In support of (1), several considerations have been adduced, {a) Shechem could certainly be roughly described as ' near ' Jacob's ground, and the disciples who went to ' the city ' to buy bread were away during the whole of the conversation, that is, for some considerable time. Cheyne (Encyc. Blbl. iv. 4831) considers it unlikely that 'the" city' which fills such a prominent place in the narrative of Jn 4 should be any other than Shechem. Then (/;) Jerome (Eji. 86 and Qucest. Heb. in Gen. 48. 22) states that Sichem and Sichar are one and the same place, and that Suxdp is a copyist's error for Si'x^/i. Cheyne defends Jerome's hypothesis, holding that modern criticism has not disproved its possibility. It has also been urged (c) that the Jews called Shechem Shikar ( = 'drunken') and Sheker ( = ' false') — hence the transition from Shechewi to Sychar. It can be added {d) that, for centuries after Jerome's time, his view was adopted by ' pilgrim ' writers, among Avhom maybe mentioned Arculf(A.D. 700), Saewulf (r. 1102), Theoderich (1172), Maundeville (1322), and Tuchem of Nurnberg (1480).
But strong objection has been taken to most of these contentions, in favour of (2). [a) Over against Cheyne's expression of opinion as to the likelihood of identification with Shechem may be set the view of G. A. Smith (HGHL 368), thafi the Evangelist, who had such a good acquaintance with the OT, could not, in face of Gn 33>'-' and Jos 24^2, have substituted (in error) Sychar for Sychem, and that if he possessed only such knowledge of the locality as the OT gave him, he would have used the name Sux^/a (like Stephen in Ac 7^''). Then (6) Jerome offers no evidence for his identification, and 'Evx^p has now been generally adopted as the correct reading. Also .lerome translates Eusebius' note, which separates Sychar from Neapolis (or Shechem), without comment or correction (in Onom. s.v. 'Sychar'). (c) There is no proof what- ever that the nicknames 'Shikor' and ' Slieker ' were ever given to Shechem (HGHL 369, and Encyr. Bihi: iv. 4830). And (d) in spite of the pilgrims' belief in Jerome, there is clear evidence for Sychar as a separate town, from the 4th cent, onwards.
The evidence just referred to is briefly as fol- lows. P.usebius (Onom. s.v. ^vxap) writes to the effect that Sychar lay ' before Neapolis, near the
piece of ground which Jacob gave to his son Joseph, where Christ, according to John, held dis- course with the Samaritan woman, by the foun- tain : it is shown to this day.' Jerome simply translates this, adding in place of the last sentence, ' ubi nunc ecclesia fabricata est. ' [But see Eusebius' Onom. s.v. IC^x^A'and BdXavos ^iKifjubv, where Shechem is distinguished from Neapolis]. The Bordeaux Pilgrim (r. 330 A.D.) mentions a Sycliar distinct from Shechem, and about a Roman mile away — to which testimony must be added that of the Itinerary of Jerusalem (A.. \). 333), and later on of the Abbot Daniel (A.D. 1106), of Fetellus (1130), and of John of Wiirzburg (c. 1165). In the Samaritan Chronicle (not later than the 14th cent.) a town spelt ^Ischar (with initial Aleph) is referred to, ' apparently near Shechem ' and the same as Sychar. Finally, the traveller Berggren found the name 'Askar or '^.9(7rtr(with Ayin) given both to a spring and to the whole plain. This name still attaches to the modern village at the foot of Ebal. G. A. Smith (HGHL 371) and Cheyne (Encyc. Bibl. iv. 4831) agree that 'Askar may well have grown out of Suchnr — the inter- mediary form being 'Jschar. There is a parallel in the case of 'Ashkelon, mod. 'Askalan. To this evi- dence for separating Shechem and Sychar must be added references in the Talmud (noted by Light- foot) to a place called Stichar or Sichar, a ' foun- tain of Suchar ' and 'a plain of en-Suchar.' The spring and the plain just mentioned can hardly be other than those referred to by Berggren (Eeise, ii. 267).
These references and opinions seem to justify the conclusion that St. John's Sychar is the modern 'Askar, with its ruins and line spring.
LiTBRATDRK. — Hastings' DB iv. 635; Encyc. Bibl. iv. 4828 f.; Robinson, BHP iii. 133; Stanley, SP 240 f., 223 (note); Thom- son, Land and Book, ch. 31 ; Buhl, GAP 203; Sanday, Sacred Sites, 31-33, 91 ; Baedeker-Socin, Pal. pp. 328, 337 ; .G. A. Smith, HGHL 367 f. ; Ewald, Gesch. iv. 284 ; Neubauer, Geoa. du Talm. 169 ; Raumer, Pal. p. 163. A. W. CoOKE.
SYCOMORE. — The sycomore tree (a-vKo/xopia, Lk 19'* only), of Avhich mention is made in the story of Zacchseus, is the Ficus sycomorus. The Gr. name means literally a ' fig-mulberry,' and was bestowed upon it because it yielded a fruit akin to the fig, while its leaves, which are heart-shaped, bore some resemblance to those of the mulberry. In the OT it is called shikmim (1 K 10^^ etc.), from which is probably derived the Gr. <jvKdfjnvos, though that denotes a quite difierent tree (see Sycamine). The sycomore, which must not be confounded with the British sycamore (Acer pseudo- Platamcs), flourishes best in districts having a warm, equable climate. In Palestine it is found principally along the coast and in the low-lying plains around Jericho, and is often planted by the roadside. In the extreme north of Syria it is not met with, as it is not hardy enough to Avithstand the occasional frosts (Ps 78'*^). It attains a great size, and its principal branches being long and wide-spreading, and its foliage plentiful, it yields a most delightful shade. It is deciduous, but the old leaves do not fall off till the new ones come out. Its fruit resembles that of the common fig (Ficus ca.rica), but is much smaller, and very much inferior in flavour. It is eaten only by the poorer classes of the population. The ' figs,' of which there are .several crops each year, grow on short, leafless stems which spring from the trunk and from tiie larger branches. The process of ripening is hastened by cutting off the apex of the fruit or making an incision in it (cf. Am 7'* where the prophet describes iiimself as D'cp?* oVia, a ' nipper of sycomore-figs '). The tree is very easily climbed, and its lower branches are a favourite perch for children. Hugh Duncan.