Samaria

Sunday we were in Samaria (Ephraim and Menassah). It was a great field study. A few of the highlights were going up to Mount Gerizim where Joshua and the Israelites recited the blessings and curses when they entered Canaan. Samaritans still live on this mountain. (about 300 of them) There are only about 800 of them in the world. They believe that only the Torah is scripture and that Mount Gerizim should be the sight of the Temple. On the mountian they still preform Levitical sacrifices and they said last Yom Kippur they sacrificed 50 sheep.
So here is my reaction report.

Our first stop on our Samaria field study was a scenic overlook down towards the Rift Valley. Unfortunately it was very foggy so we could not see down into the valley. Even with our view obstructed we began to talk about the tribal allotments of Ephraim and Manasseh, or Samaria, as it is called in the New Testament. We discussed that there is no real conquest narrative in Joshua about this part of Israel but it is clear through the Bible that this area was settled by the Israelites and they even set up the Tabernacle at Shiloh, the center of this territory. One of the reasons for this is that the people of Israel already considered this land as theirs. This area is where Abraham had settled, and Isaac even purchased land. Because of this the Israelites may of thought there was no need for a conquest story when the land they were entering already belonged to them. This is a very prevalent theory considering the events surrounding us today. For the last six months there has been a hold on Israeli settlements being built in the West Bank. Today, September 26th, is the day that agreement expires. The Israeli settlers have made it clear that as soon as the band is lifted they will begin settling in the West Bank again. They are planning on doing this because they have the same mindset that the Israelites had 3000 years ago. That land is their land and they should take it without having to pay for it or compensate the people settled there.

Our next stop was Jacob's well. The church that was over top of Jacob's well was relatively new and extremely beautiful. The gardens around the church were stunning. Before us stood this exquisite church and everyone in our group pointed their cameras towards the trees and flowers in the surrounding garden. As I watched I thought about how God is the ultimate architect. Here was a brand new church and yet all cameras and focus were turned towards what God has been creating for thousands of years. The inside of the church was beautiful, with huge pictures of events from the Bible and early church. As we walked down the stairs to Jacob's well the peaceful church turned into a mad house. It was just a small room that held the well and it was packed with pilgrims all wanting to look at and taste the water from this “holy” well. I stood there, surrounded by pilgrims pushing and shoving just so they could get a sip. I thought to myself, “is this really how Jesus would have wanted us to act around the sight where he first revealed himself to the Samaritans? I do not think he would even consider this place important since he was worried about the woman at the well and not the well itself.

Later we went to the top of Mount Garizin where the Israelites shouted the blessings of the Lord from. Just on the other side of the fog was Mount Ebal. That was the mountain that the Israelites shouted the curses from. These blessings and curses were conditional. If the Israelites obeyed the Lord and kept his commandments they would be blessed. If they turned from him and did what they pleased they would be cursed. This was very evident at our next sight, Shiloh. Shiloh is where the Israelites set up the Tabernacle when they entered the land and it resided in the most powerful tribe, Ephraim. Because of the wickedness of the High priest's sons the ark of the Lord was taken and the city of Shiloh was destroyed. Because the people were unable to follow the commands God moved the ark, and his presence, from Shiloh in Ephraim to Jerusalem in Judea.

Thank you all for reading. Dad, thanks for showing Granddad and Grandmom the pictures.