17 But if you don’t listen to us and become circumcised, we will take our daughter and leave."
18 Their idea seemed like a good one to Hamor and Hamor’s son Shechem.
19 The young man didn’t waste any time doing this because he liked Jacob’s daughter so much. He was more respected than anyone else in his father’s household.
20 Hamor and his son Shechem went to their city’s gate and spoke to the men of their city:
21 "These men want peace with us. Let them live in the land and travel through it; there’s plenty of land for them. We will marry their daughters and give them our daughters.
22 But the men will agree to live with us and become one people only if we circumcise every male just as they do.
23 Their livestock, their property, and all of their animals—won’t they be ours? Let’s agree with them and let them live with us."