SAMARIA

A. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND: 

Samaria, built on a hill about 300 feet above the surrounding fertile agricultural area, served as the third and final capital of the ancient kingdom of Israel.  The city occupied a strategic point that gave its inhabitants access in three directions:  in the west to the Coastal Plain; in the east to Shechem (modern Nablus), and from there to the River Jordan or to Jerusalem; and to the north to the Jezreel Valley. 

According to the Biblical account (I Kings 16:24), the hill of Samaria was first purchased by Omri, King of Israel (882-871 B.C.), from a man named Shemer for 2 talents of silver.  Omri made the city his capital, moving it from Tirzah.  Omri’s son Ahab (871-852 B.C.), the next king, put up an “altar for Baal in the house of Baal” (I Kings 16:32) under the influence of his Phoenician wife Jezebel.  The nearby Phoenician influence can be also seen in Ahab’s ivory house (I Kings 22:39), and his palace where the furniture and perhaps the walls were embellished with ivory plaques.  During this period, the city was threatened by the Arameans of Damascus, who attacked it several times but could not conquer it (I Kings 20:1ff, II Kings 6:24ff).  Omri’s dynasty ended in a few short decades with the revolution of Jehu (842-814 B.C.) who destroyed Ahab’s shrines (II Kings 10:18-28).

In the next century, the cultural influence of paganism can still be observed, whereas another shrine was set up containing the calf of Samaria.  The prophet Hosea (7:1, 8:5-6, and 10:5-8) condemned this idol worship as did the prophet Amos (3:15, 6:4) while the city was ruled by Jeroboam II (784-748 B.C.). 

In the 734 B.C., the Assyrians under the leadership of Tiglathpileser III (745-727 B.C., see photo on next page) and later Shalmaneser V  (726-722 B.C., see II Kings 18:9-10)  began to threaten Samaria and the Northern Kingdom of Israel.  Samaria withstood this Assyrian attack for three years (725-722 B.C.) until it was captured in 722/721 B.C., with the victory according to Assyrian records being credited to  Sargon II (721-705 B.C.).  The citizens of the Israel and the city of Samaria were deported to to Assyria (II Kings 17:6).

Following the Assyrian victory, the city became the center of administration for the Assyrian province of Samerina.  New settlers from different origins were then brought to the country and the city (II Kings 17:24), each worshipping their own god (II Kings 17:29).  Under Persian rule (6th-4th centuries B.C.), it remained a provincial capital.

After the return from the Babylonian Exile (520’s B.C.) when the Jews rebuilt the Temple in Jerusalem, the Samaritans (see information under Shechem) offered opposition (Sanballat, see Nehemiah 2:10,19).  The antagonism between Samaritans and Jews continued for centuries, and throughout the New Testament period.  It was during the 4th century B.C. that the Samaritans built their center in Samaria.  

Later in 332 B.C., Alexander the Great, who settled Macedonian veterans here, resettled Samaria.  In 108 B.C. the city was attacked and utterly destroyed by the Hasmanean John Hyrcanus (Josephus, War, I, 164) and imposed Judaism on its Samaritan inhabitants.

 In 63 B.C., Pompey annexed Samaria to the Roman province of Syria (Josephus, War, I, 156).  The city underwent considerable reconstruction under Gabinius in 57-55 B.C.   Augustus then gave it to Herod, who renamed the city Sebaste in honor of the emperor, and his building activities made the city one of the most magnificent cities in Palestine (Josephus, Antiquities, XV, 217, 292, 296-7).

During the first Jewish Revolt (66 A.D.) the city was destroyed, but soon afterwards rebuilt again. Septimius Severus  then gave the city the status of Colonia in 200 A.D.  In the late Roman period the city declined and it was no more than an unimportant village in the Byzantine period.  A popular Christian tradition then emerged, placing the Tomb of John the Baptist at Samaria.  Several churches were later built over this site for this reason (Crusader).  

B. BIBLICAL REFERENCES:

1.  I Kings 16:24  King Omri makes Samaria the capital of Israel.

2.  I Kings 16:28-29  King Ahab is now the king, residing here at Samaria.

3.  I Kings 20:1ff  Ben Hadad of Aram besieges Samaria.  Accompanied by 32 kings with their horses and chariots, he surrounds the city.  In Ben Hadad words, “May the gods deal with me ever so severely if enough dust remains in Samaria to give each of my men a handful.” (v.10)  With the Arameans and the 32 kings ‘relaxing’ and getting drunk, the Samaritans drive them out of the area.  Ahab spares the life of Ben Hadad and makes a treaty with him.

4.  I Kings 22:10  Prophets speak out at the gate of Samaria.

5.  I Kings 22:33  Ahab dies.  His chariot is brought back and cleaned in a pool.  The dogs lick the blood (just as prophesied by Elijah).

6.  II Kings 6:19,20  Elisha blinds the Aramean soldiers.  When they received their sight, they find themselves within the center of Samaria.

7.  II Kings 10:1,11   King Jehu slays the whole house of Ahab.

8.  II Kings 17   Shalmaneser, king of Assyria besieges Samaria for 3 years.  Then in 722/721 B.C., Assyrian conquers Samaria.

9.  Jeremiah 23:13   The prophets of Samaria prophesied in the name of Baal and caused the Jews to stumble.

10.  Hosea 8:5   God’s anger burns against the people of Israel on account of their idolatry and wickedness (see also 10:5-8).

11.  John 4:4-39   Jesus no doubt traveled through this area as he meets the woman at the well at Sychar (near Shechem).

12.  Acts 8:5-13   Philip goes to Samaria, the city, and preaches the Gospel to them.  One man, Simon, uses sorcery in this city.  The city, however, later accepts the Gospel!       

C. ARCHAEOLOGICAL FINDS OF INTEREST

1.  IRON AGE:  Extensive excavations of the site began in 1908-10 by Harvard University and later in 1931-35. In the Divided Kingdom of the Israelite period, the Israelite settlement consisted of an acropolis and a lower city, each with separate fortifications. Various walls have been discovered, about 5 feet thick.  Within the walls city were buildings thought to be the palace of the Israelite kings (Omri, Ahab, etc).  Ahab strengthened the city with a casemate wall. the outside of the wall being 6 feet.  Parts of these walls were destoyed by the Assyrian invasion in the 730’s B.C.

A storehouse measuring 59 X 92 feet was also discovered.  Altogether, six phases of pottery and buildings were observed between 876 and 722 B.C.   Ostraca (dating to Jeroboam II or Menahem) appearing to be records of taxes of various kinds were found in the “House of the Ostracons.”  Also, ivory plaques were unearthed, giving evidence of the cultural influences of the pagan world.

2.  HELLENISTIC:  As the older Israelite walls were still partially used, round towers were added, one of which is about 63 feet in diameter and still standing to a height of 27 feet.  A new wall was built in the 2nd century B.C. About 14 feet thick at its base and strengthened by rectangular towers, this was probably the wall destroyed by John Hyrcanus.  

3.  ROMAN:  Residential quarters were found on the acropolis.  Also Herod erected a magnificent Temple of Augustus  which measures 115 X 79 feet, with a spacious court in front decorated with pillars.  On the north-eastern slope of the acropolis a theater was uncovered.  On the north-eastern side of the lower city a stadium has been discovered.  The forum was located to the east of the acropolis.  It was erected on a platform measuring 139 X 74 yards!