### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Aramaic word **Shomrayin**, represented by `{{H8115}}`, is the name for **Samaria**, a place in Palestine. It is the Aramaic term corresponding to the Hebrew שֹׁמְרוֹן. This specific word appears only **2 times** in **2 unique verses**, marking it as a geographically precise term within the biblical text.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
Both occurrences of `{{H8115}}` are found in the book of Ezra and frame **Samaria** as a significant location for resettled peoples. In the first instance, it is identified as the place where "the great and noble Asnappar" **set** various nations he had brought over [[Ezra 4:10]]. The second mention is in a royal letter sent by the king to his officials, including Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their companions who **dwell** in **Samaria** [[Ezra 4:17]]. In both contexts, it is a center of foreign population and administration.
### Related Words & Concepts
Two related words appear in the same verses, providing context for the activities taking place in Samaria:
* `{{H3488}}` **yᵉthib**: This Aramaic word means **to sit or dwell; dwell, (be) set, sit**. It is used to describe the action taken toward the people in **Samaria**, who were **set** in its cities [[Ezra 4:10]] and who **dwell** there [[Ezra 4:17]].
* `{{H7606}}` **shᵉʼâr**: Defined as **a remainder; [idiom] whatsoever more, residue, rest**. This word specifies the groups of people in **Samaria**, referred to as "the **rest** of the nations" [[Ezra 4:10]] and "the **rest** of their companions" [[Ezra 4:17]].
### Theological Significance
The narrative significance of `{{H8115}}` is tied to its role in the administration and repopulation of the land.
* **A Center for Resettlement:** **Samaria** is explicitly depicted as the destination for foreign nations relocated by an external power, Asnappar. This highlights its role in the geopolitical landscape described in Ezra [[Ezra 4:10]].
* **An Administrative Hub:** The fact that a king sends an official answer to his chancellor and scribe dwelling in **Samaria** establishes it as a place of regional governance and communication within the empire [[Ezra 4:17]].
* **A Location of Foreign Presence:** The consistent pairing of **Samaria** with "the rest of the nations" and officials serving a king underscores its identity in the text as a region inhabited and administered by non-Israelite peoples during this period.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H8115}}` **Shomrayin** functions as a precise geographical marker. While it appears infrequently, its use in the book of Ezra is critical for understanding the political and demographic situation of the time. It pinpoints **Samaria** as a region populated by transplanted nations and governed by royal appointees, grounding the narrative in a specific historical context of foreign settlement and imperial administration.
TRV