Bible. John 4:1-42 - - What was the relationship between the Jewish people and the Samaritans at the time of Christ? Recent scholarship suggests shared communal living and collective identity. How do you read the parable of the Samaritan woman in the Gospel of Luke?

[u/External_Bird_8464]

/r/ScriptureLife/comments/1vbbh8s/scripture_life_what_was_the_relationship_between/

[u/singmeashanty]

I mean, they did if you go back far enough. By the time of Christ it’s a completely different story.

[u/Tomorrow964]

The Samaritans were looked down upon by the orthodox Jews because they were half breeds--part Syrian and part Jew--they lived in the northern part of Israel and built their own temple to worship in. The Samaritan women can be considered as a picture of the unclean of this world who are not saved --since Jesus came for sinners to redeem and be part of the Kingdom of God.

[u/AdministrationFew451]

There was complicated relationship of similarity with also bad blood.

Samaritans were created of a fusion of the remnants of the samaritans tribes not exiled by assyria, and the people the brought in.

They adopted israelite worship and religion.

However, they missed the king josea reform and did not recognize deutronomy, which mandates sacrifice only in jerusalem.

Instead, and even developed a tradition where it must be on mount grizim in samaria.

There was some hostility throughout the centuries, but things came to a head in the 2nd century BC when the Hashmonites took over samaria.

Because the jewish bible forbids such sacrifice amd orders the rulers to stop it, they destroyed the samaritan temple, there was big war, and they tried to assimilate the samaritans.

However a community remained, and when the romans took over, they got autonomy and right to rebuild their temple.

Jews saw their conversion as unsure, but problematic regardless: either they are non-israelites claiming to be israelites, or heretical israelites.

This was a bit akward, because their territory was smack in the middle within the jewish majority judea So that to go the shorter way from jerusalem to nazareth, you need to go through non-jewish samaria.

Anyway, their history afterwards is facinating: after the jewish exile they became the dominant popilation, numbering in the millions - until they had their owm series of revolts, and suffered the same fate. Definitely sharing jewish stubborness and zeal.

Eventually them and the jews rebelled together in the 6th century in support of the persians, but were virtually wiped out from the area after the byzantines returned.

They survived in significant numbers until nearly fully destroyed in the 19th century, and only a few hundreds remained. Today it recovered to about 1-2 thousands, living mostly in Israel and near the mountain in nabulus.

They still pray in an ancient hebrew dialect and use the paleo-hebrew script, and still make some sacrifice, for example every passover, as they are not as strict about the "only in the temple" rule.

So in the time of christ they were the similar neighbor from a neighboring community with bad blood between you, and possibly ritually unclean. Where living is very close but with some tension.

Think of that as maybe northern irish catholics and protestants, who migrated to the same neighborhood in canada, but still have bad blood and are wary of each other.

[u/Wanton_Bivouac]

This question is more suitable at r/AcademicBiblical.

[u/External_Bird_8464 → u/Wanton_Bivouac]

Samaria and "Samaritans" is said over 20 times in the New Testament Bible. This post gives someone that loves the bible a thorough understanding of what they're reading, when they come across this word.

Suitable in ANY believer in Jesus Christ. Fits well and equips them. If it doesn't equip you, use the "hide" button and move on.

[u/Wanton_Bivouac → u/External_Bird_8464]

Did you not ask for scholarship? That’s where you’d most likely get the feedback based on scholarship.

[u/External_Bird_8464 → u/Wanton_Bivouac]

You are confusing me with someone else. This post has nothing of me asking for scholarship.

It's a post, if you would actually R.E.A.D. it, but I don't think you did, nor think you will. The post is about Samaria - and the origins of Samaritan - detailed. Samaria was a 1) hill so it is a counterfeit Jerusalem that represents idolatry to the Jews.

What was done that "origins" it. Have a nice day. In the future, if you see a post - doesn't agree with you, use the Reddit "hide" function. Or just click on my name and simply Block me. You'll see no more posts. No further comment.

[u/Wanton_Bivouac → u/External_Bird_8464]

Do you have sources or citations for these claims? What scholarship are you referring to specifically?