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20 So Hamor and his son Shechem went to the gate[a] 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[b] for them. We will take their daughters for wives, and we will give them our daughters to marry.[c] 22 Only on this one condition will these men consent to live with us and become one people: They demand[d] that every male among us be circumcised just as they are circumcised. 23 If we do so,[e] 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[f] agreed with[g] Hamor and his son Shechem. Every male who assembled at the city gate[h] was circumcised.

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 34:20 sn The gate. In an ancient Near Eastern city the gate complex was the location for conducting important public business.
  2. Genesis 34:21 tn Heb “wide on both hands,” that is, in both directions.
  3. Genesis 34:21 tn The words “to marry” are not in the Hebrew text, but are supplied in the translation for clarity.
  4. Genesis 34:22 tn Heb “when every one of our males is circumcised.”
  5. Genesis 34:23 tn The words “If we do so” are not in the Hebrew text, but are supplied in the translation for clarity and for stylistic reasons.
  6. Genesis 34:24 tn Heb “all those going out the gate of his city.”
  7. Genesis 34:24 tn Heb “listened to.”
  8. Genesis 34:24 tn Heb “all those going out the gate of his city.”