Tafsiran Kejadian 34:24: Chizkuni & Tze'enah Ure'enah

כל יוצאי שער עירו, “here the Torah speaks about people leaving his city,” whereas in 23,10, it spoke about כל באי עירו, “all the people coming into the gate of the town.” In this instance no one was allowed to leave the city until after he had been circumcised. In chapter 23 above everybody came in order to pay their respects to Sarah on the occasion of her forthcoming burial.

“All those who went out of the gate of his town were circumcised” [34:24]. All the men who went out of the city circumcised themselves. Hizkuni writes here. Why does the verse say, “All those who went out of the gate of the city”? This means, all those who went out of the city. With regards to Sarah it is written, “All who came into the gate of the city” [Genesis, 23:10]. This means, those who came into the city. The explanation is that here, Hamor and Shechem did not want to allow anyone out of the city. They first had to circumcise themselves, but they did it by force. Therefore, it is written, “All those who went out of the gate of his city.” However, with Sarah, they all came to do an act of grace with Sarah, to accompany her, out of good will.⁸⁴Hizkuni, Genesis, 34:24.