Samaria
The capital of the northern kingdom of Israel, later a Roman city.
Region
- Israel (northern kingdom)KingdomDivided Kingdom
Verses
Verses: 1 Kgs 16:29
Over time
- SamariaDistrictinferredDivided KingdomThe Gospel & Jesus Christ
Verses and notes
The region took its name from the city (2 Kings 17:24 speaks of “the cities of Samaria”).
Verses: 2 Kgs 17:24; John 4:4
What the sources say, and how sure we are
- The text says
King Omri buys the hill and builds Samaria as his capital. Assyria besieges and takes the city, and Assyria resettles the region with foreign peoples.1 Kgs 16:23–24; 2 Kgs 17:5–6; 2 Kgs 17:24
- Outside evidence
Excavations found fine ivory carvings and a group of written records on pottery, the Samaria ostraca, from the 8th century BC. Amos criticized the wealthy of Samaria for lying on “beds of ivory.” Herod the Great later rebuilt the city as Sebaste.Samaria ivories; Samaria ostraca; Amos 6:1–4
- Debated
Samaria fell about 722–720 BC. The Bible and a Babylonian chronicle point to King Shalmaneser V, who besieged it. Sargon II’s own records claim the city and the deportation of 27,290 people. Most scholars think Shalmaneser took the city and Sargon finished the job; a few think it fell once.2 Kgs 17:3–6; 2 Kgs 18:9–10; Babylonian Chronicle 1; Sargon II, Khorsabad Annals
- Debated
Scholars debate the origins of the Samaritans, who by the New Testament period worshiped on Mount Gerizim, and how they relate to the people the Assyrians settled there.2 Kgs 17:24–41; John 4:20