Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-12-07
5rHuH ann 4ta Ttntra
BY DANIEL-ROPS
Chapter 4

The period of preparation and tentative
announcement was now over. The dual
nature of Jesus, human and divine, had
been manifested; the premises Of His doc
trine had been stated, the power on which
He could draw had been displayed; His
death and His resurrection had been
prophesied. Now the stage was set for
events which were to advance His destiny.
While Jesus was in Jerusalem. john the
Forerunner, continued to draw crowds and
baptize them.
Johns arrest made Jesus decide to leave
Judea and go back to His own province.
He left Jerusalem for Galilee and chose
the hill road rather than the Jordan valley,
possibly to escape the heat which in May
would be oppressive in that enclosed place.
Whatever the reason, the choice provided
the occasion of one of the most touching
and significant scenes in the Gospel.
From Jerusalem to the Lake of Galilee
by this road is about three days journey.
All the same, Jesus choice of this road
was surprising for it led through Samaria,
which no Jew would cross without hesi-
tation
The differences between the Jews and
the SamaritanS had long since hardened to
solid mutual hate.
Division of Kingdom
The schism dated from the year 935 B. c.
when the Kingdom was divided. after the
death of Solomon, into the small kingdom
of Judah and the larger kingdom of Israel.
1t was not long before religious and po-
litical differences embittered their relations.
The northern kingdom became attached
to an idolatrouS-ealt oftwin golden calves
said to represent. Jehovah. Onlri, one of
their ADLER kings, chose new site for a
capital and built the city of Samaria to
rival Sion. When Sargon, king of Assyria,
destroyed it in 722 B. c., the men Of Judah
could find no tears for the city of the i'm
pious Ahab and the idolatrous Jezebel.
From that time the Samaritans had
stopped at nothing to incense the Jews.
But, from the Jewish point of view, much
worse was to follow. The Assyrians deported
the Israelites of Samaria but planted there
instead colonies of miscellaneous people
from all parts Of their empire, so that 20
idolatries took the place of one.
When the men Of Judah returned from
exile, more than ever intransigeant in their
faith, they refused to have any relations
with the SamaritanS, considering them as
heather or worse.
Set Up Rival Sanctuary
The Samaritans retaliated by intriguing
against the Jews and finally, in the time
Of Ezra, renegade priest from Jerusalem,
having quarreled with the Temple au-
thorities, went to Samaria and set up a
rival sanctuary of the Most High on Mount
Gerizim.
One of the many grievances of the faith
full against Herod was that instead Of allow
ing Samaria to remain in the ruins to
which it had been reduced by John Hyr-
canus in B. C. 1913, he had rebuilt it in
sumptuous fashion, giving it the name Of
Augusta or Sebastia.
"The water of Samaria is more unclean
than the blood Of swine" said the rabbis
A Jew would have to be thirsty indeed
before he asked for it,
On the second day, having covered about
so miles, Jesus and His disciples were APP
preaching Shechem, an old historic site
famous in the time of the Patriarchs and