Genesis 34:20

20 Hamor and his son Shechem went to the city gate. They spoke to the other men in 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 Their offer seemed good to Hamor and his son Shechem.

19 The young man was the most honored of all of the men in his father's family. He didn't lose any time in doing what they said, because he was delighted with Jacob's daughter.

20 Hamor and his son Shechem went to the city gate. They spoke to the other men in town.

21 "These men are friendly toward us," they said. "Let them live in our land. Let them trade in it. The land has plenty of room for them. We can get married to their daughters. And they can marry ours.

22 "But they will agree to live with us as one people only on one condition. All of our males must be circumcised, just as they are.