Genesis 34:20

20 Hamor and his son Shechem went to their city's gate and spoke to the men of their city:

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 Their idea seemed like a good one to Hamor and Hamor's son Shechem.

19 The young man didn't waste any time doing this because he liked Jacob's daughter so much. He was more respected than anyone else in his father's household.

20 Hamor and his son Shechem went to their city's gate and spoke to the men of their city:

21 "These men want peace with us. Let them live in the land and travel through it; there's plenty of land for them. We will marry their daughters and give them our daughters.

22 But the men will agree to live with us and become one people only if we circumcise every male just as they do.