Encyclopedic Dictionary of Bible and Theology

Samaritan Liturgy Under this head we propose to treat of the formal ritual of the Samaritans, including their most important doctrines, usages, etc., as gathered from documentary sources; reserving some additional details as to their present practice for the art. SEE SAMARITANS, MODERN. I. Ritual. The liturgical literature of the Samaritans is very extensive, and … Continue reading “Samaritan Liturgy”

Samaritan Literature Under this head propose to enumerate the works known to European scholars, somewhat in distinction from those current with the Samaritans themselves, which will be found under SAMARITANS, MODERN. 1. Grammar and Lexicography. In this department we have to mention three grammatical treatises, which were published from a MS. at Amsterdam, by Noldeke, … Continue reading “Samaritan Literature”

Samaritan Language and Literature I. LANGUAGE The original language of the Samaritans was the vernacular of Palestine, that is Hebrew. This language was superseded later by Aramaic. One result of the domination of Islam there was the substitution of Arabic. Hebrew, as the idiom of the Pentateuch, both was and is for the Samaritans the … Continue reading “Samaritan Language and Literature”

Samaritan Language The Samaritan is chiefly a compound of the Hebrew, Chaldee, and Syriac. Among the words derived from these sources are to be recognized a great number of Cuthaean words, imported, doubtlessly, by the new colonists. We must therefore not be surprised that Greek, Latin, Persian, Arabic, and possibly other languages as well, have … Continue reading “Samaritan Language”

Samaritan (Heb. Shomeroni’, , from Shomeron, the Heb. name of Samaria; Sept., New Test., Josephus, and other Greek writers, , fem. la; by the later Jews, , i e. Cuthites [q.v.]; by themselves, , Shomerim, watchers [by a play upon their original name], i.e. keepers of the law, as interpreted by Epiphanius, Hoeres. 1, 9), … Continue reading “Samaritan”

Samaria, The Country of Sama’ria, The Country of. Samaria, at first, included all the tribes over which Jeroboam made himself king, whether east or west of the river Jordan. 1Ki 13:32. But whatever extent the word might have acquired, it necessarily became contracted as the limits of the kingdom of Israel became contracted. In all … Continue reading “Samaria, The Country of”

SAMARIA, SAMARITANS A Samaritan was an inhabitant of Samaria, but there was a difference between the Samaria of the Old Testament and the Samaria of the New. In the time of Israels Old Testament monarchy, Samaria was a city in central Israel and its inhabitants were Israelites. In New Testament times Samaria was the central … Continue reading “Samaria, Samaritans”

Samaria, Region Of (usually , the same as the city; but when distinguishing it from the latter, the Sept. and Josephus write or ; sometimes , as Ptolemy). This term at first included all the tribes over which Jeroboam made himself king, whether east or west of the river Jordan. Hence, even before the city … Continue reading “Samaria, Region Of”

Samaria, Country of (, shomeron; , he Samaretis chora): The name of the city was transferred to the country of which it was the capital, so that Samaria became synonymous with the Northern Kingdom (1Ki 13:32; Jer 31:5, etc.). The extent of territory covered by this appellation varied greatly at different periods. At first it … Continue reading “Samaria, Country of”

Samaria, City of sa-mari-a, (, shomeron; , Samareia, , Semeron, and other forms): (1) Shechem was the first capital of the Northern Kingdom (1Ki 12:25). Jeroboam seems later to have removed the royal residence to Tirzah (1Ki 14:17). After the brief reigns of Elah and Zimri came that of Omri, who reigned 6 years in … Continue reading “Samaria, City of”