It is interesting to note that the Lord emphasizes His holiness. Probably, He did this so that everyone would be certain that it is impossible for there to be any trace of evil in His decisions. At the right moment, God would rejoice to take the positions that would impact the inhabitants of the two locations mentioned in this verse. The first action would be to divide Shechem, and the second, to measure the valley of Succoth.

Many biblical passages mention Shechem as the gateway to Canaan, which Abraham used coming from Haran, where he settled and his father died (Genesis 11:32), as the Scriptures record: Then Abram took Sarai his wife and Lot his brother’s son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people whom they had acquired in Haran, and they departed to go to the land of Canaan. So, they came to the land of Canaan (Genesis 12.5). Beautiful beginning!

It is evident that, at that time, the city did not have that name and, perhaps, there were few inhabitants. Later, Hamor the Hivite bought it, or conquered it, and named it after his own son, Prince Shechem. Time passed, and Jacob went to live there. However, the prince abused Jacob's daughter, Dinah. Due to this violence, the girl's brothers killed the prince and all the men of that place. Jacob reprehended his sons, and the family moved away from there (Genesis 34).

Returning to the entry of Abraham into Canaan, the Lord appeared to him and promised to give him that land: Abram passed through the land to the place of Shechem, as far as the terebinth tree of Moreh. And the Canaanites were then in the land. Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your descendants I will give this land.” And there he built an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him. (Genesis 12.6,7). Abraham did not stop there, but built an altar to God!

There are numerous events in this city, which became known by the name of Hamor's son. Abraham passed through this region, and Moses reports that the Canaanites were already in the land (Genesis 12:6), but when Dinah was abused, the prince was a Hivite. This fact shows that the lands changed owners quickly. There, Joshua announced to Israel that he would die (Josh 24:25)!

The Lord warned that He would rejoice in His holiness and divide Shechem. The land was the inheritance of the children of Israel. In this city, the people asked King Rehoboam to give them a break on the taxes, as the amounts charged by Solomon were high. However, Rehoboam rejected the request. This refusal led to the separation of 10 of the 12 tribes that made up the kingdom of David, with only the tribe of Benjamin remaining with Judah (1 Kings 12:1-19).

God also warned that He would measure the valley of Succoth, but did not disclose the purpose of this act. In the Most High, there is strength to help the sincere, but those who make an alliance with the enemy lose their peace. Now, abandoning the Lord and turning to idols brings terrible consequences. God watches over His Word (Jeremiah 1:12).

         In Christ, with love,

         R. R. Soares