The history of the world

†. VI. Of ZEMARI.

OF Samareus, or Zemari, the tenth sonne, there are diuers opinions. Some thinke that he first inhabited in Coelesyria at Edessa, and founded Samaraim, [unspec 10] which in Iosua is placed in the Tribe of Beniamin. There is also Samaraijm (of the same Orthographie) vpon the Mountaynes of Ephraim (saith Beroaldus) mentioned* 1.1 in the second of Chronicles c. 13. v. 4. which the Latine conuerteth amisse (saith he) by Semeron. The Hierosolymitan Paraphrast makes Samareus (of whom were the Perizzites) the parent of the Emissani, which Plinie calls the Hemisceni, in Coelesyria; and it may be that it was their first habitation, and that they afterwards inhabited those other places before remembred. But that they founded Samaria, both the He∣brew Orthographie, and this place in the first of Kings (speaking of Omri) dispro∣ueth: And he bought the Mountayne Samaria or Shemeron of one SHEMER, for two talents* 1.2 of siluer, and built in the Mountayne: and called the name of the Citie which he built, after [unspec 20] the name of SHEMER, Lord of the Mountayne Samaria. But of all these places I shall speake more at large in the conquest of the holy Land, by the children of Israel. Of whomsoeuer the Samaritanes were descended, sure I am, that they were euer a per∣fidious Nation, and base: for as long as the state of the Iewes stood vp, they alwayes called themselues Iewes: when it suffered or sanke, they then vtterly denyed to be of that Nation or Familie; for at such time as they were returned from their first cap∣tiuitie, they became a mixt Nation; partly of the Colonies of the Assyrians; and partly of the naturalls.

Notes

• * 1.1

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. in 〈◊〉〈◊〉. lib. 4.
• * 1.2

  1. Kings 16. 28.