Genesis 34:20-24
20So Hamor and his son Shechem went to the gate ▼▼ The gate. In an ancient Near Eastern city the gate complex was the location for conducting important public business.
of their city and spoke to the men of their city, 21“These men are at peace with us. So let them live in the land and travel freely in it, for the land is wide enough ▼▼ Heb “wide on both hands,” that is, in both directions.
for them. We will take their daughters for wives, and we will give them our daughters to marry. ▼▼ The words “to marry” are not in the Hebrew text, but are supplied in the translation for clarity.
22Only on this one condition will these men consent to live with us and become one people: They demand ▼▼ Heb “when every one of our males is circumcised.”
that every male among us be circumcised just as they are circumcised. 23If we do so, ▼▼ The words “If we do so” are not in the Hebrew text, but are supplied in the translation for clarity and for stylistic reasons.
won’t their livestock, their property, and all their animals become ours? So let’s consent to their demand, so they will live among us.” 24 All the men who assembled at the city gate ▼
▼ Heb “all those going out the gate of his city.”
agreed with ▼▼ Heb “listened to.”
Hamor and his son Shechem. Every male who assembled at the city gate ▼▼ Heb “all those going out the gate of his city.”
was circumcised.
Copyright information for
NETfull