Knowing that this was the land God had promised him, he built an altar. 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." (2.) The next morning Esau came, and his desire was to be kind to his brother (Gen. 33:1-16). Judges 9:39 Gaal went out before the men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech. 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. His bothers were envious of the preferential treatment Joseph received from Isaac. Although Laban proved to be more deceitful than Jacob, God was with Jacob and blessed him greatly. Called so from the oath of peace between Abraham and Abimelech, king of the Philistines (Genesis 21:31), else from the seven (sheba' ) ewe lambs slain there: indeed sheba', an oath, is from the custom of binding one's self by seven things, as Abraham made the seven ewe lambs a pledge of his covenant with Abimelech. After Moses brought the nation of Israel out of Egypt, God commanded Israel to enter the Promised land and go to Shechem to pronounce the blessings and the curses of the Mosaic Covenant on the nation (Deut. 9. Besides the frequent mention of his name in conjunction with the names of the other two patriarchs, there are distinct references to the events in the life of Jacob in four books of the New Testament - Joh 1:51; 4:5,12; Ac 7:12,16; Ro 9:11-13; Heb 11:21; 12:16Jacob in the Bible Encyclopedia - ISBE I. Over the cave is now the mosque El Haran, from which all but Muslims are excluded jealously (though the Prince of Wales was admitted), and in which probably lie the remains of Abraham and Isaac, and possibly Jacob's embalmed body, brought up in state from Egypt (Genesis 50:13). Near Hebron was the cave of Machpelah, where he and Sarah were buried. (Enlarge) (PDF for Print) (Freely Distributed for Personal or Church use). In the neighboring minaret is a stone whereon the Ten Commandments are engraved in Samaritan characters. How old was Abram when he traveled from Haran to Canaan? 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. To the rich pasture land near Shechem Joseph came to seek his brethren (Genesis 37:12). Genesis 12:6 Abram passed through the land to the place of Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. 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. The Lord changed Jacob's name to Israel and he became the father of 12 sons who became the 12 tribes of Israel (Gen. 25-50). HEBRON is one of the most ancient cities in the world still existing, and it is in this respect the rival of Damascus. After the death of Saul, David was here anointed king (2 Sam 5:3) and reigned here 7 1/2 years, until he captured Jerusalem and made that his capital (2 Sam 5:5); while here, six sons were born to him (2 Sam 3:2). 1. 3 Even after the conquest, the wadi functioned as the border between Benjamin and Ephraim (Jos 18:12-13). Calm our fears and strengthen our faith that we may never doubt his presence among us but proclaim that he is your Son, risen from the dead, living for ever and ever. It was then the seat of Canaanite idolatry, the temple of Baal-berith being here (Judges 9:4, 46). When the land of Canaan was conquered and divided among the Israelites, Shechem was allotted to Ephraim, and finally . Modern Shechem:The modern town contains about 20,000 inhabitants, the great body of them being Moslems. His dealing with Esau, however, showed much mean selfishness and cunning (Gen. 25:29-34). And they dwelt from Beersheba unto the valley of Hinnom.2 Chronicles 30:5 - So they established a decree to make proclamation throughout all Israel, from Beersheba even to Dan, that they should come to keep the passover unto the LORD God of Israel at Jerusalem: for they had not done [it] of a long [time in such sort] as it was written.Genesis 46:5 - And Jacob rose up from Beersheba: and the sons of Israel carried Jacob their father, and their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons which Pharaoh had sent to carry him.2 Chronicles 24:1 - Joash [was] seven years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. There are some 700 or 800 Christians, chiefly belonging to the Greek Orthodox church. 5. 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." 1977. The best way to get from Hebron to Shechem costs only $14 and takes just 3 hours. A city in the hill country of Judah, originally Kirjath (the city of) Arba (Joshua 15:13; Joshua 14:15). They became the inheritance of the children of Joseph. Rivaling Damascus in antiquity. He gave birth to twelve sons who became the fathers of the twelve tribes of Israel. By Amos (5:5) it is classed with Bethel and Gilgal as one of the rival shrines to the pure worship of Yahweh, and in another place (8:14) he writes "They shall fall, and never rise up again," who sware, "As the way (i.e. Near it was the oak or terebinth, a place of pagan worship. Judges 9:41 Abimelech lived at Arumah: and Zebul drove out Gaal and his brothers, that they should not dwell in Shechem. There Jacob settled and bought a piece of land outside the city, there he built an alter for sacrificing to his awesome God, YHWH. Frank, Harry Thomas, Ed. The town was situated in a narrow valley - the "Valley of the Eschol; " whose sides are clothed with vineyards, groves of olives, and other fruit trees. "Arba was a great man among the Anakims, father of Anak." Bethel in Joshua 19:4 answers to Chesil in Joshua 15:30. It retained this name till it came into the possession of Caleb, when the Israelites restored the original name Hebron" (Keil, Com.). The first European who was permitted to enter this mosque was the Prince of Wales in 1862. But Joshuas point is choose for yourselves; in fact, those are his very words. Against God's directive to settle in Bethel (28:21; 31:3, 13), Jacob settles near the city of Shechem instead. The threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite was the spot on which David reared an altar by Gad's direction from Jehovah. In verses 2-11, Joseph's youth and his dreams: At 17 years old, Joseph was a shepherd working with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father's wives. (4.) The distance between cities of Egypt is calculated . 