<Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> <P> Omri became king of Israel in the 31st year of Asa, king of Judah and reigned for 12 years, 6 years of which were in Tirzah . The biblical reference to the period of rivalry with Tibni is from the 27th year of Asa to the 31st year . William F. Albright has dated his reign to 876--869 BC, while E.R. Thiele offers the dates of 888 BC to 880 BC for his rivalry with Tibni and 880--874 BC for his sole reign . </P> <P> Initially, Omri's capital was in Tirzah, which had been besieged and the royal palace had been burned down . The Jewish Encyclopedia suggests that "the associations of Tirzah were so repellent and sanguinary, and the location so poor for a capital, that Omri purchased a new site" for his residence . This was in Samaria, on a hill purchased from Shemer for two talents of silver (about 60 kg), where Omri built a new capital for the kingdom . </P> <P> Omri's rule over Israel was secure enough that he could bequeath his kingdom to his son Ahab, thus beginning a new dynasty (sometimes called the "Omrides'), and his descendants not only ruled over the kingdom of Israel for the next forty years, but also briefly over Judah . </P>

Where did omri build his new political capital