Location
Overview
Shechem lay in a pass between Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim in the hill country of central Canaan. It was the first place Abraham reached in the land and a recurring site of altars, covenant, and conflict.
Abraham's first altar
"Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem [Shechem]," and there the LORD appeared and promised, "Unto thy seed will I give this land." Abram built his first altar in Canaan there (Genesis 12:6–7).
Jacob at Shechem
Returning from Haran, Jacob bought a parcel of ground at Shechem and built an altar (Genesis 33:18–20). But there his daughter Dinah was violated, and her brothers Simeon and Levi took bloody revenge on the city (Genesis 34).
Joseph and his bones
It was toward Shechem that Joseph was sent to his brothers before being sold (Genesis 37:12–14). Generations later Joseph's bones, carried up from Egypt, were buried in Jacob's plot at Shechem (Joshua 24:32).
Events Here
Abram builds his first altar in Canaan at Shechem
Jacob buys ground and builds an altar at Shechem
Scripture References
17 versesGenesis17 verses
Genesis 12:6
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 33:18
And Jacob came to Shalem, a city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padanaram; and pitched his tent before the city. Shechem: Gr. Sychem
Genesis 33:19
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. Hamor: Gr. Emmor pieces: or, lambs
Genesis 34:2
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. defiled: Heb. humbled her
Genesis 34:4
And Shechem spake unto his father Hamor, saying, Get me this damsel to wife.
Genesis 34:6
And Hamor the father of Shechem went out unto Jacob to commune with him.
Genesis 34:8
And Hamor communed with them, saying, The soul of my son Shechem longeth for your daughter: I pray you give her him to wife.
Genesis 34:11
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.
Genesis 34:13
And the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father deceitfully, and said, because he had defiled Dinah their sister:
Genesis 34:18
And their words pleased Hamor, and Shechem Hamor's son.
Genesis 34:20
And Hamor and Shechem his son came unto the gate of their city, and communed with the men of their city, saying,
Genesis 34:24
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.
Genesis 34:26
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. edge: Heb. mouth
Genesis 35:4
And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which were in their hand, and all their earrings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem.
Genesis 37:12
And his brethren went to feed their father's flock in Shechem.
Genesis 37:13
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.
Genesis 37:14
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. see: Heb. see the peace of thy brethren, etc.
Archaeology & History
Shechem is identified with Tell Balata on the eastern edge of modern Nablus. Excavations have revealed massive Middle Bronze Age walls and a great fortress-temple, consistent with the prominent Canaanite city of the patriarchal and conquest narratives. "Jacob's Well" nearby is traditionally linked to the patriarch's purchase here.
People who appear here
Frequently asked about Shechem
Where is Shechem today?
Today, Shechem corresponds to Tell Balata / Nablus, West Bank.
What does the name Shechem mean?
The name Shechem means “Shoulder, ridge”.
What happened at Shechem in the Bible?
Key biblical events at Shechem include abram builds his first altar in canaan at shechem; jacob buys ground and builds an altar at shechem.
Where is Shechem first mentioned in the Bible?
Shechem is first mentioned in Genesis 12:6.
How often is Shechem mentioned in the Bible?
Shechem is mentioned in 17 verses across 1 book: Genesis.
Why is Shechem important in Genesis?
It was the first place Abraham reached in Canaan and where he built his first altar; Jacob also settled and built an altar there, and it is bound up with the stories of Dinah and of Joseph.
Where is Shechem today?
At Tell Balata, on the eastern side of the city of Nablus in the West Bank, between Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim.