What is Samaritanism?

Answer

Samaritanism is a religion that takes its name from the region north of Jerusalem known as Samaria. It is rooted in the Pentateuch—the initial five books of the Old Testament—although the Samaritan Pentateuch or Samaritan Torah is inscribed in the Samaritan script for the Samaritan community. This is the sole text that the Samaritans view as inspired, while they reject the remainder of the Hebrew Bible and the complete New Testament. Devout Samaritans highlight the significance of Moses as a prophet and lawgiver, and they revere the site of the Samaritan temple constructed in Samaria at Mt. Gerizim. Similar to Judaism, Samaritanism prohibits depictions of Yahweh and observes many of the same festivals as the Jews.

A concise overview of the Samaritans can aid in comprehending Samaritanism. Here are some key points:

• following King Solomon’s rule, Israel splits into northern and southern regions in 931 BC

• in 722 BC, the Assyrians capture the northern kingdom of Israel, encompassing the city and area of Samaria

• the Assyrians leave a remnant of Israelites and bring in foreigners to inhabit the region; these settlers introduce numerous foreign deities for worship «Howbeit every nation made gods of their own, and put them in the houses of the high places which the Samaritans had made, every nation in their cities wherein they dwelt. », (2 Kings 17:29)

• in 586 BC, the Babylonians conquer the southern kingdom of Judah

• the Judeans return to their land and reconstruct their temple in Jerusalem in 515 BC

• the inhabitants of Samaria oppose the reconstruction of the Jewish temple (Ezra 4; Nehemiah 4)

• the Samaritans erect an alternative temple on Mt. Gerizim within their own territory

• around 128 BC, during the Maccabean Period, Jewish troops demolish the Samaritan temple.In the temple.