18 And Jacob came safely 4 to the city of c Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, on his way from Paddan-aram, and he camped before the city. Serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem: but why should we serve him? It is picturesquely situated in a narrow valley, surrounded by rocky hills. We have to take a personal ownership and responsibility with our relationship with God. That was Joshuas challenge to Israel at Shechem, and it is a good one for us to heed as well. God confirmed the covenant he had first made with Abraham in Harran, regarding the possession of the land of Canaan. The terraced slopes of the mountain rise steeply on the South. Later a troubling situation came about, the slaughter of the Shechemites by Jacob's sons, and this forced Jacob to move southward (Gen. 34:1-30). They traveled to Shechem and built Joshua's Altar. It was originally the royal Canaanite city of Luz (Gen. 28:19). It lay somewhat off the beaten pathabout 5 or 6 miles off the International Highwayanother asset in times of siege. 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). This study will discuss the significance of Shechem, a city in central Israel. In Jdg 1:22 ff it is represented as held by Canaanites, from whom the house of Joseph took it by treachery (compare 1 Ch 7:28). It must have been a place of strength from antiquity. It was also visited by the Marquis of Bute in 1866, and by the late Emperor Frederick of Germany (then Crown-Prince of Prussia) in 1869. In the Book of Genesis, Abraham, the patriarch of the Abrahamic religions, describes Aram as . Jacob actually purchased a some land at Shechem. Gottwald held that Israel emerged from within the population of Canaan and not by invasion from outside of it. Joshua 24:25 So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and made for them a statute and an ordinance in Shechem. to his uncle Laban's home where he married and gave birth to many children. Hither he had come after his meeting with Esau (Genesis 33:18). Peabody: Hendrickson Publishers, 1997. He stopped at Beersheba to offer a sacrifice to the Lord and to seek guidance from Him (Gen. 46:1-5). The ancient city may have lain somewhat farther East than the modern Nablus, in which the Roman name Neapolis survives. The Babylonians - Learn about ancient Babylon and the people who lived there. 12:2-4), the second born of the twin sons of Isaac by Rebekah. You can also find the distance from hebron israel to shechem Israel using other travel options like bus, subway, tram, train and rail. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? 3. The rains run through immovable ravines, and beside that river people cultivate their fields and water their livestock. It is usually included in Zion, to the north-east of which it lay, and from which it was separated by the Tyropoean valley. Shechem itself became a city of refuge and was given to the . Read the same article here on BiblicalStudies.org.. Shechem: Its Archaeological and Contextual Significance (Bible Archaeology) A nice discussion of the archaeology around Shechem, from . The city, near the place, then bore the Canaanite name Luz. 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). 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. From Ur, Abraham traveled 700 miles to the borders of present-day Iraq, another 700 miles into Syria, another 800 down to Egypt by the inland road, and then back into Canaan - what is now Israel. Wilderness of, Hagar miraculously sees a well in Ge 21:14-19 An angel fed Elijah in 1Ki 19:5,7Beersheba in Smith's Bible Dictionary (well of the oath), the name of one of the old places in Israel which formed the southern limit of the country. A descendant of Manasseh ( Numbers 26:31; Joshua 17:2). So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and made for them a statute and an ordinance in Shechem Then Joshua dismissed the people, each to his inheritance (vv. Hebrew). He believed that God would one day return the nation to Canaan, and so he gave the command for his bones to be carried back with them and buried there (Gen 50:25). Amen. 