Between Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim · Today: Tell Balata, near Nablus
Shechem in the Bible
Shechem is Abraham's first stop in Canaan and the place where Joshua gathers Israel to renew the covenant. The northern tribes reject Rehoboam here, and Jacob's well nearby is where Jesus talks with a Samaritan woman.
Archaeology
Tell Balata preserves a massive Middle Bronze fortress temple and city gate, matching the scale of the 'house of Baal-berith' mentioned in Judges.
Verses mentioning Shechem
66 occurrences across 56 verses in the King James Version.
- Judges 9:1
And Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem unto his mother's brethren, and communed with them, and with all the family of the house of his mother's father, saying,
Read in context - Judges 9:2
Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the men of Shechem, Whether is better for you, either that all the sons of Jerubbaal, which are threescore and ten persons, reign over you, or that one reign over you? remember also that I am your bone and your flesh. Whether: Heb. What is good? whether, etc
Read in context - Judges 9:3
And his mother's brethren spake 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. to follow: Heb. after
Read in context - Judges 9:6
And all the men of Shechem gathered together, and all the house of Millo, and went, and made Abimelech king, by the plain of the pillar that was in Shechem. plain: or, oak
Read in context - Judges 9:7
And when they told it to Jotham, he went and stood in the top of mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice, and cried, and said unto them, Hearken unto me, ye men of Shechem, that God may hearken unto you.
Read in context - Judges 9:18
And ye are risen up against my father's house this day, and have slain his sons, threescore and ten persons, upon one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his maidservant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother;)
Read in context - 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.
Read in context - Judges 9:23
Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech:
Read in context - Judges 9:24
That the cruelty done to the threescore and ten sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood be laid upon Abimelech their brother, which slew them; and upon the men of Shechem, which aided him in the killing of his brethren. aided: Heb. strengthened his hands to kill
Read in context - Judges 9:25
And the men of Shechem set liers in wait for him in the top of the mountains, and they robbed all that came along that way by them: and it was told Abimelech.
Read in context - Judges 9:26
And Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brethren, and went over to Shechem: and the men of Shechem put their confidence in him.
Read in context - Judges 9:28
And Gaal the son of Ebed said, Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? is not he the son of Jerubbaal? and Zebul his officer? serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem: for why should we serve him?
Read in context - Judges 9:31
And he sent messengers unto Abimelech privily, saying, Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his brethren be come to Shechem; and, behold, they fortify the city against thee. privily: Heb. craftily or, to Tormah
Read in context - Judges 9:34
And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies.
Read in context - Judges 9:39
And Gaal went out before the men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech.
Read in context - Judges 9:41
And Abimelech dwelt at Arumah: and Zebul thrust out Gaal and his brethren, that they should not dwell in Shechem.
Read in context - Judges 9:46
And when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard that, they entered into an hold of the house of the god Berith.
Read in context - Judges 9:47
And it was told Abimelech, that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together.
Read in context - Judges 9:49
And all the people likewise cut down every man his bough, and followed Abimelech, and put them to the hold, and set the hold on fire upon them; so that all the men of the tower of Shechem died also, about a thousand men and women.
Read in context - Judges 9:57
And all the evil of the men of Shechem did God render upon their heads: and upon them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.
Read in context - Judges 21:19
Then they said, Behold, there is a feast of the LORD in Shiloh yearly in a place which is on the north side of Bethel, on the east side of the highway that goeth up from Bethel to Shechem, and on the south of Lebonah. yearly: Heb. from year to year on the east: or, toward the sunrising of the highway: or, on the highway
Read in context - 1 Kings 12:1
And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for all Israel were come to Shechem to make him king.
Read in context - 1 Kings 12:25
Then Jeroboam built Shechem in mount Ephraim, and dwelt therein; and went out from thence, and built Penuel.
Read in context - 1 Chronicles 6:67
And they gave unto them, of the cities of refuge, Shechem in mount Ephraim with her suburbs; they gave also Gezer with her suburbs,
Read in context - 1 Chronicles 7:19
And the sons of Shemida were, Ahian, and Shechem, and Likhi, and Aniam.
Read in context