Geography affects history. To the East of the city Jacob pitched his tent in a "parcel of ground" which he had bought from Hamor, Shechem's father (Genesis 33:19). Judges 19:1-21:25 contain the Biblical account of the Benjamite War. T he name of this city first appears in Genesis 33:18 . Ebal is 3077 ft. and Gerizim 2849 ft. above the sea. Others would find it in a little village farther East with a fine spring, called BalaTa, a name which may be connected with balluT, "oak." Since Palestine destroyed the site in In addition to Jacob's Well (400m tothe South East) it is thought that the city derived its water supply via aconduit from a cave in Mt. Because it was there that Moses, many years earlier, had told the Jewish people. Where the easiest ground to travel lies, there also a wayfarer walks—and so a highway begins. Shechem (back or shoulder) An important city in central Palestine, in the valley between mounts Ebal and Gerizim, 34 miles north of Jerusalem and 7 miles southeast of Samaria. Genesis 33:18 Jacob came in peace to the city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Paddan Aram; and encamped before the city. Its present name, Nablus, is a corruption of Neapolis, which succeeded the more ancient Shechem, and received its new name from Vespasian. Judges 9:23 God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech: Judges 9:24 that the violence done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come, and that their blood might be laid on Abimelech their brother, who killed them, and on the men of Shechem, who strengthened his hands to kill his brothers. Ebal, approximately 40 miles (65 km.) Here also he raised an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel, "God, the God of Israel" (Genesis 33:20). In 2017 Nablus was enduring a real shortage of water Apparently, due to the age of the buildings, and their poor upkeep 1/3 of all the water that should be available is lost due to faulty pipes and plumbing. The war of conquest being done, Joseph's bones were buried in the parcel of ground which Jacob had bought, and which fell to the lot of Joseph's descendants (24:33). The Jewish writer Josephus writing about AD 90 placed the city between Mts. Judges 9:57 and all the wickedness of the men of Shechem did God requite on their heads: and on them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal. Hosea 6:9 As gangs of robbers wait to ambush a man, so the company of priests murder in the way toward Shechem, committing shameful crimes. Genesis 37:14 He said to him, "Go now, see whether it is well with your brothers, and well with the flock; and bring me word again." Its present name, Nablus, is a corruption of Neapolis, which succeeded the more ancient Shechem, and received its new name from Vespasian. From the patriarch Abraham to the exile of the Northern Kingdom, familiar and significant biblical events center around this city. Indeed it is not named again in the history of the monarchy. We’re told, somewhat ominously, that ‘at that time the Canaanites were in the land’ (Genesis 12:5-6). To the East of the city, in a recess at the base of Gerizim, is the sanctuary known as Rijal el-`Amud, literally, "men of the column" or "pillar," where some would locate the ancient "oak of Moreh" or "of the pillar." Shechem (back or shoulder). Jotham's parable was spoken from the cliff of Gerizim overhanging the town (Judges 9:7). Gerizim (left) and Mt. Sometimes the odds aren’t in our favor. 27:9, 12–13). Required fields are marked *. Modern Shechem:The modern town contains about 20,000 inhabitants, the great body of them being Moslems. + An important city in central Palestine, in the valley between mounts Ebal and Gerizim, 34 miles north of Jerusalem and 7 miles southeast of Samaria. Gerizim (W… Ebal (right), Shechem is preeminent in the biblical record, beginning with God’s promise of the land to Abraham. Near the city the Law was promulgated (Deuteronomy 27:11 Joshua 8:33). Along this line runs the great road which from time immemorial has formed the easiest and the quickest means of communication between the East of the Jordan and the sea. The capital of the Northern Kingdom was moved, however, first to Tirzah and then to Samaria, and Shechem declined in political importance. Eusebius, in Onomasticon, here identifies Shechem with Shalem; but see SHALEM. Through Joshua, God brought Israel back to its beginnings. Thanks! 2 In 1903, a group of German scholars under the direction of H. Tiersch examined Tell Balata and concluded it was ancient Shechem. It lies in the beautiful Valley of Shechem, which is about 500 yards wide, between Mounts Ebal and Gerizim. Remember also that I am your bone and your flesh. 1. On the slope of the mountain beyond is the village of `Askar; see SYCHAR. Chapter 21 declares how the rest of the tribes remained true to their oath, “Now the men of Israel had sworn an oath saying, “none of us shall give his daughter to Benjamin as a wife…” (Jud. Judges 9:31 He sent messengers to Abimelech craftily, saying, "Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his brothers are come to Shechem; and behold, they constrain the city to take part against you. Although Jacob came peacefully to Shechem (Genesis 33:18), the local prince violates Jacob’s daughter, Dinah, and in one of the more violent Old Testament p… Joshua learned what really counts. It was here—nearly four thousand years ago—that Jehovah promised Abraham: “To your seed I am going to give this land.”