בראשית, פרק ל״ד, פסוק כ׳

To secure a new alliance, Hamor and his son Shechem face the task of convincing their people to agree to a dramatic move. They bring their proposal directly to the public sphere, seeking to rally the citizens behind their plan. Their arrival at the city entrance represents much more than a stop at a physical location. The primary approach among commentators is that this area, along with the open space just behind it, served as the center of public life. It was the gathering place where city elders, leaders, and prominent figures met to debate civic and legal matters [רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Alternatively, drawing on the history of the ancient Near East, some suggest that this location actually referred to the royal palace or the seat of government officials, meaning the two men were making their case directly to the political center of the city [אם למקרא].

As they address the public, Hamor and Shechem employ a highly calculated strategy. They completely hide the true, personal motive driving the entire event, which is Shechem's love for Dinah. They understand perfectly well that Shechem's private feelings will not interest the residents. A personal love story would certainly not persuade the men of the city to agree to the extreme step being asked of them. Instead, the father and son present a strictly political and economic proposal, framing the alliance entirely around the financial profit and practical benefits it will bring to the entire city [ביאור שטיינזלץ].