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 ). Location and Physical Features:There is no doubt as to the situation of ancient Shechem. But "life-long sorrow, disgrace, and trials, in the retributive providence of God, followed as a consequence of this double union." There might be slight difference . It was in the city of Beersheba where Jacob deceived his brother Esau and the strife developed, Jacob departed from Beersheba to go to his family in PadanAram, to the city of Haran (Gen. 25:28-34; 27:1-46). Mount Moriah. Bethel still abounds in stones such as Jacob used for his pillow and afterward for a sanctuary. It made a good choice for a capital. Then Jacob came to Peniel where he wrestled with God (Genesis 31:22-32:31). Isn't he the son of Jerubbaal? This was "the land of Moriah" to which Abraham went to offer up his son Isaac (Gen. 22:2). The second, at a hundred yards distance, 5 in diameter, 42 in depth. Ge 28:11-19; 31:13 Jacob lived there. These wells are in constant use today. At the western end is another, 85 ft. long by 55 broad. (3.) (See Joshua 21:11; Judges 1:10.) Filmed on location at the very place Jesus met with the Samaritan woman in Sychar (Shechem). In the place where water gushes from the ground, there also a man drives his tent stakeand so lays the foundation of a city. Twenty Roman miles S. of Jerusalem, and twenty N. of Beersheba. 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." 24:32) in land which Jacob had bought from . In 107 BC, John Hyrcanus further widened the rift between the Jews and Samaritans by destroying the Samaritans temple on Mount Gerizim. 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. 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. 1 Now Jacob lived in the land where his father had sojourned, in the land of Canaan.. 2 These are the records of the generations of Jacob. Nicosia: Rohr Productions, 1999. 8. The traditional site of Jacob's well cannot be located by finding Sychar, as that city is no longer in existence. Then Joshua built an altar Namely, after the taking of Ai. The Tabernacle of Ancient Israel - Brief Overview of the Tabernacle of Moses in the Wilderness and the Ark of the Covenant. Chart of the chosen line of the Messiah in Genesis. While Jacob was in Haran he married Leah and Rachel and the Lord was with him and blessed him with great riches (Gen. 29:1-30: 43). Jacobs two sons, Levi and Simeon, made a deceptive pact with the males of the city and slaughtered them all in revenge of Dinah. This is a straight line distance and so most of the time the actual travel distance between Ur and Canaan may be higher or vary due to curvature of the road . 4. ABRAHAM'S EARLY LIFE. Esau came up from Seir and met Jacob in peace; Jacob then continued on as far as Shechem (Genesis 33). or from Beersheba to. Here also Jacob dug a well for his many herds. It is at this point Joshua stops speaking for the Lord and begins speaking for himself, giving the implications and applications from looking at the past. Jud 1:22,23 After the conquest Bethel is frequently heard of. Eusebius, Onomasticon places it 12 Roman miles from Jerusalem, on the road to Neapolis. As they left Shechem they were to remember the past and live in light of it. with angels going up and down. Abram migrates to Shechem & builds an altar after God repeats promises. Weekly Prayer. Gene 23:19 About a mile from the town, up the valley, is one of the largest oak trees in Israel. Modern knowledge of Canaan's history and culture is derived from both archeological excavations and from literary sources. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth (1 Cor. 3. Ed, Issue 46, Winter 2023. Joshua did this, and dividing the nation, Half of them stood in front of Mount Gerizim and half of them in front of Mount Ebal (Josh. The houses are stone, solidly built, flat-roofed, and have each one or two little cupolas, such as are seen in several parts of Israel. 8:33). The mile based measurement distance is 249.8 miles. A city of the tribe of Judah, south of Jerusalem When built Nu 13:22 Fortified 2Ch 11:10 Called KIRJATH-ARBA Ge 23:2 ARBA Ge 35:27; Jos 15:13 Abraham lived there and Sarah died at Ge 23:2 Hoham, king of, confederated with other kings of the Canaanites against Joshua Jos 10:3-39 Descendants of the Anakim live at Nu 13:22; Jos 11:21 Conquest of, by Caleb Jos 14:6-15; Jud 1:10,20 A city of refuge Jos 20:7; 21:11,13 David crowned king of Judah at 2Sa 2:1-11; 3 David crowned king of Israel at 2Sa 5:1-5 The burial place of Sarah Ge 23:2 The burial place of Abner 2Sa 3:32 The burial place of Ish-bosheth 2Sa 4:12 The conspirators against Ish-bosheth hanged at 2Sa 4:12 Absalom made king at 2Sa 15:9,10 Jews of the Babylonian captivity lived at Ne 11:25 Pool of 2Sa 4:12 -3. It became the residence also of the rebellious Absalom (2 Sam. The Meaning of the Name: The most probable meaning of Beersheba is the "well of seven." The Bible speaks of the importance of having a personal relationship with Christ, not a surrogate relationship through our parents, peers, or pastor. "The mount of the Lord" (Genesis 22:14) means almost always Mount Zion. Egypt. His mother's name also [was] Zibiah of Beersheba.Amos 8:14 - They that swear by the sin of Samaria, and say, Thy god, O Dan, liveth; and, The manner of Beersheba liveth; even they shall fall, and never rise up again.1 Chronicles 21:2 - And David said to Joab and to the rulers of the people, Go, number Israel from Beersheba even to Dan; and bring the number of them to me, that I may know [it].Genesis 21:14 - And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave [it] unto Hagar, putting [it] on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away: and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba.2 Kings 12:1 - In the seventh year of Jehu Jehoash began to reign; and forty years reigned he in Jerusalem. 