(anc. geogr.) one of three larger Cisjordan districts, situated in the middle between Galilee to the north and Judea to the south, beginning Samaria at the village Ginnas, in the Campus Magnus, and ending at the toparchy called Aerobatena, (Josephus). Its soil differing in nothing from that of Judea; both equally hilly and champain, both equally fertile in corn and fruit, (id.) Called the kingdom of Samaria and Ephraim, (Bible); comprising the ten tribes, and consequently all the country to the north of Judea and east and west of Jordan.

Samaria, capital of the kingdom or country of that name; anciently called Sebomron, from Semer, the owner of the hill; the royal residence of the kings of Israel, from Omri, who built the city, down to its destruction, and the Assyrian captivity, under Hosea the last king, (Micah, Sup. Severus.) It soon after rose from its ruins, being restored by the Cuthaeans, who thence took the name of Samaritans; said to be a very strong city under the Maccabees, but entirely destroyed by John Hyrcanus, (Josephus), and again restored by Gabinius, prefect of Syria; till at length it was enlarged and adorned by Herod, and called Sebastæ, that is, Augusta, in compass twenty stadia, (Josephus).