Shemer

Shemer is remembered as the man from whom Omri purchased the hill that became the capital of the northern kingdom.

Owner of the Hill of Samaria

The narrative of Omri's reign records the transaction and the naming together: "And he bought the hill Samaria of Shemer for two talents of silver; and he built on the hill, and called the name of the city which he built, after the name of Shemer, the owner of the hill, Samaria" (1 Kgs 16:24). Shemer's role in scripture is confined to this single moment of sale, but the name he gave the hill carried over to the city, and from there to the surrounding region and its later population.