Jerusalem and Shechem

The Torah has an interesting description of Yaakov’s initial encounter with the city of Shechem: “And Yaakov came complete (shalem) to the city of Shechem.” As the midrash notes, the word “shalem” in the context of a city usually refers to Yerushalayim. Accordingly, this could have implied a close association between the city of Shechem […]

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Shilo, Shechem and Jerusalem

In Yaakov’s blessing to Yehuda he grants him the position of leadership: “The scepter shall not depart from Yehuda, Nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet; Until Shilo comes, And the homage of peoples be his.” The first half of the verse is fairly straightforward – that Yehuda should be the long term king […]

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