Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 34:20

And Hamor and Shechem his son came unto the gate of their city, and communed with the men of their city, saying,

20. the gate of their city ] The place for the transaction of public business: see note on Gen 19:1, Gen 23:10.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

The gate of their city, the place where all public affairs were debated and concluded. See Poole on “Gen 22:17“; see Poole on “Gen 23:10“.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

20. Hamor and Shechem . . . cameunto the gate of their cityThat was the place where everypublic communication was made; and in the ready obsequious submissionof the people to this measure we see an evidence either of theextraordinary affection for the governing family, or of the abjectdespotism of the East, where the will of a chief is an absolutecommand.

Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

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.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

Verses 20-24:

Hamor and Shechem called a town meeting. All the men of the city assembled at the “gate” or plaza where important business was transacted. They related the terms Jacob’s sons had set forth, and appealed for the men of Shechem to accept these terms.

Love for Dinah was not the only motivation for the marriage. There were attractive financial advantages to be gained. This marriage was to be but the first of many, that would result in the eventual amalgamation of Israel with Shechem and the assimilation of Israel’s considerable wealth. The language implies that this offer of financial gain motivated the men of Shechem to accept the terms Jacob’s sons offered. They agreed to submit to the rite of circumcision.

It is unusual that the’ Hivites were not already circumcised. Herodotus notes that the Phoenicians observed this rite as well as did the Canaanites. It may be implied that the Hivites were originally a different race from the Canaanites.

Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary

‘And Hamor and Shechem his son came to the gate of their city, and consulted with the men of their city, saying.’

The gate of the city was where the leading men would meet in dealing the city’s affairs. Hamor could not just dictate terms. Most petty kings were subject to the guidance of their counsellors and had to take their people along with them in major decisions. Thus although he and his son have agreed to the terms they now have to carry their counsellors along with them.

Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett

The Men of Shechem Agree to the Demand

v. 20. And Hamor and Shechem, his son, came unto the gate of their city, the usual place for public meetings, and communed with the men of their city, saying,

v. 21. These men are peaceable with us; therefore let them dwell in the land, and trade therein; for the land, behold, it is large enough for them; let us take their daughters to us for wives, and let us give them our daughters. In suggesting to the men of the city that the Israelites be given the rights of full citizenship, together with permission to carry on the business of herdmen or of traders, Hamor and Shechem were careful to appeal very strongly to the self-interest of the Shechemites, knowing that their mission would thus have the best chances of success.

v. 22. Only herein will the men consent unto us for to dwell with us, to be one people, if every male among us be circumcised, as they are circumcised. This condition is inserted in the midst of the appeal, in order not to have It stand out so strongly.

v. 23. Shall not their cattle and their substance and every beast of theirs be ours? Here the fact mentioned above that the land was wide before their hands and faces, affording enough room in every direction, is connected with the thought that the great wealth of the newcomers would also be at the disposal of the people of Shechem, through the marriages that would be consummated. Only let us consent unto them, and they will dwell with us.

v. 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. The expression is repeated in order to show that there was no exception among all the men of Shechem. They accepted the rite all the more readily, since it was by no means unknown among Oriental nations. Thus the people of Shechem, heathen though they were, acted in good faith, just as the outward honesty of many an unbeliever in our days puts to shame those that confess the true God.

Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann

Gen 34:20 And Hamor and Shechem his son came unto the gate of their city, and communed with the men of their city, saying,

Ver. 20. And Hamor and Shechem, &c. ] These great men easily persuaded and prevailed with the people to have what they would. Great need have we to pray for good governors. When Crispus believed, who was the chief ruler of the synagogue, many Corinthians believed also. Act 18:8 Paul was loath to lose the deputy; because his conversion would draw on many others, is on the contrary, Jeroboam caused Israel to sin; and generally, as the kings were good or evil, so were the people; in which, as in a beast, the whole body follows the head.

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

the gate: Gen 22:17, Gen 23:10, Deu 17:5, Rth 4:1, Job 29:7, Pro 31:23, Amo 5:10, Amo 5:12, Amo 5:15, Zec 8:16

Reciprocal: Gen 23:18 – all

Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

34:20 And Hamor and Shechem his son came unto the {f} gate of their city, and communed with the men of their city, saying,

(f) For the people used to assemble there, and justice was administered.