Samaritans

Samaritans, often calling themselves Israelite Samaritans, are an ethnoreligious group from the ancient Near East. They come from the Hebrews and Israelites and live in Samaria, an old region of ancient Israel and Judah. They follow Samaritanism, a religion that believes in one God and is closely related to Judaism.

The Samaritans believe they are descendants of the tribes of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Levi. They think they are the true keepers of the Mosaic covenant. Unlike most Jewish people, they believe that Mount Gerizim, not the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, is God's holy place.

In ancient times, the Samaritans were a large group, but their numbers fell after many revolts and tough rules under the Byzantine Empire. As time went on, many people became Christian or Muslim, making the Samaritan group even smaller. By the 12th century, there were only about 1,900 Samaritans left. Their numbers got even smaller, down to about 100 people, but today they have grown to around 900. Today, most Samaritans live in two places: Kiryat Luza on Mount Gerizim near Nablus, also known as ancient Shechem, and in Holon near Tel Aviv. They are one of the world's smallest ethnoreligious groups.

Attributions

The Samaritan community is small, with around 900 people living in two places: Holon in Israel and Kiryat Luza in the West Bank. Those in Kiryat Luza speak South Levantine Arabic, while those in Holon mainly speak Modern Hebrew. They use special ancient languages, Samaritan Hebrew and Samaritan Aramaic, written in a unique Samaritan script, for their religious services.

According to Samaritan beliefs, their leading Samaritan High Priest has been in place for over 3,600 years, starting with the prophet Aaron. As of 2013, the current high priest is Aabed-El ben Asher ben Matzliach. In Israel, Samaritans are recognized as their own religious group. They all have Israeli citizenship, and those living in Kiryat Luza also have Palestinian citizenship.

Etymology and terminology

Old writings from the Samaritan community in Delos, dating back to between 150 and 50 BCE, show that they called themselves Bene Israel, meaning "children of Israel" in Hebrew. This shows they thought of themselves as descendants of the prophet Israel, also known as Jacob.

In their own language, Samaritan Hebrew, they call themselves "Israel", B'nai Israel, or Shamerim, which means "Guardians", "Keepers", or "Watchers". In Arabic, they are called al-Sāmiriyyūn. The word "Samaritans" in modern English comes from their home region, Samaria. The name reflects their role as "Guardians of the Law" according to the Samaritan Pentateuch.

Origins

The origins of the Samaritans are debated between their own traditions and those of the Jews. Samaritans believe they are descendants of the ancient tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh in Samaria. They trace their split from the Judean-led southern Israelites to the time of the biblical priest Eli, who they say established a rival shrine at Shiloh.

Orthodox Jewish tradition, based on historical sources like the Talmud, suggests Samaritans appeared later, around the time of the Babylonian captivity. Some Jewish texts refer to them as Cuthites, linked to people from the ancient city of Kutha in Iraq. Over time, the Samaritans developed a distinct identity separate from Jews, a process that took several centuries.

History

The Samaritans are an ancient ethnoreligious group with roots in the Hebrews and Israelites of the ancient Near East. They originated in Samaria, a historical region of ancient Israel and Judah, and follow Samaritanism, a monotheistic religion that developed alongside Judaism.

During the Persian period, the Samaritan community began to take shape. After the Babylonian exile, tensions arose between the returning Jews and the Samaritans, leading to a gradual schism. The Hellenistic period saw further conflict, especially under Antiochus IV Epiphanes, who attempted to Hellenize the region. The destruction of the Samaritan temple on Mount Gerizim by the Hasmonean ruler John Hyrcanus deepened the divide between Samaritans and Jews.

In the Roman period, Samaritans appear in Christian gospels, notably in the parable of the Good Samaritan. During the First Jewish–Roman War, a significant Samaritan uprising was suppressed by Roman forces. Later, under Byzantine rule, Samaritans faced persecution and revolts, significantly reducing their numbers. Despite these challenges, the Samaritan community survived and continued to practice their traditions.

Genetic studies

Further information: Genetic history of the Middle East

See also: Genetic studies on Jews and Israelites § Genetics

Genetic research has explored the family lines and ancestry of the Samaritan community. Studies show that Samaritans belong to four main family lines, each tracing back to different ancient tribes.

Tests of male DNA have found that most Samaritan men share a specific genetic marker called haplogroup J, which links them to ancient Israelite families. The studies also show that Samaritan ancestry is closely related to that of Jewish groups, especially in their paternal lines, but their maternal lines show similarities to Iraqi Jewish families. Overall, Samaritan DNA places them among other groups from the Levant region.

Demographics

There were once around 1 million Samaritans during biblical times, but today their numbers are much smaller. In recent years, the population has grown from about 100 people in 1786 to around 820 by 2019. Today, about half of the Samaritan community lives in Kiryat Luza on Mount Gerizim, a sacred site for them, while the other half lives in Holon. Some Samaritan families also reside in places like Binyamina-Giv'at Ada, Matan, and Ashdod.

Because the Samaritan community is very small and divided into just a few families, they often marry within their extended families. This has led to some health challenges due to a limited number of ancestors. To help prevent health problems, the community has rules about checking for genetic issues before marriages. Some Samaritans have also married people from outside the community to keep the group growing. The leader of the Samaritan community is called the Samaritan High Priest, and the current one is Aabed-El ben Asher ben Matzliach.

Samaritanism

Main article: Samaritanism

Samaritanism is the religious tradition of the Samaritans, focusing on the Samaritan Pentateuch, which they believe is the original and unchanged version of the Torah given to Moses on Mount Sinai. This text has some differences from the version used in Judaism. Samaritans hold that Mount Gerizim, near the ancient city of Shechem, is the holiest place, unlike Judaism which considers the Temple Mount in Jerusalem sacred.

Samaritan beliefs include the idea that there is one God, that the Torah was given by God to Moses, and that Mount Gerizim is God's chosen sanctuary. They also believe in the resurrection of the dead led by a figure called the Taheb. Their religious practices and texts, such as the Memar Marqah and the Defter (a prayer book), differ in some ways from Jewish traditions.

Christian sources: New Testament

The Samaritans are mentioned in several books of the New Testament, including Matthew, Luke, John, and Acts. One of the most famous stories is the Parable of the Good Samaritan from the Gospel of Luke.

In these stories, Jesus teaches his followers about kindness and acceptance. For example, he healed ten people with a skin condition called lepers, and only one of them—a Samaritan—came back to thank him. Jesus also spoke with a Samaritan woman and shared important messages with many Samaritans, who then decided to follow him. These stories show how Jesus encouraged people to treat others with compassion, no matter where they came from.

Notable Samaritans

Some well-known Samaritans throughout history include Sanballat I, a leader who lived long ago, and Simon Magus, known for his stories in early Christian texts. Other important figures are Eudokia of Heliopolis, a saint in some traditions, Baba Rabba, a key religious leader for the Samaritans, Justa, known for her role in ancient debates, Marinus of Neapolis, who helped establish Samaritan religious practices, Sofi Tsedaka, a modern Samaritan scholar and author, and Nader Sadaqa, a contemporary community leader.