In the Old Testament, the capital city of the northern kingdom of Israel (1 Kgs. 16: 23-24). Because of its strong military position on a hill, the Assyrians could not capture it until after a seige of three years (2 Kgs. 17: 5-6). Herod rebuilt it and called it Sebaste. In New Testament times, Samaria was the name of the entire central district of Palestine west of the Jordan.