Talk:Shechem

Dina?

This description of Shechem does not mention Dina. Should it?

Mayhap. Goferit! Tomer^talk 11:12, 17 March 2006 (UTC)

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Ok all about the Bible, What about the REAL history which is supposed to be based on scince and archeology. accourding to my readings there is no evidence about the life of what so called Jacob in the archeology of Tell Balata. The only evidence is that it was distroyed by some berberians called "Chabero" in the year 1367 B.C.

Merge?

Why is this article separate from Nablus? Tomer ^TALK 11:16, August 7, 2005 (UTC)

Because "Nablus was built in the year 72 by the emperor Titus as a Roman city named Flavia Neapolis ("New city of the imperator Flavius") west of the site of the Biblical city of Shechem." As the opening of the History subsection makes clear the two cities are not just stages of a single city that flow together, such as the history of Aleppo, among many similar examples. --Wetman 13:32, 7 August 2005 (UTC)

Shechem is an archeological site. It is not part of Nablus. Merging this article with Nablus would put a lot of needless archeological information in the article. Therefore, I agree with Wetman that they should be separate. It seems that the only reason people have for merging it with Nablus is that in Hebrew, Nablus is called Shechem. Here's a source [1] that confirms my view.Heraclius 18:27, 7 August 2005 (UTC)

Copyvio

I removed the first paragraph of text because it was copy and pasted from a variety of copyrighted sources.

See Talk:Nablus#Possible_Plagiarism for details and links to the original sources. -- Jebro 04:22, 22 September 2005 (UTC)

Joshua

Was this city a city of refuge according to Joshua 2006-05-26 17:27:31 —Preceding unsigned comment added by 75.4.173.122 (talk • contribs)

Joshua 21:21 Tewfik^Talk 22:12, 26 May 2006 (UTC)

Problems

This article needs fixing. It lacks inline citations and needs better secondary source referencing. The biblical information about ancient Shechem needs to be treated separately from the archaeological information attesting to its present day location. As far as I know, no evidence of Shechem has been found at Tell Balata. Its modern day location has yet to be definitively determined. I'll try to clean up a bit myself, but I have limited time, so extra hands would be welcome. Tiamut^talk 19:29, 26 October 2010 (UTC)

Could somebody verify the hebrew? As far as I can tell both words are the same. If the implication is that there are two spellings then the hebrew should reflect that. It should either be שׂכֶם/שׁכֶם or just one of the two spellings. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Kjdevocht (talk • contribs) 21:04, 3 January 2018 (UTC)

About template

An About template has been added to the top of the article. Reason: the Hebrew language lacks a distinction between "Shechem" and "Nablus," and it would be helpful to make the distinction clear at the top of the article. Please comment here if you feel the template should be worded differently or is altogether inappropriate.—Biosketch (talk) 14:55, 10 February 2011 (UTC)

Map

Given that the history of Shechem well predates the terminology associated with Palestinian statehood, it would make much more sense to use a general map of Canaan or Ancient Israel as a graphic context for the infobox. If there are no objections or better proposals, the map below - perhaps with some cosmetic modifications - will replace the one currently being displayed.—Biosketch (talk) 15:23, 10 February 2011 (UTC)

Good point. Similar problem with the maps at Smyrna, Antioch, etc. which show the boundaries of the modern Turkish state rather than ancient Lydia or for that matter the Byzantine Empire or the Ottoman Empire. The problem in all these cases is which base map to use. Your proposed map apparently depicts the situation in the 9th century BCE, but the city of Shechem predates the Kingdom of Israel according to our article (and according to the Hebrew Bible, if I'm not mistaken). Then again, it continued through the Roman, Byzantine, Arab, and Ottoman periods.... So I'm not sure what the appropriate solution is. Maybe just use a base map which is a physical map, not a political map? --Macrakis (talk) 16:09, 10 February 2011 (UTC)

If it could be determined when Shechem experienced its cultural acme, or which of its historical periods is considered most important, a map portraying the political landscape of that time would be appropriate. Otherwise, yeah, a purely physical map would make the most sense. I don't know enough about the subject to say what's best. I just know the current map is exceedingly misleading.—Biosketch (talk) 11:56, 12 February 2011 (UTC)

Unacceptable non-neutral language and dubious datum

I've lifted this from the text, which violates most of the rules.

