Page 99 - Bible Geography and Near East Studies

Samaria, the City
Omri, the king of Israel, purchased a hill and made it the capital city of the Kingdom of Israel. In the days
of Ahab, Benhadad II came up against it with 32 vassal kings but was defeated with a great slaughter (I
Kings 20:1-21). A second time, he attempted to conquer it, but was utterly routed and was compelled to
surrender to Ahab (I Kings 20:29-34). It was also in Samaria that Benhadad besieged the city in the days
of Jehoram, during which time the city was reduced to almost no food. People were eating other
people. Benhadad suddenly broke the siege when his army heard noises of chariots and horses and a
great army, so they fled, leaving their camp and all their possessions behind. The famishing inhabitants
of the city were informed by some lepers that the Assyrian army was gone, and the city was saved.

The woman of Samaria and several of her townsmen were the first fruits gathered by Christ (John 4),
and a fuller harvest followed under Philip the evangelist (Acts 8). Jesus healed the lepers here (Luke
17:11-19). The Samaritans were expecting the Messiah, and many disciples came from the inhabitants
of Samaria (Acts 8:5-8, 14-17, 25).

.

A panoramic view of a valley below Dothan. Shepherds still graze their flocks in these fields.

Dothan or Tel Dothan

At his father’s request, Joseph searched for his brothers near Dothan (Genesis 37:17). Unfortunately for
Joseph, his brothers sold him to Ishmaelite merchants, who took him to Egypt. While that story turned
out well for Joseph and his family (Genesis 50:20), one glance at the rich pastureland of Dothan will
explain why shepherds had been grazing their flocks there. Dothan was also the home of Elisha late in
his ministry (2 Kings 6:13). On one occasion, Elisha led blinded enemy soldiers into Samaria (2 Kings
6:19), which was about a two-hour walk (nine miles) away.

Lower Galilee
The “Breadbasket” of Israel is the land known as “Lower Galilee.” Stretching from the Mediterranean
Sea on the west, it covers the entire Jezreel Valley until it reaches the fertile Jordan River Valley and the
river itself as its eastern boundary. It goes as far north as the Sea of Galilee. It is separated from Samaria
in the south (or the West Bank today) by the Carmel Mountain Range and the Gilboa Mountain Range.

96