Editing Samaria (section)

==Etymology==
[[File:Samaria, George Adam Smith.jpg|thumb|300px|Map of Samaria by [[John George Bartholomew|J.G. Bartholomew]] in 1894 book by [[George Adam Smith]]]]According to the [[Hebrew Bible]], the Hebrew name "Shomron" ({{langx|he|שֹׁומְרוֹן|translit=|link=no}}) is derived from the individual (or clan) ''Shemer'' ({{langx|he|שֶׁמֶר|translit=|link=no}}), from whom [[Omri|King Omri]] (ruled 880s–870s BCE) purchased the hill on which he built his new capital city of ''[[Samaria (ancient city)|Shomron]]''.<ref>{{bibleverse|1 Kings|16:24}}</ref><ref name="Philologos">{{cite web |url=http://www.forward.com/articles/131482/ |title=This Side of the River Jordan; On Language |publisher=Forward |work=Philologos |date=22 September 2010 |access-date=26 September 2010 |archive-date=18 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111018190001/http://www.forward.com/articles/131482/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The fact that the mountain was called Shomeron when Omri bought it may indicate that the correct etymology of the name is to be found more directly in the [[Semitic languages|Semitic]] root for "guard", hence its initial meaning would have been "watch mountain". In the earlier [[cuneiform]] inscriptions, Samaria is designated under the name of "Bet Ḥumri" ([[Omrides|"the house of Omri]]"); but in those of [[Tiglath-Pileser III]] (ruled 745–727 BCE) and later it is called Samirin, after its [[Aramaic]] name,<ref>{{Cite Jewish Encyclopedia |wstitle=Samaria}}</ref> Shamerayin.<ref name="etym" />