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Boyd’s Bible Dictionary
:
(
shoulder
). (1)
The Canaanite
who abducted
Dinah
and was slain by
Simeon
and
Levi
(Gen. 34). (2) An ancient and highly historic city, between mounts
Ebal
and Gerizim, 34 miles N. of
Jerusalem
. Called also
Sichem
,
Sychem
,
Sychar
, later
Neapolis
, now Nablus. Halting place of
Abraham
(
Gen. 12:6
6
And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land. (Genesis 12:6)
). A Hivite city in
time
of
Jacob
(
Gen. 33:18-20
18
And Jacob came to Shalem, a city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padan-aram; and pitched his tent before the city.
19
And he bought a parcel of a field, where he had spread his tent, at the hand of the children of Hamor, Shechem's father, for an hundred pieces of money.
20
And he erected there an altar, and called it El-elohe-Israel. (Genesis 33:18‑20)
;
Josh. 24:32
32
And the bones of Joseph, which the children of Israel brought up out of Egypt, buried they in Shechem, in a parcel of ground which Jacob bought of the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem for an hundred pieces of silver: and it became the inheritance of the children of Joseph. (Joshua 24:32)
). Captured by Simeon and Levi (Gen. 34).
Joseph
buried there (
Josh. 24:32
32
And the bones of Joseph, which the children of Israel brought up out of Egypt, buried they in Shechem, in a parcel of ground which Jacob bought of the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem for an hundred pieces of silver: and it became the inheritance of the children of Joseph. (Joshua 24:32)
). Destroyed by
Abimelech
(Judg. 9). Rebuilt by
Rehoboam
, and fortified and made capital of
Israel
by Jeroboam (1 Kings 12: 1-19,25; 2 Chron. 10). A center of Samaritan
worship
after the
captivity
(
John 4:5,39-42
5
Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. (John 4:5)
39
And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did.
40
So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days.
41
And many more believed because of his own word;
42
And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world. (John 4:39‑42)
). (3) A Manassite, of
Gilead
(
Num. 26:31
31
And of Asriel, the family of the Asrielites: and of Shechem, the family of the Shechemites: (Numbers 26:31)
). (4) A Gileadite,
nephew
of former (
1 Chron. 7:19
19
And the sons of Shemida were, Ahian, and Shechem, and Likhi, and Aniam. (1 Chronicles 7:19)
).
Concise Bible Dictionary
:
Download (1.6 MB)
1.
The first city of
Canaan
visited by
Abram
(
Gen. 12:6
6
And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land. (Genesis 12:6)
), where it is called
SICHEM
. When
Jacob
returned to
Palestine
,
Hamor
the Hivite was its king. It was attacked and plundered by
Simeon
and
Levi
. The bones of
Joseph
were buried there. At the distribution of the land it fell to the
lot
of
Ephraim
, and became a Levitical city and a city of refuge. It was there that
Joshua
delivered his last address to the people. Under the
Judges
the city was taken by
Abimelech
, when about a thousand men and women took refuge in the
tower
, which was destroyed by
fire
. The tribes assembled there to
crown
Rehoboam
, and, on the division of the
kingdom
, it became the headquarters of Jeroboam (
Gen. 33:18
18
And Jacob came to Shalem, a city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padan-aram; and pitched his tent before the city. (Genesis 33:18)
;
Gen. 37:12-14
12
And his brethren went to feed their father's flock in Shechem.
13
And Israel said unto Joseph, Do not thy brethren feed the flock in Shechem? come, and I will send thee unto them. And he said to him, Here am I.
14
And he said to him, Go, I pray thee, see whether it be well with thy brethren, and well with the flocks; and bring me word again. So he sent him out of the vale of Hebron, and he came to Shechem. (Genesis 37:12‑14)
;
Josh. 20:7
7
And they appointed Kedesh in Galilee in mount Naphtali, and Shechem in mount Ephraim, and Kirjath-arba, which is Hebron, in the mountain of Judah. (Joshua 20:7)
;
Josh. 21:21
21
For they gave them Shechem with her suburbs in mount Ephraim, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Gezer with her suburbs, (Joshua 21:21)
;
Josh. 24:1,25,32
1
And Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and called for the elders of Israel, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers; and they presented themselves before God. (Joshua 24:1)
25
So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and set them a statute and an ordinance in Shechem. (Joshua 24:25)
32
And the bones of Joseph, which the children of Israel brought up out of Egypt, buried they in Shechem, in a parcel of ground which Jacob bought of the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem for an hundred pieces of silver: and it became the inheritance of the children of Joseph. (Joshua 24:32)
;
Judg. 9:1-57
1
And Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem unto his mother's brethren, and communed with them, and with all the family of the house of his mother's father, saying,
2
Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the men of Shechem, Whether is better for you, either that all the sons of Jerubbaal, which are threescore and ten persons, reign over you, or that one reign over you? remember also that I am your bone and your flesh.
