Bible Dictionary
Shemer
Shemer was the owner of the hill purchased by Omri, where Samaria was built. The name is also borne by several men in the genealogies of Levi, Asher, and Benjamin.
Definition
Shemer was the owner of the hill purchased by Omri, on which Samaria was built. The name is also borne by a Merarite, an Asherite, and a Benjamite in genealogical records.
Biblical Usage
Shemer is principally associated with the account of Omri’s purchase of the hill and the establishment of Samaria.
Historical Background
The identification of Samaria’s name with Shemer is questioned in the supplied material because the mountain was already called Shomeron when Omri bought it. Another proposed explanation connects the name with “watch mountain.”
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Smith's Bible Dictionary
(preserved), the owner of the hill on which the city of Samaria was built. (1 Kings 16:24) (B.C. 917.) [Samaria]
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>she'-mer (shemer; Semer, Lucian, Semmer):</p><p>(1) The owner of the hill which Omri bought and which became the site of Samaria (1Ki 16:24, shomeron). Shemer may be an ancient clan name. The fact, however, that the mountain was called Shomeron when Omri bought it makes one doubt that the city of Samaria was named after Shemer; the passage is questionable. The real etymology of Samaria roots it in "watch mountain" (see Stade, Zeitschrift, 165 f).</p><p>(2) A Merarite (1Ch 6:46 (31), Semmer).</p><p>(3) An Asherite (1Ch 7:34, A and Lucian, Somer), called "Shomer" in 1Ch 7:32.</p><p>(4) A Benjamite (1Ch 8:12, Codex Vaticanus Semer; Codex Alexandrinus Semmer; Lucian, Samaiel); the Revised Version (British and American) "Shemed," the King James Version "Shamed."</p><p>The Hebrew manuscripts differ; some read "Shemer," others "Shemedh."</p><p>Horace J. Wolf</p>