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Samaria

Samaria Region

RegionOld Testament & New Testament
32.2747°N, 35.1917°E View on Map

About Samaria

Samaria was the capital of the northern kingdom of Israel and later became the name for the entire region between Judea and Galilee. After the Assyrian conquest, the population became mixed, and the Samaritans developed their own form of worship. Jews and Samaritans had deep hostility. Jesus broke social barriers by speaking with the Samaritan woman at the well and telling the parable of the Good Samaritan.

Events at Samaria

The fall of Samaria
The fall of Samaria

Samaria · 2KI 17:6

See Samaria on the map
ElijahLinked to this placeElijahProphet who opposed the idolatry promoted from Samaria

History of Samaria

  1. Divided Kingdom~880 BC

    King Omri purchases the hill of Samaria and builds it as the new capital of the Northern Kingdom

    1KI 16:24

  2. Divided Kingdom~874-853 BC

    King Ahab builds a temple to Baal in Samaria, leading Israel into widespread idolatry

    1KI 16:32-33

  3. Divided Kingdom~850 BC

    Elisha performs miracles in and around Samaria, including the healing of Naaman the Syrian

    2KI 5:1-14

  4. Divided Kingdom722 BC

    Samaria falls to the Assyrians after a three-year siege; the Northern Kingdom ends

    2KI 17:5-6

  5. Divided Kingdom~720 BC

    Assyria resettles foreign peoples in Samaria, creating the mixed population that becomes the Samaritans

    2KI 17:24-41

  6. New Testament~27 AD

    Jesus meets the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well near Sychar

    JHN 4:1-42

  7. New Testament~35 AD

    Philip the Evangelist preaches in Samaria with great success; many believe and are baptized

    ACT 8:5-13

Notable Characters in Samaria

Elijah
Elijah

Prophet who opposed the idolatry promoted from Samaria

Elisha
Elisha

Prophet who performed miracles in Samaria and surrounding region

Philip
Philip

Evangelist who brought the gospel to Samaria

Locations Related to Samaria

Jerusalem
Jerusalem

Rival capital of the Southern Kingdom of Judah

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Mount Gerizim
Mount Gerizim

Sacred mountain of the Samaritans, their place of worship

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Biblical Significance of Samaria

Samaria served as the capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel for about 200 years, from its founding by King Omri until its destruction by Assyria in 722 BC. The city became a symbol of Israel's spiritual apostasy, particularly during the reign of Ahab and Jezebel. After the Assyrian conquest, the mixed population developed into the Samaritans, a people despised by Jews. In the New Testament, Samaria became significant as a place where Jesus deliberately broke social barriers by engaging with Samaritans.

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