Genesis 33:18Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Yesterday, you witnessed the profound compassion of the Lord, the reactions of the disciples, and the unreasonable behavior of the Jews. You observed how His malice against their bold defiance served as a means to justify His followers, revealing that, in their misplaced attempt to uphold the law, they had lost sight of its true purpose. When the truth of Christ had been fully revealed, they still chose to remain in ignorance rather than embrace the light. From the beginning, He sought to challenge the law's dominion, particularly the excessive diligence of the Jews regarding the Sabbath and ritual cleanings. He cautioned the Jews that, with the emergence of the sun of righteousness, the light of a mere lamp loses its significance, overshadowed by the brilliance of the sun.

Jacob subsequently enters the city of Shechem, located in the region of Canaan, where the just man engages in a struggle once more, having endured shame regarding his daughter Dinah.

It is intriguing that the name Salim is attributed to Shechem, while earlier scripture refers to Salim as being associated with Jerusalem, the city where Melchizedek reigned. This could suggest that both cities shared the same name, as is often seen in Judea where multiple places may carry identical names across different tribes. Alternatively, it is more likely that in this instance, the term Salim associated with Shechem should be interpreted as ‘perfect’ or ‘complete,’ whereas the Salim referring to Jerusalem should be translated as ‘peaceful.’ It is worth noting that the pronunciation of the word can be adjusted slightly to carry both meanings. According to Jewish tradition, this location is where Jacob’s hip was restored to health, hence the city was named in honor of the healing of his hip.

Jacob reached the city of Shechem, as referenced in Genesis 34:21. This signifies that he arrived safely, free from the threats posed by Esau's forces; or perhaps he was healed from the affliction he endured during his encounter with God; or it could mean he was generally in good health and unharmed, having returned to the land of Canaan, in accordance with his petition to God prior to his departure. The translation indicates that he came to Salim, the locale associated with Sikim. However, the city that Jacob now approaches is consistently referred to as Shechem in all mentions, including Genesis 35:4 and Genesis 37:12. The Salim noted in the Gospel of John (John 3:23) was located at a distance from Shechem.