The Agreement at the Gate

13Jacob’s sons answered Shechem and Hamor his father deceitfully and spoke, because he had defiled Dinah their sister.

14And they said to them, “We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to a man who has a foreskin, for that is a disgrace to us.”

15Only on this condition will we agree with you: if you become like us, by circumcising every male among you.

16then we will give our daughters to you, and we will take your daughters for ourselves, and we will live with you and become one people.

17But if you will not listen to us, to be circumcised, then we will take our daughter and go.

18Their words seemed good to Hamor and to Shechem son of Hamor.

19And the young man did not delay to do the thing, because he delighted in Jacob’s daughter, and he was honored above all his father’s house.

20So Hamor and Shechem his son came to the gate of their city and spoke to the men of their city, saying,

21These men are at peace with us. Let them dwell in the land and trade in it, for, you see, the land is broad enough for them. We will take their daughters for wives for ourselves, and we will give our daughters to them.

22Only on this condition will the men agree with us, to dwell with us and to become one people: that every male among us be circumcised, just as they are circumcised.

23Will not their livestock, their property, and all their animals be ours? Only let us agree with them, and they will dwell with us.

24And all who went out of the gate of his city listened to Hamor and to Shechem his son, and every male, all who went out of the gate of his city, was circumcised.