Samaria, City

1693. A geographical dictionary representing the present and ancient names by Edmund Bohun.

Samaria, a City of Palestine, mentioned by Ptolemy and Strabo, as well as by the Sacred Writers. It was seated upon a Mountain in the Tribe of Ephraim; built by Omri King of Israel, as is recorded 1 Kings 16. (about the year of the World 3112, or as others 3•19.) and becoming from thenceforward the Royal City of that Kingdom, it became one of the greatest, strongest, and most populous, as well as most beautiful Cities of the East. Benhadad, King of Syria, besieg'd it first, about 3146. with a vast Army; and reduced it to great Extremities: it was then delivered by a Miracle. Salmanazar, King of Assyria, was the next that attempted it, and took it after a Siege of three years in 3314. He carried the Israelites into Captivity, and peopled it with a new Colony, composed of divers Nations and Religions; who were the implacable Enemies of the Jewish Nation; especially after the building of a Temple in Samaria (after the manner of that of Jerusalem) about the times of Nehemiah, by one of the Sons of Joida the High Priest; who had married a Daughter of Sanballat (the Horonite, Governour of Samaria under Darius King of Persia), for whom his Father-in-law built a Temple on Mount Gerizim. Hyrcanius the High Priest of the Jews about the year of the World 3941. took, and intirely ruined this City; which lay desolate, till Herod the Great rebuilt it about 4033. and called it 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 in Honour of Augustus. The Temple of Samaria was standing in our Saviour's time, as appears in S. John's Gospel: after our Saviour's Passion, this City received the Christian Faith, by the Preaching of Philip the Evangelist, about the year of Christ 35. Simon the Father of Heresie, was one of these new Converts, and the Founder of the Gnosticks. About 42. Herod Agrippa obtained this City as an Addition to his Kingdom from Caligula. In the first ruin of the Jewish Nation, (under Vespasian) this Nation and City had no great share of the Calamity; because I suppose, they sided with the Romans in this first Revolution against the Jews. But in the second, under Adrian the Emperour, they acted otherwise; and about the year of Christ 135. were, together with the Jews, extirpated by the Arms of that Prince. This City has ever since lain buried in its Ruins; though there are some few remainders of the Samaritan Nation to this day in Palestine and Grand Cairo, where they keep their Synagogues and their ancient Sacrifices: Especially at Sichem, now called Naplouse, in Palestine; (the residence of their High Priest, who pretends to be of the Race of Aaron.) But following Laws and Rites, different from those of the Pentateuch, they have nevertheless the esteem of Hereticks amongst the Jews. The Samaritans of Mount Gerizim were mortal enemies to the ancient Christians there, till the Emperour Justianian took and burnt their King Julian, and curbed them from time to time by very severe Edicts. See Gerizim. It stood thirty five Miles from Jerusalem to the North. Long. 66. 40. Lat. 31. 30. or as Mr. Fuller saith. Long. 69. 10. Lat. 32. 30. //Paris Meridian was used in the book