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Isn't he the son of Jerubbaal? 1. Depending on where we consider the undefined border between Phoenicia and Canaan to be, he was almost there. He set up a pillar, and anointed it with oil, to mark the place where God spoke with him. Filmed on location at the very place Jesus met with the Samaritan woman in Sychar (Shechem). Abimelech, whose mother was a native of the city, persuaded the men of Shechem to make him king (Judges 9:1-6), evidently seeking a certain consecration from association with "the oak of the pillar that was in Shechem." It is picturesquely situated in a narrow valley, surrounded by rocky hills. Joshua also says to serve the Lord in truth; the Hebrew word for truth is `Emet, which refers to a truth that has proven itself reliable. the pestilence. He found Canaan ites living there. God used this sad turn of events to eventually take the entire family of Israel to Egypt, protecting and multiplying them. Shechem first steps on the pages of Scripture as Abram enters the land of Canaan. Bethel is the name given by anticipation to the place; appropriately so, as Abram virtually made it the "house of God." It was also here that Abrams grandson, Jacob, settled, and here he buried all his idolswhich will be significant we will see later. Probably on rising ground East of Bethel Abraham and Lot stood to view the uninviting highlands and the rich lands of the Jordan valley (Gen 13:9 ff). Interestingly, Jesus said the same thing in this same spot when He told the woman at Jacobs well that the worshippers God seeks are those who worship Him in spirit and in truth (John 4:23-24)worship with ones inside, the spirit, not just the outside. 1. The larger of the two, which lies to the east, is, according to Dr. Robinson, 12 1/2 feet in diameter, and at the time of his visit (April 12) was 44 1/2 feet to the surface of the water. Genesis 37:17. Jacob arose and returned to Bethel where he would renew his vow to the Lord and he built an altar at Bethel and worshiped God (Gen. 35:1-15). Its Position: Geographically Beersheba marked the southern limit of Judah, though theoretically this extended to the "river of Egypt" (Gen 15:18)--the modern Wady el`Avish--60 miles farther south. 21:17); (3) the priestly office in the family (Num. The third son of Kohath, who was the second son of Levi. From this place the patriarch departed for Egypt by way of Beersheba (37:14; 46:1). There are four springs which yield supplies of good water. He escaped from the angry pursuit of Laban, from a meeting with Esau, and from the vengeance of the Canaanites provoked by the murder of Shechem; and in each of these three emergencies he was aided and strengthened by the interposition of God, and in sign of the grace won by a night of wrestling with God his name was changed at Jabbok into Israel. Eusebius, in Onomasticon, here identifies Shechem with Shalem; but see SHALEM. Laban was angry when he heard that Jacob had set out on his journey, and pursued after him, overtaking him in seven days. But when the seven years were expired, Laban craftily deceived Jacob, and gave him his daughter Leah. Weekly Prayer. Its ruins still lie on the righthand side of the road from Jerusalem to Nablus. In his dream, the LORD renewed his covenant promise to give the land of . 1 Chronicles 2:42-43. (Ant., XIII, ix, 1; BJ, I, ii, 6). A city in the south end of the valley of Eshcol, about midway between Jerusalem and Beersheba, from which it is distant about 20 miles in a straight line. The tribes were divided into two groups, each standing in front of one . The children were Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, daughter Dinah, Joseph, and Benjamin. Jacob, now called Israel, sends Joseph to meet his brothers. Joshua goes on to note, whatever good there is in us now, remember whose doing it is. Samaria became significant in Shechems history because the people who later worshipped on Mount Gerizim came to be known as Samaritans (named after the capital Omri had chosen). The miles based distance from Ur to Canaan is 3461.2 miles. It was built "seven years before Zoan in Egypt" (Gen. 13:18; Num. Ultimately, as the road passed through the Jabbok Valley, it reached the Transjordanian Highway. The terraced slopes of the mountain rise steeply on the South. Succoth. Cleave, Richard. "Jacob called the name of that place Bethel, but the name of that city was called Luz at the first" (Joshua 16:1-2). They were therefore removed by authority, and their place taken by the prickly pears mentioned above.W. Abram traveled from Ur to Haran with his father Terah and settled there (Genesis 11:31). 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. 