3
And his mother's brethren spake of him in the ears of all the men of Shechem all these words: and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech; for they said, He is our brother.
4
And they gave him threescore and ten pieces of silver out of the house of Baal-berith, wherewith Abimelech hired vain and light persons, which followed him.
5
And he went unto his father's house at Ophrah, and slew his brethren the sons of Jerubbaal, being threescore and ten persons, upon one stone: notwithstanding yet Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left; for he hid himself.
6
And all the men of Shechem gathered together, and all the house of Millo, and went, and made Abimelech king, by the plain of the pillar that was in Shechem.
7
And when they told it to Jotham, he went and stood in the top of mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice, and cried, and said unto them, Hearken unto me, ye men of Shechem, that God may hearken unto you.
8
The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us.
9
But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honor God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?
10
And the trees said to the fig tree, Come thou, and reign over us.
11
But the fig tree said unto them, Should I forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the trees?
12
Then said the trees unto the vine, Come thou, and reign over us.
13
And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?
14
Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us.
15
And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then come and put your trust in my shadow: and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon.
16
Now therefore, if ye have done truly and sincerely, in that ye have made Abimelech king, and if ye have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done unto him according to the deserving of his hands;
17
(For my father fought for you, and adventured his life far, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian:
18
And ye are risen up against my father's house this day, and have slain his sons, threescore and ten persons, upon one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his maidservant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother;)
19
If ye then have dealt truly and sincerely with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice ye in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you:
20
But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the men of Shechem, and the house of Millo; and let fire come out from the men of Shechem, and from the house of Millo, and devour Abimelech.
21
And Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.
22
When Abimelech had reigned three years over Israel,
23
Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech:
24
That the cruelty done to the threescore and ten sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood be laid upon Abimelech their brother, which slew them; and upon the men of Shechem, which aided him in the killing of his brethren.
25
And the men of Shechem set liers in wait for him in the top of the mountains, and they robbed all that came along that way by them: and it was told Abimelech.
26
And Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brethren, and went over to Shechem: and the men of Shechem put their confidence in him.
27
And they went out into the fields, and gathered their vineyards, and trode the grapes, and made merry, and went into the house of their god, and did eat and drink, and cursed Abimelech.
28
And Gaal the son of Ebed said, Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? is not he the son of Jerubbaal? and Zebul his officer? serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem: for why should we serve him?
29
And would to God this people were under my hand! then would I remove Abimelech. And he said to Abimelech, Increase thine army, and come out.
30
And when Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled.
31
And he sent messengers unto Abimelech privily, saying, Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his brethren be come to Shechem; and, behold, they fortify the city against thee.
32
Now therefore up by night, thou and the people that is with thee, and lie in wait in the field:
33
And it shall be, that in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, thou shalt rise early, and set upon the city: and, behold, when he and the people that is with him come out against thee, then mayest thou do to them as thou shalt find occasion.
34
And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies.
35
And Gaal the son of Ebed went out, and stood in the entering of the gate of the city: and Abimelech rose up, and the people that were with him, from lying in wait.
36
And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, Behold, there come people down from the top of the mountains. And Zebul said unto him, Thou seest the shadow of the mountains as if they were men.
37
And Gaal spake again and said, See there come people down by the middle of the land, and another company come along by the plain of Meonenim.
38
Then said Zebul unto him, Where is now thy mouth, wherewith thou saidst, Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him? is not this the people that thou hast despised? go out, I pray now, and fight with them.
39
And Gaal went out before the men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech.
40
And Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him, and many were overthrown and wounded, even unto the entering of the gate.
41
And Abimelech dwelt at Arumah: and Zebul thrust out Gaal and his brethren, that they should not dwell in Shechem.
42
And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people went out into the field; and they told Abimelech.
43
And he took the people, and divided them into three companies, and laid wait in the field, and looked, and, behold, the people were come forth out of the city; and he rose up against them, and smote them.
