34:13-17
Jacob’s sons act deceitfully. Jacob was deceitful, so were Laban and Rachel, and now Jacob’s sons. Being deceitful is a part of fallen human nature. Therefore they pretend that the only obstacle to their agreeing to Dinah becoming Shechem’s wife is that he and his people are uncircumcised. If this was put right then they would be happy for intermarriage to take place between the two peoples, and they would become one people. Otherwise it was no go. What we see here is a human attempt to make the world work, there is no regard for trusting in God nor for doing things His way.
34:18-24
Hamor and Shechem were taken in by the deception, treating it as a genuine proposal. Shechem must have had quite an influence, for Shechem and Hamor tell their people that this is a good deal and is worth getting circumcised for. They stress all the plus points, the increased trade, the ability to take their daughters as wives. They are selling the deal in uch the same way as politicians today sell agreements, stressing all the advantages. So the men all got circumcised.
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