Geographical and Historical Context

Modern Samaria, known in ancient times as the central region of the biblical land of Israel, is situated between Judea to the south and Galilee to the north. This area, rich in biblical history, was the heartland of the Northern Kingdom of Israel after the division of the united monarchy following King Solomon's reign. The city of Samaria, established by King Omri (1 Kings 16:24), served as the capital of this northern kingdom.

Cultural and Religious Background

The inhabitants of Samaria, known as Samaritans, have a complex history marked by both conflict and coexistence with the Jewish people. Following the Assyrian conquest in 722 BC, the region experienced significant demographic changes, with foreign populations being settled in the area (2 Kings 17:24). This led to a syncretistic form of worship, combining elements of Yahwism with foreign religious practices. Despite these changes, the Samaritans maintained a distinct identity, centered around their version of the Pentateuch and worship at Mount Gerizim.

Expectation of the Messiah

The expectation of a Messiah, a central theme in Jewish eschatology, was also present among the Samaritans. This anticipation is vividly illustrated in the New Testament account of Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well. In John 4:25, the woman declares, "I know that Messiah is coming" , indicating a shared hope for a divinely appointed deliverer.

The Samaritan concept of the Messiah, known as the Taheb, was somewhat distinct from Jewish expectations. While Jews anticipated a Davidic king who would restore Israel's national sovereignty, the Samaritans looked for a prophetic figure akin to Moses, who would restore true worship and bring about spiritual renewal. This expectation is rooted in Deuteronomy 18:15, where Moses speaks of a prophet like himself whom God would raise up.

New Testament Interactions

The New Testament provides several accounts of interactions between Jesus and the Samaritans, highlighting both the tensions and the shared messianic hope. In the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37), Jesus challenges prevailing prejudices, illustrating the Samaritan's compassion as a model of neighborly love. Furthermore, in Acts 8:5-25, Philip's ministry in Samaria results in many conversions, demonstrating the early church's outreach beyond Jewish boundaries.

Theological Implications

The Samaritans' expectation of the Messiah underscores the broader biblical theme of God's redemptive plan extending to all peoples. Jesus' ministry among the Samaritans, as recorded in the Gospels, reveals His mission to break down ethnic and religious barriers, offering salvation to all who believe. This inclusivity is further emphasized in Jesus' declaration to the Samaritan woman: "A time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth" (John 4:23).

Conclusion

The Samaritans' expectation of the Messiah, while distinct in its nuances, aligns with the broader biblical anticipation of a divinely appointed deliverer. Through Jesus' interactions with the Samaritans, the New Testament reveals the fulfillment of this hope, inviting all to partake in the salvation He offers.John 4:25,29
The woman said to him, I know that Messias comes, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

In Jud??a and through Samaria - a Sketch of Samaritan History and ...
... transportation of the rest, of its inhabitants to Shechem ... Neapolis, which has survived
in the modern Nablus. ... of Jesus might have bought in Samaria, in ignorance ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter vii in judaea and.htm

Jews and Gentiles in "The Land"
... Zamaris, and attracted, like the modern German colonists in ... Jewish direction on the
part of its inhabitants. ... of their capital, Sebaste, for Samaria, showed how ...
/.../edersheim/sketches of jewish social life/chapter 2 jews and gentiles.htm

In Judaea
... the sea-shore in the province of Samaria is a ... of the situation of Joppa, the modern
Jaffa, where ... Of the hospitality of the inhabitants of Jerusalem accounts ...
/.../edersheim/sketches of jewish social life/chapter 5 in judaea.htm

The Prophet Micah.
... 414] times, and under different kings." In modern times, however ... and the carrying
away of the inhabitants, will be ... in i.6, 7, the judgment upon Samaria is first ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/the prophet micah.htm

John.
... 3. The Irenic tendency-theory is a modern T?�bingen invention ... The woman of Samaria;
Jacob's well; the water of ... with the Holy Land and its inhabitants before the ...
/.../schaff/history of the christian church volume i/section 83 john.htm

The Gospel According to St. John
... Peter he goes to Samaria to bestow the Holy Ghost on ... church on the site, and near
a modern Turkish mosque ... vii.1), "the Jews" may mean the inhabitants of Judaea ...
/.../pullan/the books of the new testament/chapter vi the gospel according.htm

Book 9 Footnotes
... been great benefactors to the inhabitants of Damascus ... the capital cities, Jerusalem
and Samaria; the former ... a groundless mistake of some modern chronologers rely ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/book 9 footnotes.htm

The Sibylline Oracles.
... to destroy the world and its inhabitants with fire. ... more celebrated than its author
could have ever expected. ... at the hands of theologians in modern times, who ...
//christianbookshelf.org/deane/pseudepigrapha/the sibylline oracles.htm

Appendix xii. The Baptism of Proselytes
... the addition that the leading inhabitants of Jerusalem ... in ignorance, of such teaching,
modern criticism would ... were local Shedim, as of Samaria, Tiberias, &c. ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/appendix xii the baptism of.htm

And ii.
... southern boundary, and carries away the inhabitants into exile. ... Israel it is
concentrated upon Samaria, in the ... altogether natural, and to be expected, that the ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/chap i and ii.htm

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