1. Acts 7:16 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

Were all of Jacob’s sons buried in the tomb at Shechem or just Joseph?

Acts 7:16 (ESV)

16 and they were carried back to Shechem and laid in the tomb that Abraham had bought for a sum of silver from the sons of Hamor in Shechem.

Apart from Joseph (Joshua 24:32), the Old Testament does not specify where the sons of Jacob were buried. Jewish tradition holds that they were buried with their father at Hebron (Genesis 49:29–32; Genesis 50:13),1 though a burial at Shechem is also possible. Most likely Stephen has telescoped together two separate accounts of purchases in the land of Canaan (Genesis 23:1–20 and Genesis 33:18–20).2 The efforts taken to bury Joseph (and his brothers) in the land was an indication of the vibrancy of their faith in the promises God had given to Abraham and through him to them.3