VERS. V.
〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
Into any City of the Samaritans enter ye not.
OUR Saviour would have the Jews priviledges reserved to them, until they ali∣enated and lost them by their own perversness and si••s. Nor does he grant the preaching of the Gospel to the Gentiles, or Samaritans, before it was offered to the Jewish Nation. The Samaritans vaunted themselves sons of the Patriach Jacob, Joh. IV. 12. (which indeed was not altogether distant from the truth,) they embraced al∣so the law of Moses, and being taught thence, expected the Messias, as well as the Jews; nevertheless Christ acknowledges them for his sheep, no more than the Heathen themselves.
I. Very many among them were sprung indeed of the seed of Jacob, though now be∣come Renegades and Apostates from the Jewish Faith and Nation, and hating them more than if they were Heathens, and more than they would do Heathens. Which also among other things may perhaps be observed in their very language. For read the Sa∣maritan version of the Pentateuch, and if I mistake not, you will observe, that the Sama∣ritans, when, by reason of the neerness of the places, and the alliance of the Nations, they could not but use of the language of the Jews, yet used such a variation and change of the Dialect, as if they scorned to speak the same words that they did, and make the same language not the same.
II. In like manner they received the Mosaic law, but for the most part in so different a writing of the words, that they seem plainly to have propounded this to themselves, that retaining indeed the law of Moses, they would hold it under as much difference, from the Mosaic Text of the Jews, as ever they could, so that they kept something to the sense. n 1.1 R. Eliezer ben R. Simeon said, I said to the Scribes of the Samaritans, Ye have falsified your Law, without any manner of profit accruing to you thereby. For ye have writ in your Law, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Near the Oaken Groves of Mor••h, which is Sichem, &c. (the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 is added.) Let the Samaritan text at Deut. XI. 30. be looked upon.
III. However they pretended to study the religion of Moses, yet in truth there was little or no difference between them and Idolaters, when they knew not what they worshipped; which our Saviour objects against them, Joh. IV. 22. and had not only revolted, as Apostates, from the true religion of Moses, but set themselves against it with the greatest hatred. Hence the Jewish Nation held them for Heathens, or for a people more execrable than the Heathens themselves. A certain Rabbin thus reproaches their idolatry. o 1.2 R. Ismael ben R. Josi went to Neapolis (that is, S••chem) the Samari∣tans came to him: to whom he spake thus, I see, that you adore not this Mountain, but the Idols which are under it: for it is written, Jacob hid the strange Gods under the wood, which is neer Sichem.
p 1.3 It is disputed, whether a Cuthite ought to be reckoned for a Heathen? which is asserted by Rabbi, denyed by Simeon, but the conclusion indeed is sufficiently for the Affirmative.
IV. The Metroprolis of the Samaritans laboured under a second Apostacy, being brought to it by the deceit and witchcraft of Simon Magus, after the receiving of the Gospel from the mouth of our Saviour himself. Compare Act. VIII. ver. 9. with Joh. IV. ver. 41.
From all these particulars, and with good reason for the thing it self, and to preserve the priviledges of the Jews safe, and that they might not otherwise prove an offence to that nation, the Samaritans are made parallel to the Heathen, and as distant as they, from partaking of the Gospel.