Συχέμ

Συχέμ — Sychém

Συχέμ, Hebrew שְׁכֶם (i. e. 'shoulder,' 'ridge'), Shechem (A. V. Sychem (see below)), proper name of:

1. a man of Canaan, son of Hamor (see Ἑμμόρ), prince in the city of Shechem (Gen 33:19; Gen 34:2 ff): Act 7:16 R G.

2. a city of Samaria (in the Sept. sometimes Συχέμ, indeclinable, sometimes Σικιμα, genitive Σικιμων, as in Josephus and Eusebius; once τήν Σικιμα τήν ἐν ὄρει Αφραιμ, 1Ki 12:25 (for still other variant see B. D. (especially American edition) under the word )), Vulg.Sichem (edited by Tdf. Sychem; cf. B. D. as above), situated in a valley abounding in springs at the foot of Matt. Gerizim (Josephus, Antiquities 5, 7, 2; 11, 8, 6); laid waste by Abimelech (Jdg 9:45), it was rebuilt by Jeroboam and made the seat of government (1Ki 12:23). From the time of Vespasian it was called by the Romans Neapolis (on coins Flavia Neapoils); whence by corruption comes its modern name, Nablus (or Nabulus); according to Prof. Socin (in Bädeker's Palestine, p. 331) it contains about 13,000 inhabitants (of whom 600 are Christians, and 140 Samaritans) together with a few ("about 100") Jews: Act 7:16.