And the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father deceitfully, and said, because he had defiled Dinah their sister:
The sons of Jacob answered ... deceitfully. Many writers have taken the word "answered," spoke, as signifying, 'plotted, laid snares.' Gesenius, who formerly supported this view, in later editions retracted, and held the natural sense, 'spoke deceitfully.' The honour of their family consisted in having the sign of the covenant. Circumcision was the external rite by which persons were admitted members of the ancient Church. But although that outward rite could not make the Shechemites true Israelites, yet it does not appear Jacob's sons required anything more. Nothing is said of their teaching them to worship the true God, but only of their insisting on the Shechemites being circumcised; and it is evident that they did not seek to convert Shechem, but only made a show of religion-a cloak to cover their diabolical design. Hypocrisy and deceit, in all cases vicious, are infinitely more so when accompanied with a show of religion; and here the sons of Jacob, under the pretence of conscientious scruples, conceal a scheme of treachery as cruel and diabolical as was perhaps ever perpetrated.