Jump to: Hitchcock's • Smith's • ATS • ISBE • Easton's • Concordance • Thesaurus • Greek • Hebrew • Library • Subtopics • Terms Topical Encyclopedia Introduction: Shechem is a significant city in biblical history, located in the hill country of Ephraim. It holds a prominent place in the narratives of the Old Testament, serving as a backdrop for key events and covenants. The city is situated between Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim and is often associated with themes of covenant, division, and renewal. Historical and Geographical Context: Shechem is first mentioned in Genesis 12:6, where Abram (later Abraham) travels through the land and stops at the oak of Moreh. It is here that the LORD appears to Abram, promising the land to his descendants. This initial encounter sets the stage for Shechem's role as a place of divine revelation and promise. Biblical Significance: 1. Patriarchal Era: · Abraham's Encounter: In Genesis 12:6-7, Abram builds an altar to the LORD at Shechem, marking it as a place of worship and divine promise. · Jacob's Return: In Genesis 33:18-20, Jacob arrives safely at Shechem after his sojourn in Paddan-aram. He purchases a plot of land from the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem, and erects an altar, calling it El-Elohe-Israel. 2. The Dinah Incident: · In Genesis 34, Shechem, the son of Hamor, defiles Dinah, Jacob's daughter. This leads to a violent retaliation by Simeon and Levi, Dinah's brothers, who deceive and destroy the city of Shechem. 3. Joshua's Covenant Renewal: · In Joshua 24, Shechem is the site where Joshua gathers all the tribes of Israel to renew their covenant with the LORD. Joshua recounts the history of Israel and challenges the people to serve the LORD faithfully. The people affirm their commitment, and Joshua sets up a stone as a witness under the oak near the holy place of the LORD. 4. Division of the Kingdom: · In 1 Kings 12, Shechem is the location where Rehoboam, Solomon's son, is made king over Israel. It is also where the ten northern tribes reject Rehoboam's harsh policies, leading to the division of the united monarchy and the establishment of Jeroboam as king over Israel. 5. City of Refuge: · Shechem is designated as one of the cities of refuge in Joshua 20:7, providing asylum for those who have killed someone unintentionally. Archaeological Insights: Archaeological excavations at Tell Balata, the site identified with ancient Shechem, have uncovered significant remains, including fortifications and a temple. These findings corroborate the city's importance and its long history of occupation. Theological Themes: · Covenant and Promise: Shechem is repeatedly associated with God's promises and covenants, from Abraham's initial encounter to Joshua's renewal ceremony. · Judgment and Division: The events at Shechem often reflect themes of judgment and division, as seen in the Dinah incident and the kingdom's division under Rehoboam. · Worship and Witness: The altars and stones set up at Shechem serve as lasting witnesses to the people's commitments to God. Conclusion: While Shechem's account is marked by both divine promise and human failure, it remains a testament to God's enduring faithfulness and the importance of covenantal relationships in the biblical narrative. Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary Shechempart; portion; back early in the morning Smith's Bible Dictionary Shechem(back or shoulder).
ATS Bible Dictionary Shechem1. A Canaanite prince, at the town of the same name, who abducted Dinah the daughter of Jacob, and was soon afterwards treacherously slain, with many of his people, by Simeon and Levi, Genesis 34:1-31. 2. A city of central Canaan, between the mountains Gerizim and Ebal, thirty-four miles north of Jerusalem; called also Sychar and Sychem, Acts 7:16. It is first mentioned in the history of Abraham, who here erected his first altar in Canaan, and took possession of the country in the name of Jehovah, Genesis 12:6 33:18,19 35:4. Jacob bought a field in its neighborhood, which by way of overplus, he gave to his son Joseph, who was buried here, Genesis 48:22 Joshua 24:32. After the conquest of Canaan it became a Levitical city of refuge in Ephraim, and a gathering-place of the tribes, Joshua 20:7 21:21 24:1,25 Jud 9:1-57. Here Rehoboam gave the ten tribes occasion to revolt, 1 Kings 12:1-33. In its vicinity was Jacob's well or fountain, at which Christ discoursed with the woman of Samaria, John 4:5. See also