The Shechemites were the inhabitants of the ancient city of Shechem, a significant location in biblical history. Shechem is situated in the hill country of Ephraim, near Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal, and it holds a prominent place in the narratives of the Old Testament.

Historical Background

Shechem first appears in the biblical narrative in Genesis 12:6, where Abram (later Abraham) travels through the land and stops at the oak of Moreh near Shechem. It is here that the LORD appears to Abram and promises to give the land to his descendants. This event marks Shechem as a place of divine promise and covenant.

The city is also notable for its association with Jacob. In Genesis 33:18-19, Jacob purchases a plot of land from the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem, and erects an altar there, calling it El-Elohe-Israel. This act signifies Jacob's claim to the land and his acknowledgment of God's provision.

The Shechemites in the Time of the Judges

The Shechemites play a significant role in the narrative of Judges, particularly in the account of Abimelech, the son of Gideon (Jerubbaal). In Judges 9, Abimelech persuades the leaders of Shechem to support him as king, using his familial ties to the city. The Shechemites provide him with seventy pieces of silver from the temple of Baal-berith, which he uses to hire reckless adventurers to kill his seventy brothers, securing his rule.

However, the alliance between Abimelech and the Shechemites soon deteriorates. God sends an evil spirit between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem, leading to mutual treachery and violence. The Shechemites' rebellion against Abimelech results in their eventual destruction when Abimelech razes the city and sows it with salt (Judges 9:45).

Religious Significance

Shechem holds religious significance as a site of covenant renewal. In Joshua 24, Joshua gathers all the tribes of Israel at Shechem and calls them to renew their covenant with the LORD. He recounts the history of God's faithfulness and challenges the people to serve the LORD exclusively. The people affirm their commitment, and Joshua sets up a stone as a witness under the oak near the sanctuary of the LORD (Joshua 24:25-27).

Later References

In the divided kingdom period, Shechem becomes the capital of the northern kingdom of Israel under King Jeroboam (1 Kings 12:25). This choice underscores the city's continued importance as a political and religious center.

Conclusion

The Shechemites, as inhabitants of Shechem, are intertwined with key biblical events and figures. Their account reflects themes of covenant, rebellion, and divine judgment, illustrating the complex relationship between the Israelites and the peoples of the land.SHECHEMITES

she'-kem-its (hashikhmi; Suchemei): The descendants of Shechem the son of Gilead, a clan of Eastern Manasseh (Numbers 26:31 Joshua 17:2).

7930. Shikmi -- descendant of Shechem
... descendant of Shechem. Transliteration: Shikmi Phonetic Spelling: (shik-mee') Short
Definition: Shechemites. ... of Shechem NASB Word Usage Shechemites (1). ...
/hebrew/7930.htm - 6k

1170. Baal Berith -- "Baal of (the) covenant," a Shechemite god
... Baal-berith. From Ba'al and briyth; Baal of (the) covenant; Baal-Berith, a special
deity of the Shechemites -- Baal-berith. see HEBREW Ba'al. see HEBREW briyth. ...
/hebrew/1170.htm - 6k

That the Judges who Succeeded Gideon Made War with the Adjoining ...
... 3. A little while after this festival, the Shechemites, who had now repented themselves
of having slain the sons of Gideon, drove Abimelech away, both from ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 7 that the judges.htm

Concerning the violation of Dina's Chastity.
... Now as the Shechemites were keeping a festival Dina, who was the only daughter of
Jacob, went into the city to see the finery of the women of that country. ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 21 concerning the violation.htm

Concerning Sanballat and Manasseh, and the Temple which they Built ...
... And when Alexander had commended them, the Shechemites approached to him, taking
with them the troops that Sanballat had sent him, and they desired that he ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 8 concerning sanballat and.htm

"It is I, be not Afraid. " Extracted from Knox's Admonition to ...
... he returned from Laban; and when he feared the inhabitants of the region of the
Canaanites and Perizzites for the slaughter of the Shechemites committed by his ...
/.../knox/the pulpit of the reformation nos 1 2 and 3 /it is i be not.htm