2 Kings 23:8 - And he brought all the priests out of the cities of Judah, and defiled the high places where the priests had burned incense, from Geba to Beersheba, and brake down the high places of the gates that [were] in the entering in of the gate of Joshua the governor of the city, which [were] on a man's left hand at the gate of the city.2 Samuel 24:2 - For the king said to Joab the captain of the host, which [was] with him, Go now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beersheba, and number ye the people, that I may know the number of the people.Amos 5:5 - But seek not Bethel, nor enter into Gilgal, and pass not to Beersheba: for Gilgal shall surely go into captivity, and Bethel shall come to nought.Nehemiah 11:30 - Zanoah, Adullam, and [in] their villages, at Lachish, and the fields thereof, at Azekah, and [in] the villages thereof. Jacob's children fulfilled their promise and carried the coffin all the way to Canaan. 3. Hebron now contains about 5000 inhabitants, of whom some fifty families are Jews. 4:15; 5:8; 10:5, 8) calls it in contempt Beth-aven, i.e., "house of idols." For another Bible chapter related to Shechem, see Joshua 24.. Shechem. It required cisterns for water supply, which was a major drawback in times of siege. And the LORD drove out from before us all the peoples, even the Amorites who lived in the land. From Ur, across the Fertile Crescent and down into Canaan, the Bible mentions Shechem as the first city to which Abram came ( Gen. 12:6 ). The birthright secured to him who possessed it (1) superior rank in his family (Gen. 49:3); (2) a double portion of the paternal inheritance (Deut. of God, and this is the modern name of Hebron. b. prophecy through dreams. Abdon is read in many manuscriptsHebron in Hitchcock's Bible Names society; friendshipHebron in Naves Topical Bible 1. In the Book of Genesis, Abraham, the patriarch of the Abrahamic religions, describes Aram as . Judges 9:39 Gaal went out before the men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech. Even if we are consciously trying to be a proper Christian, it is still possible for us to . (See BETHAVEN.) Rachel took with her her father Laban's household gods. 2Ki 17:27,28 In later times Bethel is named only once under the scarcely-altered name of Beitin. Abram arrived in the land, heard from the Lord at Shechem and worshipped at Bethel (Genesis 12:6-8). God revealed to Jacob His plan of redemption through offering His only son as a substitute for the sins of the whole world. Of course, from a historian's point of view, it is more likely that Abraham did not really exist. After the Israelites blazed a safe trail to central Canaan by defeating Jericho and Ai, they immediately went 34 km north to convene a covenant ceremony in the area of Shechem (Josh 8:30-35). Here Abram built an altar to the Lord, and here God confirmed His promise to give the land to Abram. Hebron. He and his family traveled through the Jabbok Valley, crossed the Jordan, camped at Succoth, and ascended through the Wadis Faria and Beidan to Shechem. The best way to get from Hebron to Shechem costs only $14 and takes just 3 hours. Against God's directive to settle in Bethel (28:21; 31:3, 13), Jacob settles near the city of Shechem instead. 2. Location and Physical Features:There is no doubt as to the situation of ancient Shechem. . Abram pitched his tent on a mountain E. of Bethel, abounding in pasture (Genesis 12:8; Genesis 13:3). It was one of Samuel's towns of circuit for judging (1 Samuel 7:16). As Christians, we should be the most humble of all people, especia Again, from the like oath between Abimelech (with Phichol, his captain) and Isaac, it being not uncommon for an event to be recorded as occurring apparently for the first time, which has been recorded as occurring earlier before: so Bethel (Genesis 26:31-33). . It is still called by the Arabs Bir es- Seba, i.e., "well of the seven", where there are to the present day two principal wells and five smaller ones. 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. Built seven years before Zoan in Egypt (Numbers 13:22). Joshua says to serve the Lord in sincerity, not in hypocrisy. Genesis 11:17-28 reads, "Terah Begot Abram, Nahor, and Haran, and Haran begot Lot. (a) In Babylonian documents of the period of the Patriarchs, there occur such personal names as Ja-ku-bi, Ja-ku-ub-ilu (the former doubtless an abbreviation of the latter), and Aq-bu-u (compare Aq-bi-a-hu), according to Hilprecht a syncopated form for A-qu(? It should be noted that the personal names `Aqqubh and Ya`aqobhah (accent on the penult) also occur in the Old Testament, the former borne by no less than 4 different persons; also that in the Palmyrene inscriptions we find a person named `ath`aqobh, a name in which this same verb `aqabh is preceded by the name of the god `Ate, just as in `Aqabhyah it is followed by the name YahuJacob in Wikipedia (pronounced /dekb/; Hebrew: , Standard Yaakov; Septuagint Greek: ; "heel" or "leg-puller", Arabic: Yaqb), also known as Israel (Hebrew: , Standard Yisrael, Isrl; Septuagint Greek: ; "persevere with God"[1]), as described in the Bible, was the third patriarch of the Jewish people, and ancestor of the tribes of Israel, named after his descendants. Joshua 17:7 The border of Manasseh was from Asher to Michmethath, which is before Shechem. Tanis) in Egypt (Nu 13:22); its ancient name was Kiriath-arba, probably meaning the "Four Cities," perhaps because divided at one time into four quarters, but according to Jewish writers so called because four patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Adam were buried there. Jacob revisited the place on his return from Paddan-aram; here Deborah, Rebekah's nurse, died and was buried under "the oak" (Gen 35:6 f). Around the large are nine stone troughs; around the smaller, five. The rains run through immovable ravines, and beside that river people cultivate their fields and water their livestock. Wayne earned his masters and doctoral degrees from Dallas Theological Seminary and served in the pastorate for 14 years before also serving 12 years in leadershi More, The Net Pastors Journal, Eng. 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?' Egypt is a Egypt city located at the longitude of 31.237655 and latitude of 30.047655 . (c) In the Jewish tractate Pirqe Abhoth, iii.l, we read of a Jew named 'Aqabhyah, which is a name composed of the same verbal root as that in Jacob, together with the Divine name Yahu (i.e. of God, a favorite name for Abraham; compare Jas 2:23). 23). Mahanaim. Thus Shechem often found itself in major events in the Biblical narrative. Jacob finally arrived in Haran at the home of his uncle Laban and dwelt there for 14 years. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1987. His messengers told him the news of Esau's coming (Gen. 32:6-8) and Jacob became troubled and prayed for help and deliverance (Gen. 32:9-12). The average milk yield was 2.5 L per day; the price of camel's milk was higher than that of cow's milk at US$0.5. Because Jerusalem was the only appointed place God allowed for worship, and since Jerusalem lay in Judah, Jeroboam set up a rival sanctuary in Bethel, complete with a golden bull image. And Jacob said, Thou shalt not give me any thing: if thou wilt do this thing for me, I will again feed [and] keep thy flock:Genesis 35:14 - And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he talked with him, [even] a pillar of stone: and he poured a drink offering thereon, and he poured oil thereon.Joshua 24:32 - 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.Genesis 30:41 - And it came to pass, whensoever the stronger cattle did conceive, that Jacob laid the rods before the eyes of the cattle in the gutters, that they might conceive among the rods.Ezekiel 37:25 - And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, [even] they, and their children, and their children's children for ever: and my servant David [shall be] their prince for ever.1 Samuel 12:8 - When Jacob was come into Egypt, and your fathers cried unto the LORD, then the LORD sent Moses and Aaron, which brought forth your fathers out of Egypt, and made them dwell in this place.Obediah 1:18 - And the house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for stubble, and they shall kindle in them, and devour them; and there shall not be [any] remaining of the house of Esau; for the LORD hath spoken [it].Deuteronomy 29:13 - That he may establish thee to day for a people unto himself, and [that] he may be unto thee a God, as he hath said unto thee, and as he hath sworn unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.Genesis 31:46 - And Jacob said unto his brethren, Gather stones; and they took stones, and made an heap: and they did eat there upon the heap.Isaiah 43:22 - But thou hast not called upon me, O Jacob; but thou hast been weary of me, O Israel.Lamentations 2:2 - The Lord hath swallowed up all the habitations of Jacob, and hath not pitied: he hath thrown down in his wrath the strong holds of the daughter of Judah; he hath brought [them] down to the ground: he hath polluted the kingdom and the princes thereof.Psalms 22:23 - Ye that fear the LORD, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel.Genesis 37:2 - These [are] the generations of Jacob. And at Abimelechs coronation, Jotham climbed Mount Gerizim and shouted a curse on Shechem for Abimelechs sin. Adult camels weighed around 500 kg; the dressing-out percentage was 52%. Large Map of the Roman Empire in the Early First Century - Click around on the Places. He was 75 years old at that time and moving was not an easy task especially in his age. Beersheba. History of the City. 02) In straight lines from Haran to Carchemesh, to Aleppo, to Hamath, to Damascus, to Shechem it is about 426 miles (686 Km). It appears in the New Testament only in the speech of Stephen (Acts 7:16, King James Version "Sychem"). Along the way he saw in a dream a ladder reaching to heaven with angels ascending and descending which proved to be a type of Jesus. This location is quite a distance from Seir, in Edom, which is where Jacob's twin brother, Esau, currently lives (Genesis 32:3). 