Osnappar אָֽסְנַפַּר
Assyrian king who settled people in Samaria
Who is Osnappar in the Bible?
Osnappar was an Assyrian king who settled foreign populations in the cities of Samaria, as recorded in Ezra 4:10. Most scholars identify him with Ashurbanipal, one of the last great kings of Assyria who ruled from 668 to 627 BC. He brought people from various regions including Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sepharvaim to inhabit Samaria, a common Assyrian practice designed to prevent rebellions and consolidate control over conquered territories. These foreign settlers intermarried with the remaining Israelites, creating the mixed population that later became known as the Samaritans. Osnappar's resettlement policy had lasting religious and cultural significance, as the resulting Samaritan people developed their own distinct religious practices and maintained a separate identity from the Jews for centuries to come.
Biography
Osnappar is mentioned in the Bible as the king who brought people from various regions and settled them in the cities of Samaria (Ezr.4.10). He is not mentioned elsewhere in the Bible, but many scholars identify him as Ashurbanipal, one of the last great kings of the Assyrian Empire. Ashurbanipal ruled from 668 to 627 BC and was known for his military campaigns and his extensive library in Nineveh. The resettlement of people in Samaria was a common practice of the Assyrian kings to prevent rebellions and maintain control over conquered territories. The people who were brought to Samaria came from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sepharvaim (Ezr.4.9-10). These foreign settlers intermarried with the remaining Israelites in Samaria, creating a mixed population that became known as the Samaritans (2Ki.17.24-41). The Samaritans developed their own religious practices, which combined elements of Israelite and pagan traditions, and were often in conflict with the Jews who returned from the Babylonian exile (Ezr.4.1-5; Neh.4.1-3).
In Scripture
1 biblical book ; 1 with study contentEzra 1 verse
- Ezra 4:10
"and the rest of the peoples whom the great and honorable Ashurbanipal deported and settled in the cities of Samaria and elsewhere west of the Euphrates."
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Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | אָֽסְנַפַּר |