Their swords pleased Hamor— The father, for the love he had to his son, and from his desire to gain him the object of his affection; and Shechem his son, for the great love he had to Dinah. It is a proof that Hamor was well beloved by his people, in that they consented so readily for his sake, and for what appeared to them the public good, to an operation so painful. They were not, however, it is probable, a very numerous or a very wealthy people; if they had, they could not have been so easily destroyed, nor would they have been so readily induced to incorporate with Jacob's family.
But the argument which Hamor uses to persuade his subjects is almost as wrong, as the design of Jacob's sons in their proposal. To profess religion on worldly motives is abominable, and never like to prosper: however, they consent, and without informing themselves of the reasons and design of circumcision, submit to it. Note; How many baptised persons among us, it is to be feared, know as little of the religion they profess as the circumcised Shechemites.