What is the difference between a Jew and a Samaritan?
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Asked March 05 2014
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Eva Gallardo
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Faith Cross
During the time of the Kings there came a division in Israel. The 10 northern tribes set up their Capital City in Samaria, and were now known as "Israel". The two southern tribes, Benjamen and Judah, kept their capital city in Jerusalem and were now called "Judah" Judah considered themselves to be pure "Jews" as they followed the laws more closely, and were careful not to mix with other nations around them. "Israel" became a 'mixed breed' because they intermarried with the surrounding nations, and then became known as Samaritans. The Jews came to hate the Samaritans, no longer seeing them as brethern, because they saw them as traitors, rebellious and unorthodox. Jesus understood the hatred of the Jews toward Samaritans. John 4:9 says, "Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, 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." Not only was she a woman, but a Samaritan, a double whammy against her! In Matthew 10:5-6, when Jesus was sending out his disciples to minister, he says to the 12, "Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." This was not because Jesus hated Samaritans and gentiles, but because he knew his disciples did. Also because the time of the gentiles had not yet come.
Bryan Myers
Jew is a term that came into use in reference to the kingdom of Judah. Samaritans were a mixed race people. During the time of the divided kingdoms, parts of the ten northern tribes of Israel were taken captive. This is recorded in 2 Kings 17:6-41. Study this passage and Scripture shows that the king of Assyria brought people to dwell in place of the captive Israelites. These foreigners inter-married with the remaining Israelites and continued the false worship in Samaria under the guidance of captive priests. The Jews hated the Samaritans because of their mixed heritage and false worship.
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