Shechem was a Canaanite city-state that existed near present-day Tell Balata in the West Bank of Palestine. The city was founded in 1900 BC and developed into a substantial city of the Hivites, and the city was attacked by Egypt during the reign of Pharaoh Senusret III (r. 1878-1839 BC). In 1739 BC, the Hebrew family of Jacob settled in Shechem during its migration through the Levant, only for Shechem, son of Prince Hamor, to rape Dinah, resulting in Jacob's sons massacring all of the city's male inhabitants. By 1350 BC, the Canaanite warlord Labaya had become ruler of Shechem, recruiting Habiru mercenaries to serve in his armies. In 1236 BC, Abimelech, son of the Israelite judge Gideon, became King of Shechem, crushing two rebellions against his rule in 1233 BC before being slain at the siege of Thebez. Shechem became a center of Judaism during Nebuchadnezzar's partial exile of the Kingdom of Judah, with remaining Judeans establishing an altar in the city. Shechem became the main settlement of the Samaritans of Mount Gerizim under Greek and Roman rule, and the city was destroyed by Sextus Vettulenus Cerialis during the First Jewish-Roman War in the 1st century AD. Shechem was rebuilt as Flavia Neapolis, later renamed to Nablus.
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