Avimelech son of Yerubaal went to his mother’s brothers
in Shechem and spoke to them and to the whole clan of
his mother’s familyJudges 9:1 (The Israel Bible™)
וַיֵּלֶךְ אֲבִימֶלֶךְ בֶּן־יְרֻבַּעַל שְׁכֶמָה אֶל־אֲחֵי אִמּוֹ וַיְדַבֵּר אֲלֵיהֶם וְאֶל־כָּל־מִשְׁפַּחַת בֵּית־אֲבִי אִמּוֹ
Hear the verse in Hebrew
va-YAY-lekh a-vee-ME-lekh ben y’-ru-BA-al sh’-KHE-mah el a-KHAY i-MO vai-da-BAYR a-lay-HEM v’-el kol mish-PA-khat bayt a-VEE i-MO lay-MOR
Jewish Ownership of Shechem
The city of Shechem appears many times in the Torah (Bible). Yaakov (Jacob) purchased part of the city (Genesis 33:18-20) and later gifted it to his son Yosef (Joseph). When the children of Israel entered the Land under the leadership of Yehoshua (Joshua), they buried Yosef in Shechem. Other important sites in Israel were also acquired via purchase, such as the Temple Mount in Jerusalem and the Cave of the Patriarchs in Chevron. The rabbis explain that because of these Biblically recorded sales, the entire world must recognize Jewish ownership over these three cities. As pictured above, Jews today continue to pray overlooking the city of Shechem, relishing in the knowledge that they are standing in the same location as their ancient forefathers.
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