Shechem (Tell Balata) Temple-Fortress
The great Canaanite temple in the city of Avraham's first altar
Found 1913 — Ernst Sellin (Austrian/German expedition, 1913–14 and 1926–34); G. Ernest Wright (Drew–McCormick expedition, 1956–73)
Where Tell Balata, east of Nablus, West Bank (West Bank (Palestinian Territories))
Dates from c. 1650–1100 BCE (temple); city occupied from c. 1900 BCE · Middle Bronze IIB–C to Late Bronze · Avraham and Yaakov at Shechem; Dinah; Yehoshua's covenant; Avimelech
Now at In situ, Tell Balata Archaeological Park, Nablus
How Shechem (Tell Balata) Temple-Fortress was found
Sellin uncovered the northwest gate and the massive temple; Wright's American team re-excavated and dated the sequence, identifying the temple as the probable 'house of Baal-berith' of Judges 9.
What it is
A large mound between Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal with a Middle Bronze cyclopean wall, a triple-entry gate, and a temple-fortress 26 by 21 meters with walls 5 meters thick. A large standing stone (massebah) stood in its forecourt.
Why it matters for the Bible
Shechem is the first place in Canaan where Avram built an altar, where Yaakov bought land and buried foreign gods under the oak, and where Yehoshua set up a great stone under the oak by the sanctuary of YHVH. The excavated temple, standing stone, and walls show a major cult center here through the whole biblical Bronze Age, giving these stories a specific, real backdrop.
The Hebrew word: mah-tsay-VAH
מַצֵּבָה
מַצֵּבָה is pronounced mah-tsay-VAH and means standing stone, pillar (Strong's H4676).
People this discovery connects to
- Jacob — יַעֲקֹב (yah-ah-KOV) — heel-grabber, supplanter
- Joshua — יְהוֹשֻׁעַ (ye-ho-SHOO-ah) — YHVH saves
Places
- Shechem — שְׁכֶם (she-CHEM) — shoulder
Events
Avram's altar at Shechem · Yaakov buries the foreign gods · Yehoshua's covenant stone · Avimelech burns the tower of Shechem
Shechem (Tell Balata) Temple-Fortress in Scripture
Genesis 12:6-7 Avram's first altar in the land, at Shechem by the oak of Moreh. (First mention of Shechem.)
Joshua 24:25-26 Yehoshua sets up a great stone by the sanctuary at Shechem; a huge standing stone was found in the temple forecourt.
Judges 9:46 The 'tower of Shechem' and temple of El-berith, likely the excavated temple-fortress.
Questions people ask
What is Shechem (Tell Balata) Temple-Fortress?
A large mound between Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal with a Middle Bronze cyclopean wall, a triple-entry gate, and a temple-fortress 26 by 21 meters with walls 5 meters thick. A large standing stone (massebah) stood in its forecourt.
When was Shechem (Tell Balata) Temple-Fortress discovered?
It was found in 1913 by Ernst Sellin (Austrian/German expedition, 1913–14 and 1926–34); G. Ernest Wright (Drew–McCormick expedition, 1956–73), at Tell Balata, east of Nablus, West Bank.
Where is Shechem (Tell Balata) Temple-Fortress today?
In situ, Tell Balata Archaeological Park, Nablus.
Which Bible verses does Shechem (Tell Balata) Temple-Fortress relate to?
Genesis 12:6-7, Joshua 24:25-26, Judges 9:46.
Related discoveries
- גְּרִזִיםTananir Sanctuary on Mount GerizimA Middle Bronze courtyard building above Shechem, once called 'Joshua's altar'
- מַיִם חַיִּיםJacob's WellA deep well near Shechem tied by tradition to Yaakov
- מַצֵּבָהThe Gihon Standing Stone (Matzevah)A thin upright stone on a rock-cut platform beside the spring, still standing where it was set
- בֵּית־אֵלBethel (Beitin)The 'house of El' where Jacob dreamed and Israel later worshiped
- גֹּשֶׁןAvaris (Tell el-Dab'a)A Semitic city in the eastern Delta, in the land the Bible calls Goshen
- בְּכֹרָהAlalakh Tablets and the Statue of IdrimiA Syrian city's archives and a king's story that reads like Genesis
Sources
- Wright, 'Shechem: The Biography of a Biblical City' (1965)
- Wikipedia: Tell Balata
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