Geographical and Historical Context

Modern Samaria, located in the central region of the historical land of Israel, corresponds to the ancient territory that was once the heartland of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. This area is bounded by Judea to the south and Galilee to the north. The city of Samaria, founded by King Omri (1 Kings 16:24), served as the capital of the Northern Kingdom and became a significant center of political and religious activity.

Biblical Significance

The Samaritans, inhabitants of this region, claim descent from the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, sons of Joseph, and thus from Jacob, also known as Israel. This claim is rooted in the historical division of the united monarchy after the reign of Solomon, when ten tribes formed the Northern Kingdom, with Samaria as its capital (1 Kings 12:16-24).

The relationship between the Samaritans and the Jews of Judea was often strained, as evidenced in the New Testament. The Samaritans had established their own center of worship on Mount Gerizim, which they considered the true holy place, in contrast to the Jewish temple in Jerusalem. This divergence in worship practices is highlighted in the encounter between Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well, where she remarks, "Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews say that the place where one must worship is in Jerusalem" (John 4:20).

Religious Practices and Beliefs

The Samaritans adhere to a version of the Pentateuch, which they regard as their sacred scripture. Their religious practices are similar to those of ancient Israel, with a focus on the observance of the Torah. The Samaritan Passover, celebrated on Mount Gerizim, remains a central religious event, reflecting their continued adherence to ancient traditions.

New Testament References

In the New Testament, the Samaritans are often depicted in a context that underscores the tension and eventual reconciliation between them and the Jewish people. Jesus' parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) challenges prevailing prejudices by portraying a Samaritan as the exemplar of neighborly love and compassion. Additionally, Jesus' ministry included outreach to the Samaritans, as seen when He traveled through Samaria and many believed in Him after His conversation with the Samaritan woman (John 4:39-42).

Modern Identity and Community

Today, the Samaritan community is small but continues to maintain its distinct religious and cultural identity. They reside primarily in the city of Nablus, near Mount Gerizim, and in the Israeli city of Holon. The Samaritans' claim of descent from Jacob remains a central aspect of their identity, and they continue to practice their ancient traditions, preserving a unique heritage that bridges the biblical past with the present.

Cultural and Theological Impact

The Samaritans' historical and theological significance is reflected in their role as a symbol of God's inclusive plan of salvation. The New Testament narrative, particularly in the Acts of the Apostles, illustrates the early church's mission to transcend ethnic and cultural barriers, as seen when Philip preached the gospel in Samaria and many were baptized (Acts 8:5-17). This event marks a pivotal moment in the expansion of the early Christian community, emphasizing the breaking down of divisions and the unifying power of the gospel.John 4:12
Are you greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?
Torrey's Topical Textbook

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
... I.--- Omri and the foundation of Samaria: Ahab and the ... to the strangers, and their
inhabitants would ally ... tradition, the elements of which modern criticism has ...
/.../chapter iiithe hebrews and the.htm

Tiglath-Pileser iii. And the Organisation of the Assyrian Empire ...
... or the Philistines.* The daily life of the inhabitants was; to ... in his own city of
Jerusalem or Samaria, but his ... of the Wars of the Lord, but modern writers add ...
/.../chapter iitiglath-pileser iii and the.htm

The Seven Trumpets.
... his ravages over the rich plains of modern Lombardy; which ... cities and churches, and
the bones of their inhabitants. ... and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto ...
/.../bliss/a brief commentary on the apocalypse/the seven trumpets.htm

The Iranian Conquest
... a Babylonian festival, and most modern authorities conclude ... the nobles: the king
himself boasted of being ... On his death, the inhabitants begged the Chaldaeans ...
/.../chapter ithe iranian conquest.htm

The Life and Death of Mr. Badman,
... course of life, yea, though every sin is also a step of descent down to ... a swallowing
up a nation, sinking of a nation, and bringing its inhabitants to temporal ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the life and death of.htm

What is a Samaritan? | GotQuestions.org

What is the significance of Assyria in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

When and how was Israel conquered by the Assyrians? | GotQuestions.org

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