Samaria
Capital of the northern kingdom of Israel; the stage of Elijah's era.
First mentioned in the Bible
He bought the mountain of Sa·marʹi·a from Sheʹmer for two talents of silver, and he built a city on the mountain. He named the city that he built Sa·marʹi·a, after Sheʹmer the owner of the mountain.— 1 Kings 16:24
Background
King Omri built Samaria as the northern capital; his son Ahab and queen Jezebel promoted Baal worship here, clashing fiercely with the prophet Elijah. The city fell to Assyria in 722 BC and the northern kingdom ended. In New Testament times Jesus spoke with the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well, and Philip preached the gospel in Samaria.
Related Scriptures (New World Translation)
He bought the mountain of Sa·marʹi·a from Sheʹmer for two talents of silver, and he built a city on the mountain. He named the city that he built Sa·marʹi·a, after Sheʹmer the owner of the mountain.— 1 Kings 16:24
Now Philip went down to the city of Samaria and began to preach the Christ to them.— Acts 8:5Explore Samaria on the interactive map →
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