Genesis 34:20

20 Then Hamor and Shechem, his son, went to the meeting-place of their town, and said to the men of the town,

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 pleasing to Hamor and his son Shechem.

19 And without loss of time the young man did as they said, because he had delight in Jacob's daughter, and he was the noblest of his father's house.

20 Then Hamor and Shechem, his son, went to the meeting-place of their town, and said to the men of the town,

21 It is the desire of these men to be at peace with us; let them then go on living in this country and doing trade here, for the country is wide open before them; let us take their daughters as wives and let us give them our daughters.

22 But these men will make an agreement with us to go on living with us and to become one people, only on the condition that every male among us undergoes circumcision as they have done.