Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 34:24

And unto Hamor and unto Shechem his son hearkened all that went out of the gate of his city; and every male was circumcised, all that went out of the gate of his city.

24. all that went out of the gate ] i.e. all the citizens: cf. “all that went in at the gate,” Gen 23:10; Gen 23:18.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Verse 24. Every male was circumcised] These simple people must have had very great affection for their chief and his son, or have been under the influence of the most passive obedience, to have come so readily into this measure, and to have submitted to this rite. But the petty princes in Asiatic countries have ever been absolute and despotic, their subjects paying them the most prompt and blind obedience. I shall give a few examples from Mr. Richardson’s Dissertations. –

Abu Thaher, chief of the Carmathians, about the year nine hundred and thirty, ravaged the territory of Mecca, defiled the temple, and destroyed nearly 40,000 people. With only 500 horse he went to lay siege to Bagdad: the caliph’s general, at the head of 30,000 men, marched out to seize him, but before he attacked him he sent an officer to summon him to surrender. ‘How many men has the caliph’s general?’ said Abu Thaher. ‘Thirty thousand,’ replied the officer. ‘Among them all,’ says the Carmathian chief, ‘has he got three like mine?’ Then, ordering his followers to approach, he commanded one to stab himself, another to throw himself from a precipice, and a third to plunge into the Tigris; all three instantly obeyed, and perished. Then turning to the officer, he said, ‘He who has such troops needs not value the number of his enemies!’

Hassan Sabat, one of those petty princes formerly known in Asia and Europe by the title Sheekh-ul-jibel, or old man of the mountain, being required by an ambassador to do homage to his master, the Sultan Malekshah Jelaleddin, without giving any answer, ordered one of his attendants to poniard himself, and another to leap from the battlements of the tower; and he was instantly obeyed! Then turning to the ambassador, he said, ‘Seventy thousand are thus attentive to my commands. Let this be my answer. On a principle of this kind we may account for the prompt obedience of the people of Hamor.

Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible

They yielded to circumcision, partly in compliance with their young prince, whom they either loved or feared; and partly for the prospect of their own advantage, for which men are frequently willing to expose themselves to great pains and hazards.

All that went out of the gate of his city; all the citizens that went out of the gate, & c., or came in at the gate, as they are described Gen 23:10; Jer 17:20. For when the chief persons had consented, they could easily persuade or overrule others to comply with them.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

And unto Hamor and unto Shechem his son hearkened all that went out of the gate of his city,…. That is, all the inhabitants of the city who came to the gate of it, upon the summons given them, and departed from thence to their habitations, having a great opinion of their prince and his son; and moved either with awe of them or love to them, and influenced both by their arguments and example, they agreed to what was proposed to them:

and every male was circumcised, all that went out of the gate of his city; all the men citizens; and not only the adult, and who now went out by the gate of the city, but all their male children likewise were circumcised.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

24. And unto Hamor and unto Shechem his son hearkened, etc Apparently this consent may be ascribed to modesty and humanity; for, by readily obeying their princes, and kindly admitting the strangers to an equality of rights in the city, they show themselves, in both respects, modest and humane. But if we reflect on the true import of circumcision, it will easily appear that they were too much addicted to their own selfish interests. They knew that, by a new sacrament, they would be committed to a different worship of God. They had not yet been taught that the ablutions and sacrifices, to which they had been all their life accustomed, were unprofitable trifles. Therefore, to change their religion so carelessly betrays, on their part, a gross contempt of God; for never do they who seriously worship God, so suddenly cast aside their superstitions, unless they are convinced by sound doctrine and arguments. But the Shechemites, blinded by an evil conscience, and by the hope of gain, pass over, like men half brutalized, to an unknown God. Search the isles, (saith the Prophet,) is there any nation which deserts its, gods, who yet are not gods? (121) Yet this was done at Shechem, when no defect had been shown to exist in the received superstitions; wherefore none ought to wonder that a sad result followed this levity of mind. nevertheless, Simian and Levi were not, on that account, excusable for the indulgence of their own cruelty: yea, their impiety appears the more detestable, because they not only rush impetuously upon men, but, in a sense, trample upon the sacred covenant of God, of which alone they make their boast. Certainly, if they had no feeling for the men themselves, yet reverence for God ought to have restrained their ferocity, when they reflected from what cause the weakness of the Shechemites proceeded.

(121) Jer 2:10

Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary

24. Every male was circumcised “The readiness of the Shechemites to submit to circumcision may be accounted for if circumcision had by this time become a rite known to others besides the descendants of Abraham . Herod . , 2: 104 . At all events, it was now practiced not only by the sons of Jacob and his household, but by the Ishmaelites and the family and household of Esau, all growing into important tribes in the neighbourhood of the Shechemites.” Speaker’s Commentary.

Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

‘And all who went out of the gate of the city paid heed to Hamor, and Shechem his son, and every male was circumcised, all who went out of the gate of his city.’

“All who went out of the gate of the city.” That is the freemen. The slaves would have no option. All were circumcised as Hamor and Shechem had suggested. It was a small price to pay in return for such an increase in riches, and their king and prince were clearly convinced that it was for their good.

Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett

See here the recompense of an evil eye! Gen 49:5-7 .

Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

Gen 34:24 And unto Hamor and unto Shechem his son hearkened all that went out of the gate of his city; and every male was circumcised, all that went out of the gate of his city.

Ver. 24. And every male was circumcised. ] Many have lost their blood, and suffered so much trouble for their lusts, as, had it been for religion, they had been martyrs. But the cause, and not the punishment, makes the martyr. Samson and the Philistines died together; sed diverse fine at fate. Multum interest, saith Augustine, et qualia quis, et qualis quisque patiatur.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

hearkened: In thus falling into this measure, the Shechemites must either have had great affection for their chief and his son, or have been under the influence of the most passive obedience. The petty princes of Asia have always been absolute and despotic; their subjects paying them the most prompt and blind obedience. The following instance will sufficiently illustrate and confirm this statement: Abu Thaher, chief of the Carmathians, about the year 930, with only 500 horse, went to lay siege to Bagdad: the khalif’s general marched out to seize him; but before the attack, sent an officer to summon him to surrender. “How many men has the khalif’s general?” said Abu Thaher; “30,000,” replied the officer. “Among them all,” says the Carmathian chief, “has he got three like mine?” Then ordering his followers to approach, he commanded one to stab himself, another to throw himself from a precipice, and a third to plunge into the Tigris: all three instantly obeyed, and perished! Then turning to the officer, he said, “He who has such troops need not value the number of his enemies!”

went out: Gen 23:10, Gen 23:18

every male: Gen 17:23, Isa 1:10-16, Mat 7:6, Rom 2:28, Rom 2:29, 1Co 7:19

Reciprocal: Gen 35:2 – clean 1Ti 6:10 – the love

Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Gen 34:24. Unto Hamor and Shechem hearkened all, &c. They consented to be circumcised, partly in compliance with their young prince, whom they either feared or loved; and partly in prospect of their own advantage; for which men are frequently willing to expose themselves to great pains and hazards.

Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments