Samaritans

Samaritans
Edkaprov (Edward Kaprov). · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Group	Samaritans
Population	c. 900
Regions	West Bank (Mount Gerizim), Holon, Israel
Religions	Samaritanism
Languages	Hebrew, Arabic
Related	Jews, Israelites

Samaritans. The Samaritans are an ethnoreligious group tracing their origins to the ancient Israelites of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Their history is profoundly shaped by the imperial policies of Ancient Babylon, particularly the Babylonian captivity, which created the demographic and theological conditions for their distinct identity to emerge. As a minority community with a unique scriptural canon centered on Mount Gerizim, they represent a living link to the pre-exilic Israelite traditions and a continuous narrative of cultural survival.

Origins and Babylonian Exile

The formation of the Samaritan community is inextricably linked to the conquests of the Neo-Babylonian Empire. Following the Assyrian conquest of the Kingdom of Israel in 722 BCE, the region of Samaria was repopulated with peoples from other conquered territories. However, the decisive event for Samaritan origins was the Babylonian captivity of the Kingdom of Judah in 586 BCE. While the Babylonian army deported the Judean elite to Mesopotamia, including figures like the prophet Ezekiel, those Israelites who remained in the land, particularly around Shechem, developed independently. The Cyrus Cylinder and the subsequent Edict of Cyrus allowed exiled Judeans to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Second Temple. This return, led by figures such as Zerubbabel and Ezra, created a sharp conflict with the northern inhabitants, whom the returnees viewed as religiously compromised. The Book of Ezra and the Book of Nehemiah document this tension, framing the Samaritans as adversaries to the rebuilding project in Jerusalem.

Samaritan Schism and Religious Identity

The definitive schism between the Samaritans and the Jews (Judeans) solidified in the Hellenistic period, though its roots lie in the post-exilic rivalry. The central point of contention was the legitimate place of worship. While the Jerusalem-centered community, influenced by the Deuteronomic reform, held the Temple in Jerusalem as supreme, the Samaritans maintained that the true holy site was Mount Gerizim, citing its mention in the Torah. They built their own temple there during the Persian or early Hellenistic period, which was later destroyed by the Hasmonean king John Hyrcanus I in the 2nd century BCE. This act of destruction by the Hasmonean dynasty was a major blow to the Samaritan political structure but cemented their religious identity as a persecuted community separate from the Judaism of the Second Temple period. Their high priests trace lineage back to Aaron through his son Ithamar, diverging from the Judean line.

Beliefs and Sacred Texts

Samaritan theology, or Samaritanism, is a form of Abrahamic religion that shares core principles with Judaism but possesses distinct interpretations. Their scriptural canon consists solely of the Samaritan Pentateuch, their version of the Torah, which they believe is the original and unaltered text. A key doctrinal difference is the veneration of Mount Gerizim as "the chosen place" mentioned in Deuteronomy, not Jerusalem. They reject the sanctity of the later prophetic and wisdom books (Nevi'im and Ketuvim) and do not recognize the Oral Torah or the Talmud. Their religious calendar observes Passover and other Jewish holidays, but with unique rituals, most notably the annual Passover sacrifice performed on Mount Gerizim. The community has produced its own historical chronicles, such as the Samaritan Chronicle (Tolidah).

Demographics and Modern Community

Once a large population, centuries of persecution under successive empires—including the Byzantine Empire, Muslim conquests, and the Crusades—drastically reduced their numbers. By the early 20th century, the community neared extinction. Today, they number approximately 900 individuals, split between two primary locations: the West Bank city of Nablus (near Mount Gerizim) and the Israeli city of Holon. They hold both Israeli citizenship and Palestinian identity cards, a unique status reflecting their complex geopolitical reality. The community is led by a Samaritan High Priest and maintains strict endogamy to preserve its lineage. Organizations like the A.B. Institute of Samaritan Studies in Holon work to document and sustain their heritage.

Relations with Neighboring Groups

Historically, relations between Samaritans, Jews, and later Muslims have been characterized by conflict and theological polemic. The Gospel of Luke and the Gospel of John in the New Testament reference Samaritans, most famously in the Parable of the Good Samaritan, illustrating contemporary Jewish-Samaritan tensions. During the Roman period, they were sometimes granted separate status, as noted by the historian Josephus. Under Muslim rule, they were accorded dhimmi status, similar to Jews and Christians. In the modern era, their small size and political neutrality have allowed them to maintain generally pragmatic, if cautious, relations with both Israelis and Palestinians. They serve in the Israel Defense Forces and participate in the Palestinian educational system.

Cultural and Historical Significance

The Samaritans hold immense significance as a living relic of the ancient Israelite world that existed before the centralizing reforms of the Kingdom of Judah. They provide an alternative window into the development of monotheism and scriptural interpretation outside the dominant Rabbinic Judaism tradition. Their survival through the Babylonian exile, Hellenistic pressures, and Roman rule is a testament to cultural resilience. Scholars like Moses Gaster and institutions such as the University of Haifa have studied their traditions, contributing to fields like biblical criticism and comparative religion. Their story is a microcosm of the enduring impacts of imperial displacement, as initiated by Ancient Babylon, and the ongoing struggle for identity, justice, and preservation amidst larger national and religious conflicts.