37:12 When his brothers had gone to graze their father’s flocks near Shechem,
12:6 Abram traveled through the land as far as the oak tree 1 of Moreh 2 at Shechem. 3 (At that time the Canaanites were in the land.) 4
33:18 After he left Paddan Aram, Jacob came safely to the city of Shechem in the land of Canaan, and he camped near 5 the city.
35:4 So they gave Jacob all the foreign gods that were in their possession 13 and the rings that were in their ears. 14 Jacob buried them 15 under the oak 16 near Shechem
1 tn Or “terebinth.”
2 sn The Hebrew word Moreh (מוֹרֶה, moreh) means “teacher.” It may well be that the place of this great oak tree was a Canaanite shrine where instruction took place.
3 tn Heb “as far as the place of Shechem, as far as the oak of Moreh.”
4 tn The disjunctive clause gives important information parenthetical in nature – the promised land was occupied by Canaanites.
1 tn Heb “in front of.”
1 tn The text uses an interrogative clause: “Are not your brothers,” which means “your brothers are.”
2 sn With these words Joseph is depicted here as an obedient son who is ready to do what his father commands.
3 tn Heb “and he said, ‘Here I am.’” The referent of the pronoun “he” (Joseph) has been specified in the translation for clarity, and the order of the introductory clause and the direct discourse has been rearranged for stylistic reasons.
1 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Jacob) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
2 tn Heb “see.”
3 tn Heb “peace.”
4 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Jacob) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
1 tn Heb “in their hand.”
2 sn On the basis of a comparison with Gen 34 and Num 31, G. J. Wenham argues that the foreign gods and the rings could have been part of the plunder that came from the destruction of Shechem (Genesis [WBC], 2:324).
3 sn Jacob buried them. On the burial of the gods, see E. Nielson, “The Burial of the Foreign Gods,” ST 8 (1954/55): 102-22.
4 tn Or “terebinth.”