Shemer
Shemer, the original owner of the hill of Samaria, which Omri bought from him.
Biography
Shemer was the original owner of the hill in central Canaan that King Omri of Israel purchased for two talents of silver, as recorded in 1 Kings 16:24. Omri built upon this hill the city he named Samaria, derived from Shemer's name, which became the capital of the northern kingdom of Israel. Shemer himself appears in Scripture only as the seller of the land; his personal history, tribal affiliation, and fate are entirely unknown beyond this transaction.
Yet the name he bore was immortalized in the city's designation, ensuring his memory endured through one of the most politically significant urban centers in Israelite history. His interaction with Omri illustrates the way personal property transactions could shape the course of national history.
Significance
Though Shemer is a marginal figure, the hill he owned became central to the northern kingdom's identity and eventual downfall. Samaria, built upon his land, became both the seat of Israel's power and the symbol of its apostasy, falling to Assyria in 722 BC (2 Kings 17). The name Shemer thus echoes through the prophetic literature as the prophets repeatedly address and condemn Samaria for its idolatry and injustice (Amos 3:9; Micah 1:6).
His story illustrates how a single individual's property can become caught up in redemptive history far beyond their own intentions, as God's sovereign purposes unfold through the decisions of kings and nations.
Verse Appearances (1)
1Kgs
References
- Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Wikidata contributors (n.d.) Wikidata. Available at: https://www.wikidata.org. [CC0]
- Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]