Shechem #23

Shechem was a major city of the central hill country, set in the pass between Mount Ebal to the north and Mount Gerizim to the south, near modern Nablus. It sits on the main north-south route through the highlands, which helps explain why it appears at so many turning points in Israel’s story. Genesis places Abram at “the place of Sichem, unto the plain of Moreh” when he first enters Canaan, and it is there that the Lord promises, “Unto thy seed will I give this land” (Genesis 12:6-7).

Biblical Significance

Shechem is a place of altars and of trouble. Abram builds an altar there, and generations later Jacob returns from Paddan-aram, buys a plot of land from the sons of Hamor, pitches his tent, and sets up an altar (Genesis 33:18-20). Jacob’s family then suffers the assault on his daughter Dinah and the violent reprisal by Simeon and Levi (Genesis 34). Joseph goes to Shechem to look for his brothers before he is sold (Genesis 37:12-14).

Under Joshua, Shechem becomes the setting for covenant renewal. The blessings and curses of the law are recited between Ebal and Gerizim (Joshua 8:30-35), and at the end of his life Joshua gathers all the tribes at Shechem, tells them to choose whom they will serve, and sets up a large stone as witness (Joshua 24:1-28). The bones of Joseph, brought up from Egypt, are buried in the plot of ground Jacob had bought there (Joshua 24:32). Shechem also became a city of refuge (Joshua 20:7).

Its story continues in the period of the judges, when Gideon’s son Abimelech is made king at Shechem and later destroys it (Judges 9). Rehoboam travels to Shechem to be confirmed as king by all Israel, and the refusal of his northern subjects leads to the division of the kingdom (1 Kings 12:1-16). Jeroboam then fortified the city (1 Kings 12:25).

Today

Ancient Shechem is identified with Tell Balata, on the eastern edge of Nablus in the West Bank. Excavations in the twentieth century, including work led by G. Ernest Wright and Lawrence Toombs, found impressive Middle Bronze Age fortifications and a very large temple building. Some scholars connect that building, or its later phases, with the temple of Baal-berith mentioned in Judges 9, though the link is debated. Egyptian Amarna letters of the fourteenth century BC mention a ruler of Shechem named Labayu, showing the city was already a significant power.

Tradition places the tomb of Joseph near Tell Balata and Jacob’s well nearby at Sychar, but these are traditional identifications rather than archaeologically proven ones.