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One of the most important Canaanite cities in the Hill Country of Ephraim was Shechem, located on the main roads from Jerusalem to the north. The city appears from early times in the Egyptian sources. In the Execration Texts of the 19th century B.C., its ruler Absh-Adad is mentioned. Shechem and it ruler Labayu are also frequently referred to in the El Amarna Letters (15th century B.C), in which Labayu is accused of co-operating with the Habiru (frequently thought of as the ancient term for the Israelite Hebrews). Labayu, one of the strongest Canaanite rulers, annexed a great number of cites and established a strong kingdom with Shechem as its center.
Shechem also occupies a prominent place in the early history of the Biblical Patriarchs. On arrival in Canaan after leaving Haran, Abraham built an altar to the Lord here (Genesis 12:6-7). Jacob later pitched a ten outside the city and bought a parcel of land here (Genesis 33:18-19). The incident involving his daughter Dinah also took place at Shechem (Genesis 34). After the conquest of Canaan by Joshua, the border of the territories of Ephraim and Manasseh met at Shechem (Joshua 17:7), which was one of the Levite cities (Joshua 21:21). Before his death, Joshua gathered the Israelites here, and they brought from Egypt the bones of Joseph, son of Jacob, for burial on the land that his father had bought (Joshua 24).
In the period of the Judges, after Gideon's death, the Shechemites enthroned Abimelech his son and gave him 70 pieces of silver. However, when they rebelled against him, he destroyed the city and scattered salt on it (Judges 9:45-7). It is in this connection that we hear of the tower of Shechem.
It seems that the city retained its special status in the time of the Kingdom of Israel, because Rehoboam went there to be enthroned by all of Israel (I Kings 12:1). King Jeroboam would later rebuild Shechem as the first capital of the northern kingdom (I Kings 12:25). Nearby Tirzah served as the 2nd capital, with Samaria being the 3rd capital of the Northern Kingdom.
Following the military campaign of the Assyrians (Tiglathpileser III, sometimes called Pul in 734 B.C. and Shalmanesar V (722 B.C.), Shechem fell. As a result of the Assyrians bringing men from places like Babylon, Cuthah, Ava, Hamath on the Orontes, and Sepharvaim and placed them in the cities of Samaria (II Kings 17:24), Shechem became the religious center for these new mix of peoples. They became knows as the Samaritans, who worshipped on Mt. Gerizim and claimed to be the guardians of the pure faith of Moses. The Samaritans, with Sanballat as their leader, conspired against Nehemiah in building the walls of Jerusalem (Neh. 4:1-3). At this period there were also a colony of Sidonians at Shechem (Josephus, Antiquities, XI, 344).
When Alexander the Great conquered Palestine, these Samaritans at Shechem represented themselves as Jews in order to win favor in the king's sight. Thus, it is in this context that we hear of the Samaritan Temple at Shechem. But in the time of Antiochus Epiphanes, the Samaritans, denying any connection now with the Jews, describe themselves in a letter directed to that king as Sidonians of Shechem.
In 128 B.C., John Hyrcanus destroyed the Samaritan temple on Mt. Gerizim and the city of Shechem as well. He also brutally imposed the Jerusalem version of Judaism on the Samaritans (Josephus, War, 1:62-6).
The Golden Age for Samaritans in this region of Shechem came in the 4th century A.D. when Baba Rabba secured a high degree of political autonomy for Samaria and inspired a great revival in worship, literature and language. Numerous Samaritan synagogues were built, all of which faced Mt. Gerizim, not Jerusalem.
Later in 484 A.D., the increased presence of Byzantine Christians led to repressive measures, and Mt. Gerizim was removed from Samaritan jurisdiction. A church was then built on the summit of Mt. Gerizim. Later in the 7th century A.D, the Samaritans lost many converts to Islam. Again, this resulted in the denial of access to Mt. Gerizim. Apart from this there has been no development in the last 1,300 years. However, in the 18th century A.D., the Samaritans were able to purchase a piece of land on Mt. Gerizim for their sacred rites and traditions. Thus still today the whole Samaritan community moves to houses below the summit for the 6 weeks of Passover, one lamb sacrificed fore each family according to the ancient tradition.
Today just over a mile from the modern city of Nablus (a city founded by Titus in 72 A.D.), Tel Balata is the site of the original Shechem. Traditionally, an unfinished Greek Orthodox church, on Crusader foundations, now encloses what is called Jacob's Well. It is also the place where, according to John 4:5-8, Jesus sat down to rest and chat about life with a Samaritan woman. Thus, this site marks the New Testament city of Sychar.
1. Genesis 33:18 Jacob buys a plot of land here.
2. Genesis 35:4 Jacob tells everyone at Shechem to put away all foreign gods. Jacob hides under a tree.
3. Genesis 37:12-17 Jacob's sons feed the flocks at Shechem. Joseph sees them here.
4. Joshua 20:7 Shechem is one of 6 cities of refuge.
5. Joshua 24:1 Joshua gathers all the tribes at Shechem for a review of history and to renew the Covenant before Joshua's death.
6. Judges 9 Abimelech, Gideons' son, attempts to establish his own kingdom in Shechem through violence. Abimelech destroys the city and sprinkles it with salt.
7. I Kings 12:1 Rehoboam goes to Shechem for Israel to make him king.
8. I Kings 12:25 With Rehoboam in Jerusalem, Jeroboam builds up Shechem and lives here.
(Nearby Mountains)
Mt. Gerizim: (the Mountain of Blessing)
1. Deut. 27:12,13 Moses said, "You will stand on Mt. Gerizim to bless the people..."
2. Judges 9 Jotham goes to the top of Mt. Gerizim and gives a loud speech. The trees start talking.
3. Ezra 4:1-5 Samaritan power is evident when the exiles of Judah and Benjamin return from Babylon. The Samaritan temple is built on Mt. Gerizim at this time (see also Neh. 4:1-3).
Mt. Ebal: (the Mountain of Cursing)
1. Deut. 27:13f Curses are to be proclaimed on Mt. Ebal.
2. Joshua 8:30-33 Joshua builds an altar to the Lord on Mt. Ebal. Joshua copies on stone the law of Moses. Then he read it. Here Joshua renews the Covenant. Half of the people stood in front of Mt. Gerizim, while half of them stood in front of Mt. Ebal.
1. MIDDLE BRONZE: During this period, massive mud-brick city walls were made, guarding a higher acropolis of dwelling houses. A Hyksos Shrine/ Temple was identified, complete with 6 stone pillars, as well as 18th century B.C. work rooms. Burial jars of babies were also found. Most impressive stands the stone city gate that measures 59 X 65 feet.
2. LATE BRONZE: A reconstructed city gate was discovered, a temple-fortress, as well as other numerous buildings. This temple fortress was built over the first one and this is the one that the excavators speculate to be the house of Baal-Berith (Judges 9). There seems to be no evidence of Israelite destruction at Shechem when the Israelites invaded Canaan in about 1,400 B.C.
3. IRON AGE: Various houses built perhaps by Jeroboam I who made Shechem the first capital were discovered. Above the temple a four-room house measuring 50 X 60 feet was erected, identified as a royal granary.
4. HELLENISTIC: Alexander the Great built a fortified military and commercial center here.
Archeological Sites and "Regions"
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