Easton's Bible Dictionary Shoulder. (1.) The son of Hamor the Hivite (Genesis 33:19; 34). (2.) A descendant of Manasseh (Numbers 26:31; Joshua 17:2). (3.) 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. Here Abraham pitched his tent and built his first altar in the Promised Land, and received the first divine promise (Genesis 12:6, 7). Here also Jacob "bought a parcel of a field at the hands of the children of Hamor" after his return from Mesopotamia, and settled with his household, which he purged from idolatry by burying the teraphim of his followers under an oak tree, which was afterwards called "the oak of the sorcerer" (Genesis 33:19; 35:4; Judges 9:37). (see MEONENIM.) Here too, after a while, he dug a well, which bears his name to this day (John 4:5, 39-42). To Shechem Joshua gathered all Israel "before God," and delivered to them his second parting address (Joshua 24:1-15). He "made a covenant with the people that day" at the very place where, on first entering the land, they had responded to the law from Ebal and Gerizim (Joshua 24:25), the terms of which were recorded "in the book of the law of God", i.e., in the roll of the law of Moses; and in memory of this solemn transaction a great stone was set up "under an oak" (Comp. Genesis 28:18; 31:44-48; Exodus 24:4; Joshua 4:3, 8, 9), possibly the old "oak of Moreh," as a silent witness of the transaction to all coming time. Shechem became one of the cities of refuge, the central city of refuge for Western Palestine (Joshua 20:7), and here the bones of Joseph were buried (24:32). Rehoboam was appointed king in Shechem (1 Kings 12:1, 19), but Jeroboam afterwards took up his residence here. This city is mentioned in connection with our Lord's conversation with the woman of Samaria (John 4:5); and thus, remaining as it does to the present day, it is one of the oldest cities of the world. It is the modern Nablus, a contraction for Neapolis, the name given to it by Vespasian. It lies about a mile and a half up the valley on its southern slope, and on the north of Gerizim, which rises about 1,100 feet above it, and is about 34 miles north of Jerusalem. It contains about 10,000 inhabitants, of whom about 160 are Samaritans and 100 Jews, the rest being Christians and Mohammedans. The site of Shechem is said to be of unrivalled beauty. Stanley says it is "the most beautiful, perhaps the only very beautiful, spot in Central Palestine." Gaza, near Shechem, only mentioned 1 Chronicles 7:28, has entirely disappeared. It was destroyed at the time of the Conquest, and its place was taken by Shechem. (see SYCHAR.) Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia SHECHEM she'-kem (shekhem, "shoulder"; Suchem, he Sikima, ta Sikima, etc.; the King James Version gives "Sichem" in Genesis 12:6; and "Sychem" in Acts 7:16): 1. Historical: This place is first mentioned in connection with Abraham's journey from Haran. At the oak of Moreh in the vicinity he reared his first altar to the Lord in Palestine (Genesis 12:6 f). It was doubtless by this oak that Jacob, on his return from Paddan-aram, buried "the strange (the American Standard Revised Version "foreign") gods" (Genesis 35:4). Hither he had come after his meeting with Esau (Genesis 33:18). Eusebius, in Onomasticon, here identifies Shechem with Shalem; but see SHALEM. 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). Here also he raised an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel, "God, the God of Israel" (Genesis 33:20). Then follows the story of Dinah's defilement by Shechem, son of the city's chief; and of the treacherous and terrible vengeance exacted by Simeon and Levi (Genesis 34). To the rich pasture land near Shechem Joseph came to seek his brethren (Genesis 37:12). It is mentioned as lying to the West of Michmethath (el-Makhneh) on the boundary of Manasseh (Joshua 17:7). 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). Near the city the Law was promulgated (Deuteronomy 27:11 Joshua 8:33). When his end was approaching Joshua gathered the tribes of Israel here and addressed to them his final words of counsel and exhortation (chapter 24). Under the oak in the neighboring sanctuary he set up the stone of witness (24:26). 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). 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." Jotham's parable was spoken from the cliff of Gerizim overhanging the town (Judges 9:7). After a reign of three years Abimelech was rejected by the people. He captured the city, razed it to the foundations, and sowed it with salt. It was then the seat of Canaanite idolatry, the temple of Baal-berith being here (Judges 9:4, 46). In the time of the kings we find that the city was once more a gathering-place of the nation. It was evidently the center, especially for the northern tribes; and hither Rehoboam came in the hope of getting his succession to the throne confirmed (1 Kings 12:1 2 Chronicles 10:1). At the disruption Jeroboam fortified the city and made it his residence (2 Chronicles 10:25; Ant, VIII, viii, 4). The capital of the Northern Kingdom was moved, however, first to Tirzah and then to Samaria, and Shechem declined in political importance. Indeed it is not named again in the history of the monarchy. Apparently there were Israelites in it after the captivity, some of whom on their way to the house of the Lord at Jerusalem met a tragic fate at the hands of Ishmael ben Nethaniah (Jeremiah 41:5). It became the central city of the Samaritans, whose shrine was built on Mt. Gerizim (Sirach 50:26; Ant, XI, viii, 6; XII, i, 1; XIII, iii, 4). Shechem was captured by John Hyrcanus in 132 B.C. (Ant., XIII, ix, 1; BJ, I, ii, 6). It appears in the New Testament only in the speech of Stephen (Acts 7:16, King James Version "Sychem"). Some (e.g. Smith, DB, under the word) would identify it with Sychar of John 4:5; but see SYCHAR. Under the Romans it became Flavia Neapolis. In later times it was the seat of a bishopric; the names of five occupants of the see are known. 2. Location and Physical Features: There is no doubt as to the situation of ancient Shechem. It lay in the pass which cuts through Mts. Ephraim, Ebal and Gerizim, guarding it on the North and South respectively. 