BRAGADAYJAH 116

Having listened to the proposal of Shechem and his father Hamor, Jacob’s sons answered them in the words of the text, “deceitfully.” Used in the context of what was going on, the word really is intended to convey the meaning that they said one thing, and meant quite another. They wanted to lull the father and son into a false sense of security; so in answer to the offer they said. “We cannot agree to give our sister to you as your wife, because you are not circumcised; to do so would bring shame on us; but if you will consent that all of your males would be circumcised, then we will consider agreeing to let you have our sister to wife, and let our women marry your men, and our men marry your women. But if you will not agree to this, then we will take our women and be gone.” Accordingly, Shechem and Hamor liked the proposal and jumped to it. They went to the public arena and called the people together, told them what was proposed, and urged them to make accommodation for Jacob and his family among them and to let all dwell together in peace and unity. Specifically they proposed that the men of the city should agree to allow Israel’s sons marry their women and their men marry Israel’s daughters and womenfolk. One further proposal to show their willingness to live and be at one with Israel’s family was that the men of the city be circumcised. In addition, they have made it clear that unless we agree to these terms they are prepared to go away from among us. One can imagine that Shechem was not the only man around who found the daughters of Israel attractive; so they too fell for the stratagem and consented to be circumcised in accordance with the demands of Israel’s sons. Perhaps too, the great abundance of wealth that Israel displayed played no small part in helping the men to make up their minds; for Shechem also reminded them that once the merger and the marriages took place, Israel’s wealth would be jointly owned by all. So persuaded, all the men of the city were circumcised that day. More.