Episode 31: Walking Through the Bible in Ancient Shomron with Dr. Yair Almekeyas, PHD

What can archaeology reveal about the kings, cities, and events described in the Bible?
Franny Waisman sits down with Dr. Yair Almekeyas, head of Midreshet Shomron, for a journey through the biblical history and archaeology of the Shomron. Together, they explore Sebastia—the capital of the ancient Kingdom of Israel—along with Mount Ebal, Mount Gerizim, Joseph’s Tomb, and other sites where the biblical story can still be encountered on the ground.
Franny recalls studying Sebastia during her tour-guide training and the frustration of learning about an extraordinary archaeological site that was often difficult to visit. Dr. Yair Almekeyas explains how access is gradually improving as permits, infrastructure, and organized tourism expand.
Yair introduces the work of Midreshet Shomron and explains how field schools combine education, hiking, research, and a direct encounter with the land. He discusses efforts to create new walking routes, including an ambitious 500-mile trail through Judea and Samaria, allowing visitors to experience biblical geography on foot.
The conversation then turns to the rise of the Northern Kingdom. Yair explains why Omri selected Shomron as his capital and explores how the city’s location, terrain, and surroundings made it an ideal political and strategic center. Franny and Yair compare the Bible’s moral judgment of Omri and Ahab with archaeological and historical evidence showing that their kingdom possessed significant wealth, military strength, and international influence.
They also examine the Samaria ivories, Assyrian depictions of conquest, Samaritan origins, Joseph’s Tomb, Mount Ebal, and the challenge of telling the story of a site containing many layers of history. Throughout the episode, Yair emphasizes that the Shomron should be understood not only through modern politics, but also through its biblical, archaeological, and cultural significance.
About the Guest:
Dr. Yair Almekeyas is the head of Midreshet Shomron, a field school dedicated to teaching the history, geography, archaeology, and natural landscape of the Shomron. He holds a PhD and works to make the region’s biblical sites more accessible through education, guided tours, hiking trails, and tourism initiatives.
Time Stamps:
00:00 Dr. Yair Almekeyas
05:53 What Is Midreshet Shomron?
07:51 Walking Through the Bible
09:39 Mount Ebal and the New Trail
14:20 Why Yair Loves the Shomron
16:29 Understanding the Region Beyond Politics
18:59 Joseph’s Tomb Trivia
24:51 Reconsidering Omri and Ahab
27:59 Samaria Versus Jerusalem
33:01 Jerusalem and Samaria Compared
34:11 The Origins of the Samaritans
35:40 Meeting the Samaritan Community
39:30 Revisiting the Legacies of Omri and Ahab
42:27 The Ivory Palace of Samaria
46:31 Evidence of the Assyrian Siege
47:58 How to Tour Sebastia’s Historical Layers
50:49 Politics and Archaeology
52:19 Shomron’s Major Sites

Ready to walk through the places where biblical history unfolded?
Tune in to the full episode and discover the archaeology, stories, and landscape of ancient Shomron.

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Ready to experience it for yourself? Visit https://judeasamariaexperience.com/ to plan your journey to Judea and Samaria.