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. It must have been a place of strength from antiquity. The name seems to occur in Travels of a Mohar (Max Muller, Asien u. Europa, 394), "Mountain of Sahama" probably referring to Ebal or Gerizim. The ancient city may have lain somewhat farther East than the modern Nablus, in which the Roman name Neapolis survives. The situation is one of great beauty. The city lies close to the foot of Gerizim. The terraced slopes of the mountain rise steeply on the South. 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. The copious springs which supply abundance of water rise at the base of Gerizim. The fruitful and well-wooded valley winds westward among the hills. It is traversed by the carriage road leading to Jaffa and the sea. Eastward the valley opens upon the plain of Makhneh. 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." 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." Still farther to the East and near the base of Ebal is the traditional tomb of Joseph, a little white-domed building beside a luxuriant orchard. On the slope of the mountain beyond is the village of `Askar; see SYCHAR. To the South of the vale is the traditional Well of Jacob; see JACOB'S WELL. 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. In the neighboring minaret is a stone whereon the Ten Commandments are engraved in Samaritan characters. The main center of interest in the town is the synagogue of the Samaritans, with their ancient manuscript of the Pentateuch. 3. Modern Shechem: The modern town contains about 20,000 inhabitants, the great body of them being Moslems. There are some 700 or 800 Christians, chiefly belonging to the Greek Orthodox church. The Samaritans do not total more than 200. The place is still the market for a wide district, both East and West of Jordan. A considerable trade is done in cotton and wool. Soap is manufactured in large quantities, oil for this purpose being plentifully supplied by the olive groves. Tanning and the manufacture of leather goods are also carried on. In old times the slopes of Ebal were covered with vineyards; but these formed a source of temptation to the "faithful." They were therefore removed by authority, and their place taken by the prickly pears mentioned above. W. Ewing TOWER OF SHECHEM (mighdal shekhem): Mentioned only in Judges 9:46-49. It seems along with the Beth-millo and the Beth-el-berith to have comprised the three strongest parts of the fortification when Abimelech besieged the town. It was, however, abandoned by its defenders, who took refuge in the Beth-millo, in which they were slain.

Multi-Version Concordance Shechem (61 Occurrences) 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. (WEB WEY ASV BBE NAS RSV NIV) Genesis 12:6 Abram passed through the land to the place of Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. The Canaanite was then in the land. (WEB JPS ASV BBE DBY YLT NAS RSV NIV) 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. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Genesis 33:19 He bought the parcel of ground where he had spread his tent, at the hand of the children of Hamor, Shechem's father, for one hundred pieces of money. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Genesis 34:2 Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, the prince of the land, saw her. He took her, lay with her, and humbled her. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Genesis 34:4 Shechem spoke to his father, Hamor, saying, "Get me this young lady as a wife." (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Genesis 34:5 Now Jacob had word of what Shechem had done to his daughter; but his sons were in the fields with the cattle, and Jacob said nothing till they came. (BBE) Genesis 34:6 Hamor the father of Shechem went out to Jacob to talk with him. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Genesis 34:7 The sons of Jacob came in from the field when they heard it. The men were grieved, and they were very angry, because he had done folly in Israel in lying with Jacob's daughter; a which thing ought not to be done. (See NIV) Genesis 34:8 Hamor talked with them, saying, "The soul of my son, Shechem, longs for your daughter. Please give her to him as a wife. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Genesis 34:11 Shechem said to her father and to her brothers, "Let me find favor in your eyes, and whatever you will tell me I will give. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Genesis 34:13 The sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father with deceit, and spoke, because he had defiled Dinah their sister, (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Genesis 34:18 Their words pleased Hamor and Shechem, Hamor's son. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Genesis 34:20 Hamor and Shechem, his son, came to the gate of their city, and talked with the men of their city, saying, (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Genesis 34:24 All who went out of the gate of his city listened to Hamor, and to Shechem his son; and every male was circumcised, all who went out of the gate of his city. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Genesis 34:26 They killed Hamor and Shechem, his son, with the edge of the sword, and took Dinah out of Shechem's house, and went away. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Genesis 35:4 They gave to Jacob all the foreign gods which were in their hands, and the rings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Genesis 37:12 His brothers went to feed their father's flock in Shechem. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Genesis 37:13 Israel said to Joseph, "Aren't your brothers feeding the flock in Shechem? Come, and I will send you to them." He said to him, "Here I am." (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) 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." So he sent him out of the valley of Hebron, and he came to Shechem. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Genesis 48:22 And I have given you more than your brothers, even Shechem as your heritage, which I took from the Amorites with my sword and my bow. (BBE) Numbers 26:31 and of Asriel, the family of the Asrielites; and of Shechem, the family of the Shechemites; (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Joshua 17:2 So this was for the rest of the children of Manasseh according to their families: for the children of Abiezer, for the children of Helek, for the children of Asriel, for the children of Shechem, for the children of Hepher, and for the children of Shemida: these were the male children of Manasseh the son of Joseph according to their families. