention from someone in your life. It probably is someone that reminds you of your dad or is something of a father figure in your life. But at the same time, it's also threatening to your subconscious, because you anticipate being hurt (this would be the abuse). What most dream experts agree on is that scenarios in dreams are often the oppertunity for the subconscious mind to play out something with the safety of not having to -actually- deal with the possible damages that come with the consequences. In your dream you seek out the attention from these men, and are allowed to face the possibility of being abused without it actually happening. Literally, facing your fears.

There is a second layer here, too. You are everyone in your dreams. So here you are facing your father, or some other man, seeking connection and attention with them. Carl Jung tells us that the goal in dream psychology is to connect with every part of ourselves and allow them to be part of us. It heals us, making our psyches more whole. Your male aspects are seen here as being antagonists. In the case of your dad, it would be some traits you see in both yourself and your father. Either way, there is this wanting to connect with that darker self. The key is to face it head on. Even in the waking world, you can sort of do this. You have to put yourself in that character's perspective, and ask why they do what they do...what they need and want...and why they feel they need to do it in a dark way. You may only get base answers, but this basic understanding can allow for the next dreams in the pattern to change, a little at a time. I had to do this with the angry part of me. It took four recurrences before a major change happened, but it was healing and I'm happier for it.

If there -is- an issue of this coming out of your past, I'd put my money on it being less about being abused and more about being taken advantage of - opening yourself up emotionally only to be cast aside or trampled on.