44
And Abimelech, and the company that was with him, rushed forward, and stood in the entering of the gate of the city: and the two other companies ran upon all the people that were in the fields, and slew them.
45
And Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he took the city, and slew the people that was therein, and beat down the city, and sowed it with salt.
46
And when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard that, they entered into an hold of the house of the god Berith.
47
And it was told Abimelech, that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together.
48
And Abimelech gat him up to mount Zalmon, he and all the people that were with him; and Abimelech took an axe in his hand, and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it, and laid it on his shoulder, and said unto the people that were with him, What ye have seen me do, make haste, and do as I have done.
49
And all the people likewise cut down every man his bough, and followed Abimelech, and put them to the hold, and set the hold on fire upon them; so that all the men of the tower of Shechem died also, about a thousand men and women.
50
Then went Abimelech to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez, and took it.
51
But there was a strong tower within the city, and thither fled all the men and women, and all they of the city, and shut it to them, and gat them up to the top of the tower.
52
And Abimelech came unto the tower, and fought against it, and went hard unto the door of the tower to burn it with fire.
53
And a certain woman cast a piece of a millstone upon Abimelech's head, and all to brake his skull.
54
Then he called hastily unto the young man his armorbearer, and said unto him, Draw thy sword, and slay me, that men say not of me, A woman slew him. And his young man thrust him through, and he died.
55
And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they departed every man unto his place.
56
Thus God rendered the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did unto his father, in slaying his seventy brethren:
57
And all the evil of the men of Shechem did God render upon their heads: and upon them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal. (Judges 9:1‑57)
;
1 Kings 12:1,25
1
And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for all Israel were come to Shechem to make him king. (1 Kings 12:1)
25
Then Jeroboam built Shechem in mount Ephraim, and dwelt therein; and went out from thence, and built Penuel. (1 Kings 12:25)
;
2 Chron. 10:1
1
And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for to Shechem were all Israel come to make him king. (2 Chronicles 10:1)
;
Psa. 60:6
6
God hath spoken in his holiness; I will rejoice, I will divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth. (Psalm 60:6)
;
Psa. 108:7
7
God hath spoken in his holiness; I will rejoice, I will divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth. (Psalm 108:7)
;
Jer. 41:5
5
That there came certain from Shechem, from Shiloh, and from Samaria, even fourscore men, having their beards shaven, and their clothes rent, and having cut themselves, with offerings and incense in their hand, to bring them to the house of the Lord. (Jeremiah 41:5)
).
Shechem was called
Neapolis
by the Romans, of which its present name,
Nablus
, is supposed to be a corruption. It lies 32° 13’ N, 35° 16’ E. Its vicinity is luxurious in fruit and flowers. It is still partially inhabited by
Samaritans
, who have a
synagogue
there, and yearly keep
the Passover
.
It is called
SYCHEM
in
Acts 7:16
16
And were carried over into Sychem, and laid in the sepulchre that Abraham bought for a sum of money of the sons of Emmor the father of Sychem. (Acts 7:16)
, where it says that
Abraham
bought a
sepulcher
there. This is thought to clash with
Genesis 33:19
19
And he bought a parcel of a field, where he had spread his tent, at the hand of the children of Hamor, Shechem's father, for an hundred pieces of money. (Genesis 33:19)
, which speaks of Jacob buying it. But nothing is said in the latter
passage
about a sepulcher: Jacob bought a piece of ground to spread his
tent
in. Bengel says of this alleged discrepancy in
Stephen
’s address, that “the brevity which was best suited to the ardor of the
Spirit
gave Stephen just occasion, in the case of a fact so well known, to compress these details in the way he has done.” (For further details concerning Stephen’s address see
Bible
Handbook
,
New
Testament
, pages 144-6.)
2.
Son
of Hamor the chief of the city of Shechem—from whom the city appears to have derived its name—killed with his
father
and
household
by Simeon and Levi because he had dishonored their sister
Dinah
(
Gen. 33:19
19
And he bought a parcel of a field, where he had spread his tent, at the hand of the children of Hamor, Shechem's father, for an hundred pieces of money. (Genesis 33:19)
;
Gen. 34:2-26
2
And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he took her, and lay with her, and defiled her.
3
And his soul clave unto Dinah the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the damsel, and spake kindly unto the damsel.
4
And Shechem spake unto his father Hamor, saying, Get me this damsel to wife.
5
And Jacob heard that he had defiled Dinah his daughter: now his sons were with his cattle in the field: and Jacob held his peace until they were come.