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. So thenceforth David sacrificed there, and no longer on the altar at Gibeon where the tabernacle was, separate from the ark, which was at Zion; for he could not go to Gibeon on account of the sword of the Angel, i.e. 14:15; 15:3). This distance and driving directions will also be displayed on an interactive map labeled as Distance Map and Driving Directions Egypt. The curb-stones around the mouth of both wells are worn into deep grooves by the action of the ropes of so many centures. The valley runs from north to south, and the main quarter of the town, surmounted by the lofty walls of the great mosque, lies partly on the eastern slope. His body was embalmed, carried with great care and pomp into the land of Canaan, and deposited with his fathers, and his wife Leah, in the cave of Machpelah. Gods grace. 2 Chronicles 3:1 - Then Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem in mount Moriah, where [the LORD] appeared unto David his father, in the place that David had prepared in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite.Genesis 22:2 - And he said, Take now thy son, thine only [son] Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of. 15:10), who probably expected to find his chief support in the tribe of Judah, now called el-Khulil. The other well is 5 feet in diameter, and was 42 feet to the water. Joshua also tells them to put away the gods which your fathers served. He calls them together at Shechem as if to say: Remember how Abram put away his idols and came here, and remember Gods promise to Abram in this spot? From Dan to Beersheba (2 Sam 17:11, etc.) A city of the territory of the tribe of Asher Jos 19:28 -2. It required cisterns for water supply, which was a major drawback in times of siege. (See BETHAVEN.) That is a pretty humble beginning. Related Websites. 24:27). Then you too put away your idols in this spot. We should put away what is wrong and embrace what is rightor better, who is right, because Joshua says again at the end of v 14: serve the LORD.. The tribes were divided into two groups, each standing in front of one . 14. More altars, besides the original one were erected. 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. Son of Kohath Ex 6:18; Nu 3:19; 1Ch 6:2,18; 23:12,19Hebron in Smiths Bible Dictionary (alliance). Laban was outraged and pursued them to Mizpah, the Lord intervened for Jacob and in Mizpah Laban made a treaty of peace with Jacob (Gen. 31:1-55). While Jacobs family lived in Shechem, Jacobs daughter, Dinah, was raped by a man named Shechem, the son of the ruler, Hamor. When Joseph arrived at Shechem, New Living Translation "Go and see how your brothers and the flocks are getting along," Jacob said. But when Abimelech went to Thebez and stormed the tower, a woman dropped an upper millstone on his head and cracked his skull (Judges 9:53). We've studied the first three verses of Genesis 12 (Read: Abraham - A Story of Relationship ). The old man could have easily seen much of the Promised Land if he scaled Mount Ebal and scanned the horizon. --The elevation on which Solomon built the temple, where God appeared to David "in the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite." 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). One of Jeroboam's two sanctuaries for the calf worship, selected doubtless because of its religious associations (1 Kings 12-13). Jacob stayed at the brook Jabbok, near Peniel, the night. There, the brothers conspired to sell . Ebal with half the tribes on each of the two mountain sides. DISTANCE: It was a long and difficult journey of more than fourhundred miles (about 600km) from Canaan (Bethel) to Haran. . 2. In Genesis 9:18-27 we read of Noah's curse. 13:22). 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). Paddan Aram or Padan-aram (Hebrew: , Padan rm) was a region referring to the northern plain of the former kingdom Aram-Naharaim. 2:1-4, 11; 1 Kings 2:11). (1.) Laban would not consent to give him his daughter in marriage till he had served seven years; but to Jacob these years "seemed but a few days, for the love he had to her." When All Seems Lost/Broken Relationships. This is where Jacob builds his first altar, (just as Grandpa Abraham had done when entering Canaan). Well known at Abram's entrance into Canaan, 3,780 years ago (Genesis 42:18). The Exodus Route: Travel times, distances, rates of travel, days of the week . You could translate it faithfulness or even reliability. `Emet is a word that describes God; He is a God of truth, so our relationship to God must be according to truth. Jacob, in his 78th year, was sent from the family home to avoid his brother, and to seek a wife among his kindred in Padan-aram. Over the former probably David hung Ishbosheth's murderers (2 Samuel 4:12). The maqom was doubtless that at which Abraham had sacrificed, East of the town. After a reign of three years Abimelech was rejected by the people. Joshua also designated Shechem as a city of refuge. Genesis 11:17-28 reads, "Terah Begot Abram, Nahor, and Haran, and Haran begot Lot. 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. Later a troubling situation came about, the slaughter of the Shechemites by Jacob's sons, and this forced Jacob to move southward (Gen. 34:1-30) 9.