Samaria is the capital of Ephraim. Samaria is located within the lands of Ephraim
Commentaries (
view it on a map)
II NEPHI 9:22 [17:9]: And the head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is Remaliah's son. If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established.
Commentary: This verse references the places of Ephraim and Samaria. This verse is also found in Isaiah 7:9. The phrase 'head of' indicates that Samaria is the capital of Ephraim.
II NEPHI 9:42 [18:4]: For behold, the child shall not have knowledge to cry, My father, and my mother, before the riches of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria shall be taken away before the king of Assyria.
Commentary: This verse references the places of Assyria, Damascus, Ephraim, Samaria, and Syria. This verse also occurs in Isaiah 8:4. There is no information provided regarding their locations except the phrase 'taken away' indicates Damascus (Syria) and Samaria (Ephraim) are probably located outside of Assyria.
II NEPHI 9:90 [20:9]: Is not Calno as Carchemish? Is not Hamath as Arpad? Is not Samaria as Damascus?
Commentary: This verse references the places of Arpad, Calno, Carchemish, Damascus, Hamath, and Samaria. This verse also occurs in Isaiah 10:9. This is the only verse that identifies these places, so there is insufficient information in the Book of Mormon to locate these places. However, these pairs of places constitute a list, so the paired places should be in close proximity to each other. Being a list of pairs, the paired places should also define areas that should be next to each other. For example, Calno should be in close proximity to Carchemish and the pair of Calno and Carchemish should define an area that is next to the area defined by Hamath and Arpad. The area defined by Hamath and Arpad should be next to the area defined by Samaria and Damascus.
II NEPHI 9:91 [20:10]: As my hand hath founded the kingdoms of the idols, and whose graven images did excel them of Jerusalem and of Samaria;
Commentary: This verse references the places of Jerusalem and Samaria. This verse also occurs in Isaiah 10:10. The phrase 'my hand' refers to the Lord. The phrase 'and of' indicates that Jerusalem and Samaria (Ephraim) are in two different locations.
Map
