The Samaritans
Digital Logos Edition
Overview
Most people associate the term “Samaritan” exclusively with the New Testament stories about the Good Samaritan and the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well. Very few are aware that a small community of about 750 Samaritans still lives today in Palestine and Israel; they view themselves as the true Israelites, having resided in their birthplace for thousands of years and preserving unchanged the revelation given to Moses in the Torah.
Reinhard Pummer, one of the world’s foremost experts on Samaritanism, offers in this book a comprehensive introduction to the people identified as Samaritans in both biblical and nonbiblical sources. Besides analyzing the literary, epigraphic, and archaeological sources, he examines the Samaritans’ history, their geographical distribution, their version of the Pentateuch, their rituals and customs, and their situation today. There is no better book available on the subject.
Explore other resources about the Samaritans with Samaritan Studies Collection (2 vols.).
Key Features
- Provides a comprehensive introduction to the people identified as Samaritans
- Examines the Samaritans’ history
- Discusses the Samaritans’ situation today
Contents
- The Identity of the Samaritans
- Samaritans in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament?
- The Samaritans and the New Testament
- Samaritans in Jewish Writings of Antiquity
- Archaeological Excavations
- Samaritan Sects
- The Samaritans in History
- Geographical Distribution and Demography
- The Samaritan Pentateuch
- Samaritan Literature
- Samaritan Rituals and Customs
- The Samaritans Today
- New Challenges
Praise for the Print Edition
Reinhard Pummer is the world's leading expert on all things Samaritan. In this marvelously detailed yet highly accessible volume, he presents not only the Samaritans' religion, literature, history, and material culture but also their life today. This is an important book for scholars, students, and general readers — a real cause for celebration!
—Steven Fine, Yeshiva University
There is no better introduction to the history, religion, and culture of the Samaritans than this impressive book, the product of half a century of research by the leading Samaritanologist of our time, Reinhard Pummer. Written in a clear style, it reflects in all respects the present state of our knowledge of this fascinating branch of Israelite religion and culture.
—Pieter W. van der Horst, Utrecht University
Pummer has done us all a great service by producing such a well-informed analysis of the identity, history, and religion of the Samaritans.
—Gary N. Knoppers, University of Notre Dame
- Title: The Samaritans: A Profile
- Author: Reinhard Pummer
- Publisher: Eerdmans
- Print Publication Date: 2016
- Logos Release Date: 2016
- Pages: 376
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subject: Samaritans › History
- ISBNs: 9780802867681, 0802867685
- Resource ID: LLS:SAMARITANS
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-30T02:51:27Z
Sample Pages from the Print Edition
Reviews
2 ratings
Dr. Anthony Mazak
3/27/2021
Glenn Crouch
3/24/2017
I must say I was quite surprised how little I really knew about the Samaritans - outside of the New Testament references, and the info that various commentaries on those passages supply. I also didn't know that they as a people-group still exist today - and after all most fading away around the time of WW1 (with around a 100 people), they are now 800+ and climbing in the 21st Century. The Author does quite a thorough job covering not only how Samaritans see themselves, but also a critical examination of their origins. He includes not on Biblical references to Samaritans but also looks at references to them in the Early Church Fathers, Roman History, Byzantine History, etc... Plus we get a good examination of the Samaritan Pentateuch as well as other Samaritan Literature. Concluding with chapters that look at Rituals and Customs, and where the Samaritans are at today, and where they are heading. Given the breadth of topics, the author is quite clear that he is being far from exhaustive, and includes extensive references so that the reader can embark on further research. With all the conflict between Israel and Palestine, we often over-look the generational Christians in this area - but as this book indicates we are also overlooking the Samaritans - with their two main centres - one in the Israel-are, and one in the Palestinian area - and how they "get along" with their Jewish and Muslim neighbours, as well as the much smaller group of Christian neighbours. Well worth a read for those interested in modern Israel and surrounds, as well as very worth while for those interested in this fascinating people-group that our Lord Jesus took more than a passing interest in.