SICHEM, SYCHEM, or SHECHEM, called also Sychar in the New
Testament, afterward Neapolis, and in the present day Nablous, Naplous,
Napolose, and Naplosa, (for it is thus variously written,) a city of
Samaria, near the parcel of ground which Jacob bought of Hamor, the
father of Shechem, and gave to his son Joseph. Here Joseph’s bones were
brought out of Egypt to be interred; and on the same piece of ground was
the well called Jacob’s well, at which our Saviour sat down when he had
the memorable conversation with the woman of Samaria, John iv, which
caused her, and many other inhabitants of Sechem, or Sychar, as it is
there called, to receive him as the Messiah. On contemplating this place
and its vicinity, Dr. E. D. Clarke says, “The traveller directing his
footsteps toward its ancient sepulchres, as everlasting as the rocks in
which they are hewn, is permitted, upon the authority of sacred and
indisputable record, to contemplate the spot where the remains of
Joseph, of Eleazer, and of Joshua, were severally deposited. If any
thing connected with the memory of past ages be calculated to awaken
local enthusiasm, the land around this city is preëminently entitled to
consideration. The sacred story of events transacted in the field of
Sichem, from our earliest years, is remembered with delight; but with
the territory before our eyes where those events took place, and in the
view of objects existing as they were described above three thousand
years ago, the grateful impression kindles into ecstacy. Along the
valley, we beheld ‘a company of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead,’ as in
the days of Reuben and Judah, ‘with their camels bearing spicery, and
balm, and myrrh,’ who would gladly have purchased another Joseph of his
brethren, and conveyed him as a slave to some Potiphar in Egypt. Upon
the hills around flocks and herds were feeding, as of old; nor in the
simple garb of the shepherds of Samaria was there any thing repugnant to
the notions we may entertain of the appearance presented by the sons of
Jacob.” The celebrated well called Jacob’s well, but which, with the
inhabitants of Sechem, is known by the name of _Bir Samaria_, or the
“Well of Samaria,” is situated about half an hour’s walk east of the
town.
Testament, afterward Neapolis, and in the present day Nablous, Naplous,
Napolose, and Naplosa, (for it is thus variously written,) a city of
Samaria, near the parcel of ground which Jacob bought of Hamor, the
father of Shechem, and gave to his son Joseph. Here Joseph’s bones were
brought out of Egypt to be interred; and on the same piece of ground was
the well called Jacob’s well, at which our Saviour sat down when he had
the memorable conversation with the woman of Samaria, John iv, which
caused her, and many other inhabitants of Sechem, or Sychar, as it is
there called, to receive him as the Messiah. On contemplating this place
and its vicinity, Dr. E. D. Clarke says, “The traveller directing his
footsteps toward its ancient sepulchres, as everlasting as the rocks in
which they are hewn, is permitted, upon the authority of sacred and
indisputable record, to contemplate the spot where the remains of
Joseph, of Eleazer, and of Joshua, were severally deposited. If any
thing connected with the memory of past ages be calculated to awaken
local enthusiasm, the land around this city is preëminently entitled to
consideration. The sacred story of events transacted in the field of
Sichem, from our earliest years, is remembered with delight; but with
the territory before our eyes where those events took place, and in the
view of objects existing as they were described above three thousand
years ago, the grateful impression kindles into ecstacy. Along the
valley, we beheld ‘a company of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead,’ as in
the days of Reuben and Judah, ‘with their camels bearing spicery, and
balm, and myrrh,’ who would gladly have purchased another Joseph of his
brethren, and conveyed him as a slave to some Potiphar in Egypt. Upon
the hills around flocks and herds were feeding, as of old; nor in the
simple garb of the shepherds of Samaria was there any thing repugnant to
the notions we may entertain of the appearance presented by the sons of
Jacob.” The celebrated well called Jacob’s well, but which, with the
inhabitants of Sechem, is known by the name of _Bir Samaria_, or the
“Well of Samaria,” is situated about half an hour’s walk east of the
town.