Bible Archeology Discoveries

Shechem Standing Stone
Discovered: Tell Balata, West Bank
From: (c. 1700 BC)

The ancient city of Shechem, located in between the mountains Ebal and Gerzim dates back to about 2000 BC. The ancient city was a Canaanite city mentioned in several ancient documents, and eventually, it became the first capital of the northern Kingdom of Israel. Shechem was also the site of the Battle of Sekmem around 1870 BC between the Egyptians under Senusret III and the Canaanites.

The book of Genesis records that Abram and Jacob both visit Shechem at different times in history. In between these visits, Shechem apparently grew and developed substantially. In Genesis 12:6, when Abraham visits Shechem, it is called a place, but when Jacob returns there in Genesis 33:18, around 1700 BC, it is called a city.

In the initial conquest, the Israelites apparently never had to conquer Shechem. During the Judges period, the people of Shechem were worshiping Canaanite gods, and the text suggests that Canaanites and Israelites were both living in the city and its immediate area. In the Amarna letters, it appears as if Shechem is allied with the Habiru against the other Canaanites, (see Amarna Letters).

The Standing Stone of Joshua
The large “massebah” or standing stone in front of the Shechem temple is thought by some to be the covenant stone that Joshua erected, before which the Israelites proclaimed their loyalty to Yahweh after the successful conquest of the Promised Land (Joshua 24), as this massebah has stood for thousands of years and is still standing.

The Bible contains a number of specifics about the people and city of Shechem, with many references to a large temple found at the acropolis of Shechem. This building, a fortress-temple, is the largest temple yet discovered in Canaan, and was constructed in the 17th century BC. Near the beginning of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, Jeroboam established his first capital at Shechem.

"And Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and called for the elders of Israel, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers; and they presented themselves before God.
And Joshua said unto all the people, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, Your fathers dwelt of old time beyond the River, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nahor: and they served other gods."
Joshua 24:1-2

"And Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he took the city, and slew the people that were therein: and he beat down the city, and sowed it with salt."
Judges 9:45

Select Pages

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Notable Finds

Much of what is described in Bible text is lost to history, requiring readers to assume the historicity of the scriptures.

However, many of the places and events described in the Old and New Testaments are periodically corroborated by archeological finds.

Some finds simply help us to better understand things from the ancient world. However, others provide important evidence as to the truth of scripture regarding things about which there had previously been skepticism.

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