The mystery of Shechem: biblical and archaeological excursus

The Mystery of Shechem: Biblical and Archaeological Excursus The report deals with the formation of the Israeli people’s tribal center at Shechem. Reconstructing the complex process of invasion and settlement in light of recent archaeological data enables to justify the traditional view on the time of the events in the Book of Joshua. Revising and redating the Bronze Age temple at Shechem sheds light on the existence of “the tower of Shechem” in the judges’ time and the dramatic story of Abimelech. The finding of the Israeli altar on Mount Ebal confirms the historicity of the narrative in the Book of Joshua.