Samaritans and Jews: The History of a Divided People

Samaritans and Jews: The History of a Divided People

The relationship between Samaritans and Jews is one of the most poignant examples of deep-seated division within a shared heritage found in the Biblical narrative. Though both peoples traced their lineage back to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and both revered the Law of Moses, centuries of political upheaval, religious divergence, and ethnic prejudice forged an animosity so profound that it often overshadowed their common roots. Understanding this historical chasm, particularly through the lens of the King James Version of the Bible, reveals crucial lessons about identity, worship, and the boundless grace of God.

The Genesis of Separation: The Assyrian Captivity

The primary catalyst for the Samaritan-Jewish schism was the Assyrian conquest of the Northern Kingdom of Israel in 722 B.C. The capital of this kingdom was Samaria, and its inhabitants, the ten tribes of Israel, were taken into captivity. The Assyrian policy was not merely one of deportation but also of resettlement, designed to break the national and religious identity of conquered peoples. The Bible records this event with stark clarity:

And the king of Assyria brought men from Babylon, and from Cuthah, and from Ava, and from Hamath, and from Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel: and they possessed Samaria, and dwelt in the cities thereof.

2 Kings 17:24

These foreign settlers brought with them their own gods and religious practices. While some of the original Israelites remained in the land, the influx of pagan peoples led to a significant intermingling of populations and, more critically, of religious beliefs. The new inhabitants, facing divine judgment in the form of lion attacks, sought instruction concerning the "manner of the God of the land." The result was a syncretistic religion:

So these nations feared the LORD, and served their graven images, both their children, and their children's children: as did their fathers, so do they unto this day.

2 Kings 17:41

This mixing of worship—revering the Lord alongside pagan idols—was anathema to the Southern Kingdom of Judah, which, though later exiled to Babylon, maintained a stricter adherence to monotheism and the Mosaic Law. The Judeans viewed the Samaritans as religiously corrupt and ethnically impure, a people who had defiled the covenant with God.

Post-Exilic Rejection and Rivalry

The animosity between Jews and Samaritans solidified during the post-exilic period, following Judah's return from Babylonian captivity. When the Jews, under leaders like Zerubbabel and Jeshua, began rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem, the Samaritans approached them with an offer of assistance. Their proposal, however, was met with outright rejection:

Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity builded the temple unto the LORD God of Israel; Then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and said unto them, Let us build with you: for we seek your God, as ye do; and we do sacrifice unto him since the days of Esar-haddon king of Assur, which brought us up hither. But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto the LORD God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia hath commanded us.

Ezra 4:1-3

This rejection, rooted in the Jews' desire to maintain religious purity and avoid the perceived defilement of Samaritan syncretism, fueled further resentment. The Samaritans, in response, actively hindered the rebuilding efforts (Ezra 4:4-5) and eventually built their own rival temple on Mount Gerizim, which they considered the true place of worship, based on their interpretation of the Pentateuch. This act cemented the religious and geographical separation, making the divide between Jerusalem and Gerizim a central point of contention.

The New Testament Era: Bridging the Divide

By the time of Jesus, the hatred between Jews and Samaritans was deeply ingrained. Jews typically avoided traveling through Samaria, preferring a longer route, and direct interaction was rare and often hostile. This animosity is evident in several New Testament passages:

• When Jesus sent His disciples out, He specifically instructed them, "Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not" (Matthew 10:5), indicating the depth of the social and religious barrier.
• The Samaritan woman at the well expressed surprise at Jesus' request for water: "How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans" (John 4:9).
• In a moment of intense accusation, Jewish leaders hurled the ultimate insult at Jesus: "Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?" (John 8:48).

Despite this pervasive prejudice, Jesus consistently challenged these societal norms, demonstrating God's inclusive love. His encounters with Samaritans are profoundly significant:

Jesus' interactions foreshadowed the expansion of the Gospel beyond Jewish borders. Before His ascension, He commanded His disciples, "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth" (Acts 1:8). This mandate was fulfilled when Philip preached Christ in Samaria, and many believed and were baptized (Acts 8:5-8), demonstrating that the Gospel breaks down all walls of division.

Enduring Lessons from a Divided People

The historical narrative of Samaritans and Jews offers timeless lessons for believers today:

The story of Samaritans and Jews reminds us that while human divisions can run deep, God's plan of redemption extends to all peoples. Through Christ, the walls of hostility are dismantled, and a new community, united in faith and worship, is forged, transcending all earthly distinctions.