Acts 8:25 9:31 15:3. After the ruin of Samaria by Shalmaneser, Shechem became the capital of the Samaritans; and Josephus says it was so in the time of Alexander the Great. St the present day it is also the seat of the small remnant of the Samaritans. See SAMARITANS. It was called by the Romans Neapolis, from which the Arabs have made Napolose, or Nabulus. The valley of Shechem extends several miles northwest between Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim, and is about five hundred yards wide; so that in the pure and elastic air of Palestine the two mountains are within hailing distance of each other, one circumstance among thousands evincing the exact truthfulness of Bible narratives, De 27:11-14 Jud 9:7. The winter rains which fall in the eastern part of the valley find their way to the Jordan, while in the western part are numerous springs, forming a pretty brook which flows towards the Mediterranean. "Here," says Dr. Robinson, "a scene of luxuriant and almost unparalleled verdure burst upon our view. The whole valley was filled with gardens of vegetables and orchards of all kinds of fruits, watered by several fountains, which burst forth in various parts and flow westward in refreshing streams. It came upon us suddenly, like a scene of fairy enchantment. We saw nothing to compare with it in Palestine." The modern town has several long and narrow streets, partly on the base of Mount Gerizim. It does not appear to extend so far to the east as the ancient city did. The houses are high and well built of stone, and covered with small domes. Nabulus is thought to contain eight thousand inhabitants, all Mohammedans except five hundred Greek Christians, one hundred and fifty Samaritans, and as many Jews. The rocky base of Mount Ebal on the north of the valley is full of ancient excavated tombs. On Mount Gerizim is the holy place of the Samaritans, and the ruins of a strong fortress erected by Justinian. At the foot of these mountains on the east lies the beautiful plain of Mukhna, ten miles long and a mile and a half wide; and where the valley opens on this plain, Joseph's tomb and Jacob's well are located, by the unanimous consent of Jews, Christians, and Mohammedans. The former spot is now covered by a Mohammedan Wely, or sacred tomb; and the latter by an arched stone chamber, entered by a narrow hole in the roof, and the mouth of the well within is covered by a large stone. The well itself is one hundred and five feet deep, and is now sometimes dry. It bears every mark of high antiquity. The following extract is from Dr. Clarke's description of this place: "There is nothing in the Holy Land finer than a view of Napolose from the heights around it. As the traveller descends towards it from the hills, it appears luxuriantly embosomed in the most delightful and fragrant bowers, half concealed by rich gardens, and by stately trees collected into groves, all around the bold and beautiful valley in which it stands. Trade seems to flourish among its inhabitants. Their principal employment is in making soap; but the manufactures of the town supply a very widely extended neighborhood, and are exported to a great distance upon camels. In the morning after our arrival, we met caravans coming from Grand Cairo, and noticed others reposing in the large olive plantations near the gates." "The sacred story of events transacted in the fields of Sychem, from our earliest years is remembered with delight; but with the territory before our eyes where those events took place, and in the view of objects existing as they were described above three thousand years ago, the grateful impression kindles into ecstasy. Along the valley we beheld �a company of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead,- Genesis 37:25, as in the days of Reuben and Judah, �with their camels bearing spicery and balm and myrrh,- who would gladly have purchased another Joseph of his brethren, and conveyed him as a slave to some Potiphar in Egypt. Upon the hills around, flocks and herds were feeding, as of old; nor in the simple garb of the shepherds of Samaria was there any thing repugnant to the notions we may entertain of the appearance presented by the sons of Jacob. It was indeed a scene to abstract and to elevate the mind; and under emotions so called forth by every circumstance of powerful coincidence, a single moment seemed to concentrate whole ages of existence." "The principal object of veneration is Jacob's well, over which a church was