1 Kings 16:24

24 then he bought the hill of Samaria from Shemer for 150 pounds of silver,^[a] and he built up the hill. He named the city he built Samaria^[b] based on the name Shemer, the owner of the hill.

1 Kings 16:24 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 16:24

And he bought the hill of Samaria of Shemer, for two talents
of silver
A talent of silver, according to Brerewood ^F6, was of our money three hundred and seventy five pounds, so that this hill was purchased at seven hundred and fifty pounds:

and built on the hill, and called the name of the city which he built,
after the name of Shemer, owner of the hill, Samaria;
its name from him was Shomeron, which is the Hebrew name for Samaria; which, according to Bunting ^F7 was six miles from Tirzah, and ever after the royal seat of the kings of Israel.

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FOOTNOTES:

F6 De Ponder. & Pret. c. 4.
F7 Ut supra, (Travels) p. 163.

1 Kings 16:24 In-Context

22 However, the people who followed Omri proved stronger than those who followed Tibni son of Ginath. So Tibni died and Omri became king.

23 In the thirty-first year of Judah's King Asa, Omri became king over Israel; [he reigned] 12 years. He reigned six years in Tirzah,

24 then he bought the hill of Samaria from Shemer for 150 pounds of silver, and he built up the hill. He named the city he built Samaria based on the name Shemer, the owner of the hill.

25 Omri did what was evil in the Lord's sight; he did more evil than all who were before him.

26 He followed the example of Jeroboam son of Nebat and the sins he caused Israel to commit, provoking the Lord God of Israel with their worthless idols.

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit for two talents
• [b]. Belonging to Shemer's Clan