1 Chr. The people traveled more than 25 miles from Ai to the beautiful valley of Shechem surrounded by mountains, two of which were Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim. Abraham planted here a" grove" ('eshel) (distinct from the idol grove, Asheerah, or Astarte Baal), or tree, the tamarisk, long living, of hard wood, with long, clustering, evergreenBeersheba in Hitchcock's Bible Names the well of an oath; the seventh wellBeersheba in Naves Topical Bible 1. Twenty Roman miles S. of Jerusalem, and twenty N. of Beersheba. or from Beersheba to. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob dwelt here, and it was here that Abraham bought a tomb - the Cave of Machpelah. Genesis 35:9 God appeared to Jacob again, when he came from Paddan Aram, and blessed him. Peniel. 3. After the overthrow of Israel, the king of Assyria sent one of the Israelite priests to settle at Bethel, and teach the new settlers from Babylon, Cuthah, Ava, Hamath, and Sepharvaim, "the manner of the god of the land," and "how they should fear Jehovah" (2 Kings 17:27- 28). This is assuming Abram went via Beersheba and walked "The Way to Shur" (an ancient road) into Egypt and that he stopped at Raamses. Some (e.g. Then Ornan saw David, and made over to him the threshing floor (1 Chronicles 21:15-16; 1 Chronicles 21:18-26). These people did not know the Lord (2 Kings 17:24-41) and thus they continually struggled with idolatry. In process of time the name Luz disappeared, giving place to that of the adjoining sanctuary, town and sanctuary being identified. And I brought your fathers out of Egypt, and you came to the sea; and Egypt pursued your fathers with chariots and horsemen to the Red Sea. Jud 20:18,26,31; 21:2 Authorized Version, "house of God." It also conveniently lay along a major road to Shechem. The Days of the Monarchy: David, when a fugitive, received kindness from the people of this city (1 Sam 30:31); here Abner was treacherously slain by Joab at the gate (2 Sam 3:27), and the sons of Rimmon, after their hands and feet had been cut off, were hanged "beside the pool" (2 Sam 4:12). HARAN TO SHECHEM n About 400 miles distance n Crossing Jordan at Succoth Genesis 12:1-7 n 1st altar built n Abram worships God SHECHEM TO BETHEL n About 20 miles distance n Genesis 12:8 n 2nd altar built n Prayer offered n Famine in Canaan BETHEL TO EGYPT n About 225 miles southwest n Genesis 12:9-13 n Abraham denies that Sarah is his wife . That was Joshuas challenge to Israel at Shechem, and it is a good one for us to heed as well. It lay, like all threshing floors, outside the city, upon Mount Moriah, N.E. . Shechem first steps on the pages of Scripture as Abram enters the land of Canaan. Across the valley, musical with the sound of running water, the great bulk of Ebal rises on the North, its sides, shaggy with prickly pear, sliding down into grain fields and orchards. By the time Jesus spoke to the Samaritan woman at Jacobs well, near Shechem, the racial hatred between Jews and Samaritans was paramount. The meeting was of a painful kind. That is a pretty humble beginning. Abraham, now 75 years old, leaves Haran and takes the family to the land of Canaan (the land of promise . Again Jacob journeyed southward, and at Bethlehem Rachel gave birth to Benjamin, but she died in giving childbirth and was buried there (Gen. 35:16-20). 2. 2Ch 13:19 Elijah visited Bethel, and we hear of "sons of the prophets" as resident there. And in light of Gods faithful past in our own lives, we should personally renew a whole-hearted commitment to the Lord today. After the lapse of twenty-one years he returned from Padan-aram with two wives, two concubines, eleven sons and a daughter, and large property. A city in Samaria ( Genesis 33:18), called also Sichem ( 12:6), Sychem ( Acts 7:16).It stood in the narrow sheltered valley between Ebal on the north and Gerizim on the south, these mountains at their base being only some 500 yards apart. 12. 