formerly erected. This is situated at a small distance from the town, in the road to Jerusalem, and has been visited by pilgrims of all ages, but particularly since the Christian era, as the place where our Savior revealed himself to the woman of Samaria." "The spot is so distinctly marked by the evangelist, and so little liable to uncertainty, from the circumstance of the well itself and the features of the country, that, if no tradition existed for its identity, the site of it could hardly be mistaken. Perhaps no Christian scholar ever attentively read John 4:1-54, without being struck with the numerous intervals evidences of truth which crowd upon the mind in its perusal. Within so small a compass it is impossible to find in other writings so many sources of reflection and of interest. Independently of its importance as a theological document, it concentrates so much information, that a volume might be filled with illustration it reflects on the history of the Jews and on the geography of their country. All that can be gathered on these subjects from Josephus seems but as a comment to illustrate this chapter. The journey of our Lord from Judea into Galilee; the cause of it; his passage through the territory of Samaria; his approach to the metropolis of this country; its name; his arrival at the Amorite field which terminates the narrow valley of Sychem; the ancient custom of halting at a well; the female employment of drawing water; the disciples sent into the city for food, by which its situation out of the town is obviously implied; the question of the woman referring to existing prejudices which separated the Jews from the Samaritans; the depth of the well; the oriental allusion contained in the expression, �living water;- the history of the well, and the customs thereby illustrated; the worship upon Mount Gerizim; all these occur within the space of twenty verses." Easton's Bible Dictionary Shoulder. (1.) The son of Hamor the Hivite (Genesis 33:19; 34). (2.) A descendant of Manasseh (Numbers 26:31; Joshua 17:2). (3.) A city in Samaria (Genesis 33:18), called also Sichem (12:6), Sychem (Acts 7:16). It stood in the narrow sheltered valley between Ebal on the north and Gerizim on the south, these mountains at their base being only some 500 yards apart. Here Abraham pitched his tent and built his first altar in the Promised Land, and received the first divine promise (Genesis 12:6, 7). Here also Jacob "bought a parcel of a field at the hands of the children of Hamor" after his return from Mesopotamia, and settled with his household, which he purged from idolatry by burying the teraphim of his followers under an oak tree, which was afterwards called "the oak of the sorcerer" (Genesis 33:19; 35:4; Judges 9:37). (see MEONENIM.) Here too, after a while, he dug a well, which bears his name to this day (John 4:5, 39-42). To Shechem Joshua gathered all Israel "before God," and delivered to them his second parting address (Joshua 24:1-15). He "made a covenant with the people that day" at the very place where, on first entering the land, they had responded to the law from Ebal and Gerizim (Joshua 24:25), the terms of which were recorded "in the book of the law of God", i.e., in the roll of the law of Moses; and in memory of this solemn transaction a great stone was set up "under an oak" (Comp. Genesis 28:18; 31:44-48; Exodus 24:4; Joshua 4:3, 8, 9), possibly the old "oak of Moreh," as a silent witness of the transaction to all coming time. Shechem became one of the cities of refuge, the central city of refuge for Western Palestine (Joshua 20:7), and here the bones of Joseph were buried (24:32). Rehoboam was appointed king in Shechem (1 Kings 12:1, 19), but Jeroboam afterwards took up his residence here. This city is mentioned in connection with our Lord's conversation with the woman of Samaria (John 4:5); and thus, remaining as it does to the present day, it is one of the oldest cities of the world. It is the modern Nablus, a contraction for Neapolis, the name given to it by Vespasian. It lies about a mile and a half up the valley on its southern slope, and on the north of Gerizim, which rises about 1,100 feet above it, and is about 34 miles north of Jerusalem. It contains about 10,000 inhabitants, of whom about 160 are Samaritans and 100 Jews, the rest being Christians and Mohammedans. The site of Shechem is said to be of unrivalled beauty. Stanley says it is "the most beautiful, perhaps the only very beautiful, spot in Central