Genesis 34:20

20 So Hamor and Shechem went to the gate of their city and 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 What they asked seemed fair to Hamor and Shechem.

19 So Shechem quickly went to be circumcised because he loved Jacob's daughter. Now Shechem was the most respected man in his family.

20 So Hamor and Shechem went to the gate of their city and spoke to the men of their city, saying,

21 "These people want to be friends with us. So let them live in our land and trade here. There is enough land for all of us. Let us marry their women, and we can let them marry our women.

22 But we must agree to one thing: All our men must be circumcised as they are. Then they will agree to live in our land, and we will be one people.