6
And Hamor the father of Shechem went out unto Jacob to commune with him.
7
And the sons of Jacob came out of the field when they heard it: and the men were grieved, and they were very wroth, because he had wrought folly in Israel in lying with Jacob's daughter; which thing ought not to be done.
8
And Hamor communed with them, saying, The soul of my son Shechem longeth for your daughter: I pray you give her him to wife.
9
And make ye marriages with us, and give your daughters unto us, and take our daughters unto you.
10
And ye shall dwell with us: and the land shall be before you; dwell and trade ye therein, and get you possessions therein.
11
And Shechem said unto her father and unto her brethren, Let me find grace in your eyes, and what ye shall say unto me I will give.
12
Ask me never so much dowry and gift, and I will give according as ye shall say unto me: but give me the damsel to wife.
13
And the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father deceitfully, and said, because he had defiled Dinah their sister:
14
And they said unto them, We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one that is uncircumcised; for that were a reproach unto us:
15
But in this will we consent unto you: If ye will be as we be, that every male of you be circumcised;
16
Then will we give our daughters unto you, and we will take your daughters to us, and we will dwell with you, and we will become one people.
17
But if ye will not hearken unto us, to be circumcised; then will we take our daughter, and we will be gone.
18
And their words pleased Hamor, and Shechem Hamor's son.
19
And the young man deferred not to do the thing, because he had delight in Jacob's daughter: and he was more honorable than all the house of his father.
20
And Hamor and Shechem his son came unto the gate of their city, and communed with the men of their city, saying,
21
These men are peaceable with us; therefore let them dwell in the land, and trade therein; for the land, behold, it is large enough for them; let us take their daughters to us for wives, and let us give them our daughters.
22
Only herein will the men consent unto us for to dwell with us, to be one people, if every male among us be circumcised, as they are circumcised.
23
Shall not their cattle and their substance and every beast of theirs be ours? only let us consent unto them, and they will dwell with us.
24
And unto Hamor and unto Shechem his son hearkened all that went out of the gate of his city; and every male was circumcised, all that went out of the gate of his city.
25
And it came to pass on the third day, when they were sore, that two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah's brethren, took each man his sword, and came upon the city boldly, and slew all the males.
26
And they slew Hamor and Shechem his son with the edge of the sword, and took Dinah out of Shechem's house, and went out. (Genesis 34:2‑26)
;
Josh. 24:32
32
And the bones of Joseph, which the children of Israel brought up out of Egypt, buried they in Shechem, in a parcel of ground which Jacob bought of the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem for an hundred pieces of silver: and it became the inheritance of the children of Joseph. (Joshua 24:32)
;
Judges 9:28
28
And Gaal the son of Ebed said, Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? is not he the son of Jerubbaal? and Zebul his officer? serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem: for why should we serve him? (Judges 9:28)
).
3.
Descendant of
Gilead
, a grandson of
Manasseh
(
Num. 26:31
31
And of Asriel, the family of the Asrielites: and of Shechem, the family of the Shechemites: (Numbers 26:31)
;
Josh. 17:2
2
There was also a lot for the rest of the children of Manasseh by their families; for the children of Abiezer, and for the children of Helek, and for the children of Asriel, and for the children of Shechem, and for the children of Hepher, and for the children of Shemida: these were the male children of Manasseh the son of Joseph by their families. (Joshua 17:2)
).
4.
Son of
Shemidah
, a descendant of Manasseh (
1 Chron. 7:19
19
And the sons of Shemida were, Ahian, and Shechem, and Likhi, and Aniam. (1 Chronicles 7:19)
; compare
Josh. 17:2
2
There was also a lot for the rest of the children of Manasseh by their families; for the children of Abiezer, and for the children of Helek, and for the children of Asriel, and for the children of Shechem, and for the children of Hepher, and for the children of Shemida: these were the male children of Manasseh the son of Joseph by their families. (Joshua 17:2)
).
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Strong’s Dictionary of Hebrew Words:
Number:
7928
(
find all occurrences in KJV Bible
)
Transliteration:
Shekem
Phonic:
sheh’-kem
Meaning:
for
7926
; Shekem, the name of a Hivite and two Israelites
KJV Usage:
Shechem
Jackson’s
Dictionary of Scripture Proper Names
:
shoulder (literally early rising): diligence
Call: 1-630-543-1441
“Study to show thyself approved unto God, … rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).
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