16:23 In the thirty-first year of Asa’s reign over Judah, Omri became king over Israel. He ruled for twelve years, six of them in Tirzah. 16:24 He purchased the hill of Samaria 1 from Shemer for two talents 2 of silver. He launched a construction project there 3 and named the city he built after Shemer, the former owner of the hill of Samaria.