contests with Tibni. During the next two years he resided in Tirzah. After that he bought from Shemer for

two talents of silver (about £780) the hill of Samaria. On this commanding position he built the new capital of

Israel, which, according to the sacred text, he named Shomeron,274 after the former owner of the site.

But on other grounds it deserved to be called "watch-mountain," as the name may be rendered. Situated

about the center of the land, six miles northwest of Shechem, it occupied a commanding hill, rising from a

broad valley, and surrounded on all sides by mountains, through which there was only a narrow entrance

from the west. The approach to the plateau on which Samaria stood is steep on all sides. Thus the site of the

new capital, which was also distinguished by great beauty, was singularly adapted both for observation and

defense. The country around was very rich, and the place well supplied with water. A more suitable spot

could not have been chosen by monarch or general. This accounts for the continued importance of Samaria

through all the varying fortunes o f the country and its people.

The modern miserable village of Sebustiyeh (the ancient Sebaste), inhabited by less than one thousand

people, which occupies the site of the once splendid city, where Omri, Ahab, and their successors held high

court, contains but few remains of its ancient grandeur. But these are sufficiently remarkable.275

The ancient Acropolis, or temple, palace, and citadel, seems to have stood on the western brow of the hill,

and its site is still marked by the ruins of a most magnificent colonnade composed of graceful monoliths.

The approach to the castle must have been by ascending terraces, which, no doubt, were covered with

houses and palaces. Of these not a trace is left. Only on the topmost height - from which, westwards, the

Mediterranean, and eastwards, across swelling mountains, a landscape of unrivaled beauty and fertility were

full in view - a few broken and upturned pillars mark the site of the ro yal castle. The dynasties that reigned

there have long been swept away; the people over whom they ruled carried into a captivity over which the

veil of impenetrable mystery lies. Only the word of the LORD has stood firm and immovable. Of Nadab, of

Baasha, of Elah, of Zimri, and of Omri, Scripture has only one and the same thing to say, that they walked in

the way and in the sin of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, "wherewith he made Israel to sin, to provoke Jehovah,

the God of Israel, to anger." And over each and all did the same judgment sweep. And yet there were more

grievous sins to follow, and more terrible judgments to come."  276