Introduction

Ancient Samaria holds a significant place in biblical history, serving as both a city and a region that played a central role in the narrative of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. The term "Samaria" is sometimes used to refer to the entire Northern Kingdom, which consisted of ten tribes that broke away from the united monarchy after the reign of Solomon. This entry explores the historical, geographical, and theological aspects of Samaria as depicted in the Bible.

Historical Background

The city of Samaria was founded by King Omri around 880 BC and became the capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Omri "bought the hill of Samaria from Shemer for two talents of silver and built a city on the hill" (1 Kings 16:24). The city quickly became a political and cultural center, known for its strategic location and fortifications.

Throughout its history, Samaria was often associated with idolatry and apostasy. The reign of Ahab, Omri's son, marked a period of significant religious decline, as he and his wife Jezebel introduced the worship of Baal (1 Kings 16:31-33). This idolatry led to prophetic confrontations, most notably with Elijah, who challenged the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18:20-40).

Geographical Significance

Samaria was located in the central region of the Northern Kingdom, strategically positioned between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River. Its fertile land and access to trade routes contributed to its prosperity. The region of Samaria extended beyond the city itself, encompassing a larger area that included other significant towns and cities.

Theological Implications

Theologically, Samaria represents a complex narrative of covenant unfaithfulness and divine judgment. The prophets frequently condemned the idolatry and social injustices prevalent in Samaria. Hosea, for instance, lamented the spiritual adultery of the Northern Kingdom, declaring, "Samaria will bear her guilt, for she has rebelled against her God" (Hosea 13:16).

Despite its waywardness, Samaria was not beyond the reach of God's redemptive plan. The prophet Amos called for repentance, urging the people to "seek the LORD and live" (Amos 5:6). This call to repentance underscores the enduring mercy and patience of God, even in the face of persistent rebellion.

Samaria in the New Testament

By the time of the New Testament, Samaria had undergone significant changes, including the Assyrian conquest and subsequent resettlement by foreign peoples (2 Kings 17:24). This led to a mixed population, which contributed to the animosity between Jews and Samaritans during the time of Jesus.

Despite this tension, Jesus' ministry included significant interactions with Samaritans, highlighting the inclusive nature of the Gospel. In John 4, Jesus converses with a Samaritan woman at Jacob's well, revealing His identity as the Messiah and offering her "living water" (John 4:10). This encounter exemplifies the breaking down of ethnic and religious barriers through Christ.

Conclusion

While Samaria often symbolizes rebellion and judgment, it also serves as a testament to God's unwavering call to repentance and His desire for all people to come to the knowledge of the truth. Through the lens of biblical history, Samaria's account is a reminder of the consequences of turning away from God, as well as the hope of restoration through His grace.Ezekiel 16:46,51
And your elder sister is Samaria, she and her daughters that dwell at your left hand: and your younger sister, that dwells at your right hand, is Sodom and her daughters.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Hosea 8:5,6
Your calf, O Samaria, has cast you off; my anger is kindled against them: how long will it be ere they attain to innocence?
Torrey's Topical Textbook

The Nations of the North-East
... became a standard of value in the ancient world. ... was aiming at the conquest of the
whole of Syria ... Syrian merchants had bazaars in Samaria, where they could buy ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter iv the nations of.htm

The Twelve Minor Prophets.
... with all that we know of ancient habits of ... character of the narrative as a whole
be denied ... We find accordingly denunciations against Samaria intermingled with ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xxiii the twelve minor.htm

The Order of Thought which Surrounded the Development of Jesus.
... [Footnote 1: The whole book of ... We find among the ancient people of Israel only very
indecisive ... United to Samaria and Idumea, Judea formed a kind of dependency ...
//christianbookshelf.org/renan/the life of jesus/chapter iv the order of.htm

The Growth of the Old Testament Prophetic Histories
... stories, centring, respectively, about the ancient northern sanctuary of Gilgal,
near Shiloh, and about Samaria. ... Israel's national experience as a whole was of ...
/.../the origin and permanent value of the old testament/vi the growth of the.htm

CHAP. I. -II. 3 (II. 1).
... the very beginning, not Jezreel, but Samaria; compare 2 ... Several of the ancient
expositors here assume a ... by the circumstance that the whole succeeding sentence ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/chap i -ii 3 ii 1.htm

The Nations of the South-East
... Moab was permanently lost to the kingdom of Samaria. ... promulgation of the Mosaic Law
changed the whole organisation of ... the races and nations of the ancient world ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter iii the nations of.htm

The Hebrew Prophecies.
... function perfectly to realize in life the ancient religion, the ... against the wickedness
of Jerusalem and Samaria, though the ... that the nation as a whole would be ...
/.../gladden/who wrote the bible/chapter v the hebrew prophecies.htm

Jesus at the Well of Sychar
... was nearer in that direction - for the ancient Sychar may ... of the social and moral
condition of Samaria to judge ... that people, is simply to beg the whole question ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter viii jesus at the.htm

In Jerusalem when Herod Reigned
... gave place to the spiritual world-kingdom of David's ... the west, but not covering the
whole northern area ... or built: Sebaste for the ancient Samaria, the splendid ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter i in jerusalem when.htm

The Ecclesiastical Writers. By "The Fathers" we Understand the ...
... He was a native of Samaria, and a Gentile by birth ... His whole life illustrates his
self-denial, his single ... of Holy Writ sometimes given by these ancient expositors ...
/.../killen/the ancient church/chapter i the ecclesiastical writers.htm

What is a Samaritan? | GotQuestions.org

What is the significance of Assyria in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

When and how was Israel conquered by the Assyrians? | GotQuestions.org

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