7. As he passed through Bethel, God appeared to him. Bimson, John J., ed. 24:32). Bethel belonged by lot to Benjamin, but was falcon by Ephraim (Bethel being on his southern border) through the treachery of an inhabitant (Judges 1:22-26). And the ensuing argument about the true place of worshipGerizim or Jerusalemwas in full force (John 4:20). Ephraim, Ebal and Gerizim, guarding it on the North and South respectively. And Jacob came safely to the city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, on his way from Paddan-aram, and he camped before the city. Then I sent the hornet before you and it drove out the two kings of the Amorites from before you, but not by your sword or your bow. It retained this name till it came into the possession of Caleb, when the Israelites restored the original name Hebron" (Keil, Com.). Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1995. But Joshuas point is choose for yourselves; in fact, those are his very words. HEBRON is one of the most ancient cities in the world still existing, and it is in this respect the rival of Damascus. Ur. 6:2, 18). 2:1-4, 11; 1 Kings 2:11). And you lived in the wilderness for a long time. It was included in Israel after the kingdom was divided, and it became one of the seats of the worship of the golden calf (1 Kings 12:28-33; 13:1). These have come so that your faith. 2:42, 43. Map 38 Abram's Journey to Canaan . 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." 1. Then Jacob came to Peniel where he wrestled with God (Genesis 31:22-32:31). 5. A walk with God (literally, for about 100 miles) "Seven wells" is improbable on etymological grounds; the numeral should in that case be first. Moreover, a Pharaoh of the Hyksos period bears a name that looks like ya`aqobh-'el (Spiegelberg, Orientalische Literaturzeitung, VII, 130). 11. Acts 7:16 and they were brought back to Shechem, and laid in the tomb that Abraham bought for a price in silver from the children of Hamor of Shechem. Jehovah testified His acceptance of David's sacrifice there by sending down fire to consume it (Leviticus 9:24; 1 Kings 18:24; 1 Kings 18:38; 2 Chronicles 7:1). I. Then Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and fought against Israel, and he sent and summoned Balaam the son of Beor to curse you. However, modern highways may cut the walking distance i. His bothers were envious of the preferential treatment Joseph received from Isaac. to his uncle Laban's home where he married and gave birth to many children. And David said, Whither shall I go up? Modern knowledge of Canaan's history and culture is derived from both archeological excavations and from literary sources. Egypt. The five lesser wells are in a group in the bed of the wady. )-bu(-u), like Aq-bi-ili alongside of A-qa- bi-ili; all of which may be associated with the same root `aqabh, as appears in Jacob (see H. Ranke, Early Babylonian Personal Names, 1905, with annotations by Professor Hilprecht as editor, especially pp. 1 Chronicles 6:67 They gave to them the cities of refuge, Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim with its suburbs; Gezer also with its suburbs. New York: Macmillan. Bethel in Joshua 19:4 answers to Chesil in Joshua 15:30. Afterward on Moriah he offered Isaac (Genesis 22:2; Genesis 22:14). 13. It is supposed by some to be the tree under which Abraham pitched his tent, and is called "Abraham's oak." Joshua called the nation to Shechem because significant things occurred there before. she'-kem (shekhem, "shoulder"; Suchem, he Sikima, ta Sikima, etc. The valley runs from north to south; and the main quarter of the town, surmounted by the lofty walls of the venerable Haram, lies partly on the eastern slope. At about the center point of the land of Canaan was the place called Shechem. It also provided room for many people to liveperhaps 40,000as the city covered 20 acres. In Jewish tradition, the old name was understood in . in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went out to mourn and to weep for her. 19:2; 1 Chr. The stones around the mouth are worn into grooves by the action of ropes for so many ages. He then set out with his family and property "to go to Isaac his father in the land of Canaan" (Gen. 31). Jacob purchased a parcel of land here in Shechem and actually made for himself a dwelling place in the land of Canaan (Gen. 33:18-20). State/Province level distance calculator: It was originally called Kirjath-Arba, " The city of Arba." The total distance between Hebron and Egypt is 402 KM (kilometers) and 72.87 meters. It is mentioned as lying to the West of Michmethath (el-Makhneh) on the boundary of Manasseh (Joshua 17:7). The wadi formed a natural and political boundary between the southern territory governed by the city-state of Jerusalem and the central territory governed