SAMARIA FROM THE SOUTH.
From a photograph of the Palestine Exploration Fund and used by special permission.
The revolt of the people of the north made necessary a new capital. It was first at Shechem, which was not, however, a strong situation from the military standpoint; then at Tirzah, but Omri chose finally a beautiful location at the head of a valley running down to the sea. Here on a hill rising 360 feet above the surrounding country was built one of the famous cities of the east--Samaria, meaning "watch-tower." It was the sacred city of the north, the rival of Jerusalem. The city was almost impregnable, and the sieges against it were always very long. The broad vale is visible for eight miles, then a low range of hills, and over them the sea.
"To-day amid the peaceful beauty of the scene--the secluded vale covered with cornfields through which the winding streams flash and glisten into the hazy distance, and the gentle hill rises to the olives waving over its summit--it is possible to appreciate Isaiah's name for Samaria, the crown of the pride of Ephraim, the flower of his glorious beauty, which is on the head of the fat valley. There by the entrance of the gate Ahab drew his sentence of death from the prophet of Jehovah; and there they washed his blood from his chariot, when they had brought him back to his burial. There Jezebel slew the prophets of Jehovah and Jehu the priests of Baal."
And they said unto him, "There came up a man to meet us, and said unto us, 'Go, turn again unto the king that sent you, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Is it because there is no God in Israel, that thou sendest to inquire of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron? therefore thou shalt not come down from the bed whither thou art gone up, but shalt surely die.'"
And he said unto them, "What manner of man was he which came up to meet you? and told you these words?"
And they answered him, "He was an hairy man, and girt with a girdle of leather about his loins."