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Joshua 17:7 The border of Manasseh was from Asher to Michmethath, which is before Shechem. The border went along to the right hand, to the inhabitants of En Tappuah. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Joshua 20:7 They set apart Kedesh in Galilee in the hill country of Naphtali, Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and Kiriath Arba (the same is Hebron) in the hill country of Judah. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) 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, (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Joshua 24:1 Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and called for the elders of Israel, for their heads, for their judges, and for their officers; and they presented themselves before God. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Joshua 24:25 So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and made for them a statute and an ordinance in Shechem. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) 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. They became the inheritance of the children of Joseph. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Judges 8:31 His concubine who was in Shechem, she also bore him a son, and he named him Abimelech. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) 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, (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) 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?' Remember also that I am your bone and your flesh." (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Judges 9:3 His mother's brothers spoke 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." (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) 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. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) 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. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Judges 9:18 and you have risen up against my father's house this day, and have slain his sons, seventy persons, on one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his female servant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother); (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Judges 9:20 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." (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Judges 9:23 God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech: (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) 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. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) 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. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Judges 9:26 Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brothers, and went over to Shechem; and the men of Shechem put their trust in him. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Judges 9:28 Gaal the son of Ebed said, "Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? Isn't he the son of Jerubbaal? and Zebul his officer? Serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem: but why should we serve him? (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) 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. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) 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. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Judges 9:39 Gaal went out before the men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Judges 9:41 Abimelech lived at Arumah: and Zebul drove out Gaal and his brothers, that they should not dwell in Shechem. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Judges 9:46 When all the men of the tower of Shechem heard of it, they entered into the stronghold of the house of Elberith. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Judges 9:47 It was told Abimelech that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV) Judges 9:49 All the people likewise each cut down his bough, and followed Abimelech, and put them at the base of the stronghold, and set the stronghold on fire on them; so that all the people of the tower of Shechem died also, about a thousand men and women. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) 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. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Judges 21:19 They said, "Behold, there is a feast of Yahweh from year to year in Shiloh, which is on the north of Bethel, on the east side of the highway that goes up from Bethel to Shechem, and on the south of Lebonah." (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) 1 Kings 12:1 Rehoboam went to Shechem: for all Israel were come to Shechem to make him king. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) 1 Kings 12:25 Then Jeroboam built Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and lived in it; and he went out from there, and built Penuel. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) 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, (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) 1 Chronicles 7:19 The sons of Shemida were Ahian, and Shechem, and Likhi, and Aniam. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) 1 Chronicles 7:28 Their possessions and habitations were Bethel and its towns, and eastward Naaran, and westward Gezer, with its towns; Shechem also and its towns, to Azzah and its towns; (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) 2 Chronicles 10:1 Rehoboam went to Shechem; for all Israel were come to Shechem to make him king. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Psalms 60:6 God has spoken from his sanctuary: "I will triumph. I will divide Shechem, and measure out the valley of Succoth. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Psalms 108:7 God has spoken from his sanctuary: "In triumph, I will divide Shechem, and measure out the valley of Succoth. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Jeremiah 41:5 that there came men from Shechem, from Shiloh, and from Samaria, even eighty men, having their beards shaved and their clothes torn, and having cut themselves, with meal offerings and frankincense in their hand, to bring them to the house of Yahweh. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) 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. (WEB JPS ASV BBE DBY YLT NAS RSV NIV)