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). A Hivite city in time of Jacob (Gen. 33:18-20; Josh. 24:32). Captured by Simeon and Levi (Gen. 34). Joseph buried there (Josh. 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). (3) A Manassite, of Gilead (Num. 26:31). (4) A Gileadite, nephew of former (1 Chron. 7:19).
Concise Bible Dictionary:
1. The first city of Canaan visited by Abram (Gen. 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; Gen. 37:12-14; Josh. 20:7; Josh. 21:21; Josh. 24:1,25,32; Judg. 9:1-57; 1 Kings 12:1,25; 2 Chron. 10:1; Psa. 60:6; Psa. 108:7; Jer. 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, where it says that Abraham bought a sepulcher there. This is thought to clash with 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; Gen. 34:2-26; Josh. 24:32; Judges 9:28).
3. Descendant of Gilead, a grandson of Manasseh (Num. 26:31; Josh. 17:2).
4. Son of Shemidah, a descendant of Manasseh (1 Chron. 7:19; compare Josh. 17:2).
Jackson’s Dictionary of Scripture Proper Names:
shoulder (literally early rising): diligence