—Genesis 12:6, 7. The place is still the market for a wide district, both East and West of Jordan. SHECHEM, a town in the valley between the mountains Ebal and Gerizim, now Nablous, and supposed to be 2200 ft. above the Mediterranean. The terraced slopes of the mountain rise steeply on the South. and Zebul his officer? All Content © 2021 Israel My Glory is an outreach ministry of the friends of israel gospel ministry, Archaeology Confirms the Walls ‘Fell Flat’, *Free PDF Book Download - What on Earth is God Doing? After entry into the Promised Land, the Israelites came to the place of Shechem to confi… Gerizim (Sirach 50:26; Ant, XI, viii, 6; XII, i, 1; XIII, iii, 4). It was then the seat of Canaanite idolatry, the temple of Baal-berith being here (Judges 9:4, 46). If the KJV says they buried him IN Shechem, why do you write he was buried “outside” of Shechem. But Shechem was once a very Jewish city; and it was no accident that in his farewell to his people, an aged Joshua gathered the Israelites there to beg them to follow God (Josh. Judges 8:31 His concubine who was in Shechem, she also bore him a son, and he named him Abimelech. she'-kem (shekhem, "shoulder"; Suchem, he Sikima, ta Sikima, etc. Site of excavated ruins of biblical Shechem—satellite view / The modern city of Nabulus is biblical Shechem. It is mentioned as lying to the West of Michmethath (el-Makhneh) on the boundary of Manasseh (Joshua 17:7). To the Southwest of the city is a small mosque on the spot where Jacob is said to have mourned over the blood-stained coat of Joseph. Nablus also does have serious problems with lawlessness, according to what I’ve read, gunmen have taken over the streets which forces the population to remain in their homes and buildings for safety. by Renald Showers, *Complete Access to Our Growing Archive—Eventually Back Through Our Inaugural Issue In 1942, *Free Full-Issue PDF Downloads of Current Issues and Select Archives. I celebrate grace sir. At the oak of Moreh in the vicinity he reared his first altar to the Lord in Palestine (Genesis 12:6 f). There are some 700 or 800 Christians, chiefly belonging to the Greek Orthodox church. Tom Simcox is the Church Ministries training coordinator and a Bible teacher for The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry and Word of Life Bible Institute. Until 1903 the exact location of Shechem had been uncertain. And it was outside Shechem where the Jewish nation then buried the bones of the patriarch Joseph, within the boundaries of the land God had promised to the children of Israel, “in a plot of ground which Jacob bought from the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem, for an hundred pieces of silver” (Josh. And Jesus will someday sit on the Earthly Throne of His Earthly father David and rule for 1,000 years. Historical Background . 4. Judges 9:1 Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem to his mother's brothers, and spoke with them, and with all the family of the house of his mother's father, saying, Judges 9:2 "Please speak in the ears of all the men of Shechem,'Is it better for you that all the sons of Jerubbaal, who are seventy persons, rule over you, or that one rule over you?' Thousands of years later, Apostle Paul mentioned in one of his epistles that he was from the tribe of Benjamin.. Again, amazing…just goes to show how GOD provides such accurate narrative and description through frail and fallible human beings to write Scriptures to such exactness! The ancient city of Shechem lies in the valley between the two. Keep waxing stronger In God’s word. It appears in the New Testament only in the speech of Stephen (Acts 7:16, King James Version "Sychem"). Tom, Your email address will not be published. It was in the territory of Ephraim; it was made a city of refuge, and assigned to the Kohathite Levites (Joshua 20:7; Joshua 21:21). Benjamin was not destroyed… only humbled! 5. An important city in central Palestine, in the valley between Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim, 34 miles north of Jerusalem, and 7 miles southeast of Samaria. The Mountains are Located Near Shechem Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal stand opposite each other, in what would have been the heart of Israel at the time of the Israelites ’ entry. An important city in central Palestine, in the valley between mounts Ebal and Gerizim, 34 miles north of Jerusalem and 7 miles southeast of Samaria. David. Joshua 21:21 They gave them Shechem with its suburbs in the hill country of Ephraim, the city of refuge for the manslayer, and Gezer with its suburbs. Come, and I will send you to them." Judges 9:6 All the men of Shechem assembled themselves together, and all the house of Millo, and went and made Abimelech king, by the oak of the pillar that was in Shechem. An important city in central Palestine, in the valley between mounts Ebal and Gerizim, 34 miles north of Jerusalem and 7 miles southeast of Samaria. They became the inheritance of the children of Joseph. 1 Kings 12:1 Rehoboam went to Shechem: for all Israel were come to Shechem to make him king. But the Succoth of Jacob's dwelling was the place given to the Gadites (Josh. The Samaritans do not total more than 200. Sure, that’s absolutely possible, it’s also possible that his grave was located outside the actual town that developed, as there are many graves that were originally located around the towns in that day. Joshua 24:32 They buried the bones of Joseph, which the children of Israel brought up out of Egypt, in Shechem, in the parcel of ground which Jacob bought of the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem for a hundred pieces of money. Ebal approximately 65 km North of Jerusalem (see Map 1). In a touching goodbye, Joshua reviewed Israel’s history and issued both a warning and a challenge that are still relevant today. Some (e.g. The Kohanim and the Levites, along with the Ark of the Covenant, stood in the valley in between. The revelation behind it is very deep. Located between Mt. Jacob and his family settled at Shechem (Genesis 33:18). Thus, ancient Shechem and its modern counterpart, Nablus, are in a very strategic location along the watershed road between Judah, the Jordan Valley, Transjordan, and the Galilee. Today the world calls it Nablus, a Palestinian Authority city in the so-called West Bank and destined to become Judenrein, “clean of Jews,” in a future Palestinian state.

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