We may therefore admit unhesitatingly that Sichem stood on (St. Jerome, St. Epiphanius), or very close to (Eusebius, "Onomast.", Euchem; Medaba map), the site occupied by the town of Nablus, the Neapolis, or Flavia Neapolis of early Christian ages.

Nishidani (talk) 18:42, 24 September 2011 (UTC)

Headings

The October re-arrangement has left the headings in a confused state. After a casual look, I suggest "Geographical position" and then "History" with its three sub-headings, but I see there are some strongly-held views around. -- John of Reading (talk) 12:43, 12 November 2011 (UTC)

Sichem, Colonia Flavia Neapolis, Nablus: historical phases of one and the same city

@Zero0000 and Nishidani: So far the arguments presented in favour of separating the two topics are utter nonsense. Much better ones could be given, but merging the two would be by far more honest in scholarly terms.

A city is the result of many factors. In the Middle East the main factors are access to a water source, one or more important roads, agriculturally usable lands, and sometimes religious significance and topographical features good for defense. Sichem and Nablus are two phases of the very same city. All relevant factors are the exact same. Much like Jerusalem, Banias, Tiberias, Caesarea Maritima, Sebaste, Capernaum etc., so Sichem/Nablus, too, was reestblished after becoming part of a different state, or being destroyed during war (or by earthquake in some cases), at a just sligtly different location. Continuity for the locals in terms of location (between Mts Ebal and Gerizim), population (here: Samaritans), religious significance (near Mt Gerizim) between AD 70 Sichem and AD 72 Colonia Flavia Neapolis, is undeniable. Aelia Capitolina was also built 60 years after destruction of its predecessor, Jewish Jerusalem (and not just 2 years later, as is the case with Nablus), north of the main area of pre-70 Jerusalem, leaving out the area of the royal palaces of the Hasmoneans and of Herod I, the Temple Mount, the "City of David", most of the Western Hill etc. And still, nobody doubts this city being just a period in the history of Jerusalem.

Relevant question: did the main stakeholders, the Samaritans, stop calling the city "Shechem" after AD 72? Arminden (talk) 19:00, 6 April 2018 (UTC)

Modern Hebrew pronunciation

Can anyone find a source for the MH pronunciation in the lede? I'd expect Šḵem and I can't find this one anywhere. I think maybe it's a mistake from confusion with šeḵem the noun. GordonGlottal (talk) 17:23, 31 March 2022 (UTC)

Madaba Map

(a) This article shouldn't ignore that there are 2 Ebals and Garizims on the Madaba Map, based on slightly different spellings and locations in Eusebius vs other sources. (b) This article can't pretend that the Madaba Map considers Sikima a synonym of Shechem (Sykhem) given that its Sikima is at a different location, too, even if it's another duplicate caused by Eusebius. — LlywelynII 10:04, 21 May 2022 (UTC)

Creation of category "EB sites in Southern Levant"

Please see discussion here. Arminden (talk) 09:25, 26 May 2022 (UTC)

Mentions In The Old Testament

"The sanctuary of the Lord" I think it is important to stress that this verse seems to say there was a sanctuary for YHWH in shechem in the time of Joshua. גוי אחד בארץ (talk) 01:24, 7 September 2023 (UTC)

That Genesis passage is already cited but we won't be treating it as historical. Zero^talk 07:36, 7 September 2023 (UTC)

A place where Joshua placed the people a cried out in strong & clear voice in Inspite of age. “To make a decision for God “ 2600:1700:5E45:7410:905F:E8D6:F816:3A09 (talk) 05:55, 11 March 2024 (UTC)

Shekcem 2600:1700:5E45:7410:905F:E8D6:F816:3A09 (talk) 05:57, 11 March 2024 (UTC)