SAMARITANS
The historical hostility between the Jews and the Samaritans is a prominent theme in the Bible. The Samaritans were the inhabitants of the territory originally assigned to the tribes of Ephraim and the half-tribe of Manasseh, with Samaria as their capital.
Historical Background
After the Assyrian invasion of Northern Israel, the Assyrians deported the ten tribes of Northern Israel and scattered them in captivity. The Bible records: “The king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sepharvaim, and settled them in the cities of Samaria in place of the Israelites. They took possession of Samaria and dwelt in its cities” (2 Kgs 17:24). These new inhabitants intermarried with the remaining Israelites. The pagans who settled in Samaria continued their idol worship, leading to God sending lions among them, which killed some of the people. Consequently, the King of Assyria sent an Israelite priest from exile to teach them how to worship the God of Israel. While they learned the books of Moses and began to worship the God of Israel, they continued their idolatry as well. The Bible states, “They feared the LORD, and served their own gods” (2 Kgs 17:33). Because of this mixed race and mixed worship, the Jews viewed the Samaritans as “half-breeds” and harbored deep hatred towards them.
Reasons for Hostility
The animosity between the Jews and the Samaritans was exacerbated by several factors:
1. Opposition to Temple Rebuilding: When the Jews returned from Babylonian exile and started rebuilding the Temple and the walls of Jerusalem, the Samaritans opposed it and managed to halt the construction for a while (Neh 6:1-14).
2. Idolatrous Worship: The Samaritans perpetuated their idolatrous worship by building a temple on Mount Gerizim.
3. Refuge for Outlaws: Samaritans offered refuge to outlaws from Judea (Josh 20:6-7; 21:21).
4. Rejection of Jewish Scriptures and Traditions: While the Samaritans accepted the Torah, they rejected other Jewish scriptures and traditions, further widening the rift (Jn 4:9; 8:48).
Differences in Scripture
The Samaritans adhered only to the Pentateuch, whereas the Jews followed the entire Old Testament, including the Prophets, which contained additional revelations from God. This led to the Samaritans being ignorant of the later divine interventions and prophetic teachings, and they rejected the salvation God promised through the Jews, as well as Jerusalem as the true place of worship.
JESUS AND THE SAMARITANS
Jesus often highlighted the Samaritans to teach important lessons about faith and compassion, contrasting their actions with those of the Jews. Some notable instances include:
1. The Parable of the Good Samaritan (Lk 10:25-37): In this parable, Jesus presents a Samaritan as a model of compassion and neighborly love, in stark contrast to the indifference of a Jewish priest and Levite.
2. The Samaritan Woman at the Well (Jn 4:1-42): Jesus breaks social norms by speaking to a Samaritan woman, revealing profound truths about worship and offering her “living water.”
3. Rebuking James and John (Lk 9:53-55): When a Samaritan village refused to welcome Jesus, He rebuked His disciples for wanting to call down fire from heaven on the villagers.
4. The Grateful Samaritan Leper (Lk 17:11-19): Jesus commends the gratitude of a Samaritan leper, contrasting it with the ingratitude of nine other lepers who were healed.
Samaritans and Jacob
The Samaritans, being a mixed race of Jews and migrants from Chaldea, worshipped both Yahweh and idols. They honored Jacob as their father because he had purchased the land they occupied and passed it to his descendants. The Samaritan woman at the well questioned Jesus, “Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us this well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock?” (Jn 4:12). This question underscored the historical and spiritual significance they placed on their connection to Jacob.
Samaritans and Mount Gerizim
The Samaritans worshipped at a temple on Mount Gerizim, which they built in opposition to the Temple in Jerusalem. They believed this site was sacred due to the worship of their ancestors like Abraham, Jacob, and Joshua. Despite the Jewish objections, they continued to honor Mount Gerizim as their holy place of worship. Jesus, however, foretold the irrelevance of specific worship locations, indicating a shift towards worship “in spirit and truth” (Jn 4:21-24).
REFLECTION
The faithfulness of the Jews to the true God and their avoidance of idolatry were commendable. However, Jesus disapproved of their lack of compassion and hatred towards the Samaritans. As Christians, we are called to emulate Jesus’ example by showing love and kindness to all, regardless of differences. We must transcend historical hostilities and prejudices, embracing a spirit of compassion and inclusivity. In our daily lives, let us strive to be non-hostile, kind, and helpful to anyone in need, just as the Good Samaritan was.