Of the Manifold Abuse of Speech.
... falsely, but insidiously, nay, hypocritically, abusing at once their proselytes,
and their religion, for the effecting their cruel designs upon the Shechemites ...
/.../allestree/the government of the tongue/section ii of the manifold.htm

But on the Death of Gideon, his Son Abimelech...
... having slain his brothers with the concurrence of a multitude of wicked men, and
especially by the help of the chief men among the Shechemites, took possession ...
/.../severus/life and writings of sulpitius severus /chapter xxvi but on the.htm

Israel, Therefore, Avoiding the House of his Brother, Sent Forward ...
... Israel, therefore, avoiding the house of his brother, sent forward his company to
Salem, a town of the Shechemites, and there he pitched his tent on a spot ...
/.../life and writings of sulpitius severus /chapter x israel therefore avoiding.htm

Celsus, Moreover, Sneers at the "Hatred" of Esau to Which...
... to the Scriptures, is acknowledged to have been wicked; and not clearly stating
the story of Simeon and Levi, who sallied out (on the Shechemites) on account ...
/.../origen/origen against celsus/chapter xlvi celsus moreover sneers.htm

Saul's War with the Amalekites, and Conquest of Them.
... Amalekites that reached from Pelusium of Egypt to the Red Sea, he laid waste all
the rest of the enemy's country: but for the nation of the Shechemites, he did ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 7 sauls war with.htm

Book 1 Footnotes:
... [38] Of this slaughter of the Shechemites by Simeon and Levi, see Authent.
Rec. Part I. p.309, 418, 432-439. But why Josephus has ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/book 1 footnotes .htm

Shechemites (1 Occurrence)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia SHECHEMITES. she'-kem-its (hashikhmi ... 17:2).
Multi-Version Concordance Shechemites (1 Occurrence). Numbers 26 ...
/s/shechemites.htm - 7k

Jotham (26 Occurrences)
... Having thus parodied the relationship of the worthless Abimelech to the Shechemites,
Jotham ironically wishes both parties joy of their bargain, which will end ...
/j/jotham.htm - 25k

Dinah (7 Occurrences)
... neighbourhood of Shechem. This led to the terrible revenge of Simeon and Levi
in putting the Shechemites to death (Genesis 34). Jacob makes ...
/d/dinah.htm - 10k

Shechemite (1 Occurrence)
... Numbers 26:31 and of Asriel, the family of the Asrielites; and of Shechem, the family
of the Shechemites; (Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV). ...
/s/shechemite.htm - 6k

She'chemites (1 Occurrence)
... Shechemites, She'chemites. Shechem's . ... Numbers 26:31 and of Asriel, the family
of the Asrielites; and of Shechem, the family of the Shechemites; (See RSV). ...
/s/she'chemites.htm - 6k

Kenites (8 Occurrences)
... In Josephus they appear as Kenetides, and in Ant, IV, vii, 3 he calls them "the
race of the Shechemites." W. Ewing. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/k/kenites.htm - 13k

Levi (79 Occurrences)
... worship! Levi shared with Simeon the infamy incurred at Shechem by the
treacherous slaughter of the Shechemites (Genesis 34). Jacob's ...
/l/levi.htm - 35k

Gaal (10 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Loathing, the son of Ebed, in whom the Shechemites "placed
their confidence" when they became discontented with Abimelech. ...
/g/gaal.htm - 10k

Baal-berith (2 Occurrences)
... ba-al-be'-rith ba`al berith = ("Baal of the Covenant"): An idol worshipped by the
Shechemites after Gideon's death (Judges 8:33), as protector and guardian of ...
/b/baal-berith.htm - 8k

Baalberith (2 Occurrences)
... ba-al-be'-rith ba`al berith = ("Baal of the Covenant"): An idol worshipped by the
Shechemites after Gideon's death (Judges 8:33), as protector and guardian of ...
/b/baalberith.htm - 8k

What can we learn from the tribe of Levi / the Levites? | GotQuestions.org

What can we learn from the tribe of Simeon? | GotQuestions.org

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