Palestine." Gaza, near Shechem, only mentioned 1 Chronicles 7:28, has entirely disappeared. It was destroyed at the time of the Conquest, and its place was taken by Shechem. (see SYCHAR.) International Standard Bible Encyclopedia SHECHEMshe'-kem (shekhem, "shoulder"; Suchem, he Sikima, ta Sikima, etc.; the King James Version gives "Sichem" in Genesis 12:6; and "Sychem" in Acts 7:16): TOWER OF SHECHEM (mighdal shekhem): Mentioned only in Judges 9:46-49. It seems along with the Beth-millo and the Beth-el-berith to have comprised the three strongest parts of the fortification when Abimelech besieged the town. It was, however, abandoned by its defenders, who took refuge in the Beth-millo, in which they were slain. Greek 4966. Suchem -- Shechem, a city in Samaria ... Shechem, a city in Samaria. Part of Speech: Proper Noun, Indeclinable Transliteration: Suchem Phonetic Spelling: (soo-khem') Short Definition: Shechem Definition ... //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4966.htm - 6k 1697. Hemmor -- Emmor, a Canaanite Strong's Hebrew 1037. Beth Millo -- "house of earthwork," a place near Shechem ...Beth Millo. 1036, 1037. Beth Millo. 1038 . "house of earthwork," a place near Shechem, also a citadel in Jer. Transliteration: Beth ... /hebrew/1037.htm - 6k 5858c. Ebal -- a mountain North of Shechem 8405. Tebets -- a city near Shechem 4176. Moreh -- a place near Shechem, also a hill of unc. location 6756a. Tsalmon -- a mountain near Shechem, also perhaps a ... 7930. Shikmi -- descendant of Shechem 2544. Chamor -- father of Shechem 4407. Millo -- a place near Shechem, also a citadel in Jer. 725. Arumah -- a place near Shechem 6756. Tsalmown -- a mountain near Shechem, also perhaps a ... Library The National Oath at Shechem The Crowning of Abimelech Six Cities Of the Cities of Refuge. Appendix D. Appendix xv. The Location of Sychar, and the Date of Our Lord's ... Concerning the violation of Dina's Chastity. Chapter xxxv The Story of Joseph and his Coat of Many Colors Joseph and his Brethren Thesaurus Shechem (61 Occurrences)... 39-42). To Shechem Joshua gathered all Israel "before God," and delivered to them his second parting address (Joshua 24:1-15). He ... /s/shechem.htm - 38k Shechem's (5 Occurrences) Hamor (13 Occurrences) Townsmen (18 Occurrences) Citizens (28 Occurrences) Gaal (10 Occurrences) Zebul (5 Occurrences) Dinah (7 Occurrences) Shalem (1 Occurrence) Millo (9 Occurrences) Resources Who was Dinah in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWho was Abimelech in the Book of Judges? | GotQuestions.org What is the significance of Mount Gerizim in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Concordance Shechem (61 Occurrences)Acts 7:16 Genesis 12:6 Genesis 33:18 Genesis 33:19 Genesis 34:2 Genesis 34:4 Genesis 34:5 Genesis 34:6 Genesis 34:7 Genesis 34:8 Genesis 34:11 Genesis 34:13 Genesis 34:18 Genesis 34:20 Genesis 34:24 Genesis 34:26 Genesis 35:4 Genesis 37:12 Genesis 37:13 Genesis 37:14 Genesis 48:22 Numbers 26:31 Joshua 17:2 Joshua 17:7 Joshua 20:7 Joshua 21:21 Joshua 24:1 Joshua 24:25 Joshua 24:32 Judges 8:31 Judges 9:1 Judges 9:2 Judges 9:3 Judges 9:6 Judges 9:7 Judges 9:18 Judges 9:20 Judges 9:23 Judges 9:24 Judges 9:25 Judges 9:26 Judges 9:28 Judges 9:31 Judges 9:34 Judges 9:39 Judges 9:41 Judges 9:46 Judges 9:47 Judges 9:49 Judges 9:57 Judges 21:19 1 Kings 12:1 1 Kings 12:25 1 Chronicles 6:67 1 Chronicles 7:19 1 Chronicles 7:28 2 Chronicles 10:1 Psalms 60:6 Psalms 108:7 Jeremiah 41:5 Hosea 6:9 Subtopics Shechem: Also Called Sychar, a City of Refuge in Mount Ephraim Shechem: Also Called Sychar, a City of Refuge in Mount Ephraim: Abimelech Made King At Shechem: Also Called Sychar, a City of Refuge in Mount Ephraim: Destroyed by Abimelech Shechem: Also Called Sychar, a City of Refuge in Mount Ephraim: Jesus Visits; Disciples Made In Shechem: Also Called Sychar, a City of Refuge in Mount Ephraim: Joshua Buried At Shechem: Also Called Sychar, a City of Refuge in Mount Ephraim: Men of, Killed by Ishmael Shechem: Also Called Sychar, a City of Refuge in Mount Ephraim: Rebuilt by Jeroboam Shechem: Also Called Sychar, a City of Refuge in Mount Ephraim: Rehoboam Crowned At Shechem: Ancestor of the Shechemites Shechem: Joshua Assembled the Tribes of Israel At Shechem: Son of Hamor; Seduces Jacob's Daughter; Killed by Jacob's Sons Shechem: Son of Hamor; Seduces Jacob's Daughter; Killed by Jacob's Sons: Called Sychem Shechem: The Flocks and Herds of Jacob Kept In Related Terms Treacherously (42 Occurrences) |