Genesis 34:20

20 Then Hamor and his son Shechem came to the gate of their city, and they spoke to the men of their city, saying,

Genesis 34:20 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 34:20

And Hamor and Shechem his son went unto the gate of their
city
Where courts of judicature were held, and all public affairs respecting the common interest of the city were transacted: here, no doubt, Hamor their prince summoned them to come, by the usual method in which the citizens were convened on certain occasions: and communed with the men of their city;
upon the subject of entering into an alliance with Jacob's family, of admitting them to be fellow citizens with them, and of their being incorporated among them, and becoming one people with them, taking no notice of the true reason of this motion: saying,
as follows.

Genesis 34:20 In-Context

18 And their words were good in the eyes of Hamor and in the eyes of Shechem, the son of Hamor.

19 And the young man did not delay to do the thing, for he wanted the daughter of Jacob. Now he [was] the most honored of his father's house.

20 Then Hamor and his son Shechem came to the gate of their city, and they spoke to the men of their city, saying,

21 "These men [are] at peace with us. Let them dwell in the land and let them trade in it. Now, behold, the land is {broad enough for them}. Let us take their daughters as wives, and let us give our daughters to them.

22 Only on this [condition] will they give consent to us, to live with us [and] to become one family--when every male among us [is] circumcised as they are circumcised.