by the city-state of Shechem. All of Egypt mourned with Joseph over the passing of Jacob, who, in the time of his stay in Goshen, had gained the esteem and love of all the people. Joseph, when seventeen years of age, was pasturing the flock with his brothers while he was still a youth, along with the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives And Joseph brought back a bad report about them to their father. Khalil er Rahman, "the friend of the Merciful," i.e. It was then the seat of Canaanite idolatry, the temple of Baal-berith being here (Judges 9:4, 46). At the disruption Jeroboam fortified the city and made it his residence (2 Chronicles 10:25; Ant, VIII, viii, 4). The distance between hebron israel to shechem Israel is 143 Km by road. The mile based measurement distance is 249.8 miles. He had twelve sons and several daughters, by his two wives, Leah and Rachel, and their maidservants, Bilhah and Zilpah. It must have been a place of strength from antiquity. Excavations, mainly in the 20th century, have unearthed the remains of many important Canaanite cities, including Bet Shean, Gezer, Hazor, Jericho, Jerusalem, Lachish, Megiddo, and Shechem.The most important literary sources for the region's history are the Old . From Dan to Beersheba, a distance of about 144 miles (Judg. When Judah returned from exile to the southern portion of the nation, the Samaritans requested to help rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. Sabbath. When Terah is 145 years old, God makes 3 promises (nation, land, seed) to Abram at age 75 years old in Haran and tells him to move to Canaan. They traveled to Shechem and built Joshua's Altar. Ge 22:2 Its position is doubtful, some thinking it to be Mount MOriah, others that Moreh, near Shechem, is meant. Near Hebron was the cave of Machpelah, where he and Sarah were buried. It was here at hebron where Jacob met saw his father Isaac in his old age (Gen. 35:27) and he dwelt here in Hebron. Then Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and called for the elders of Israel and for their heads and their judges and their officers; and they presented themselves before God (Josh. Judges 9:7 When they told it to Jotham, he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice, and cried, and said to them, "Listen to me, you men of Shechem, that God may listen to you. The other five further off. If we are to accept the precise definition of Ge 12:8 the name of Bethel would appear to have existed at this spot even before the arrival of Abram in Canaan. Shechem is also where Abraham lived, Jacob lived, Joshua rallied the nation of Israel together and gave the curses and blessings on Mt. Genesis 12:6 Abram passed through the land to the place of Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. Almost every plaque I have seen which quotes this verse says: Choose for yourselves today whom you will serve but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. It always leaves off the part about: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. I think omitting the lines lessens the punch and the point of the statement. Like his father, he was of a quiet and gentle disposition, and when he grew up followed the life of a shepherd, while his brother Esau became an enterprising hunter. This spot became a center of great interest, lending growing importance to the town. Do not do something just because mommy and daddy did it; mommy and daddy could have been wrong. 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. of Zion. Here Abram built an altar to the Lord, and here God confirmed His promise to give the land to Abram. Near the city the Law was promulgated (Deuteronomy 27:11 Joshua 8:33). Judges 9:25 The men of Shechem set an ambush for him on the tops of the mountains, and they robbed all who came along that way by them: and it was told Abimelech. Here the name is ascribed to the Hebrew root shabha`, "to swear," but this same root is connected with the idea of seven, seven victims being offered and to take an oath, meaning "to come under the influence of seven." Judges 9:34 Abimelech rose up, and all the people who were with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies. The New International Dictionary of the Bible. Samaria enjoyed much produce since the valleys and nearby Dothan Plain were very fertile. It became a Levitical city and a city of refuge (20:7; 21:11). The town has no walls; but the main streets opening on the principal roads have gates. The road was thus forced to pass through the city located in the valley between these two mountains. Years later, Jacob sent his 17 year-old son, Joseph, from Hebron to check on his brothers as they kept the flocks in Shechem (Gen 37:12-14).