Who were the ancient people known as "Samaritans" mentioned in the Bible? Where did they come from? Did any of them survive until today?

 The Samaritans were an ethnoreligious group originating from the Hebrews and Israelites of the ancient Near East. Let’s delve into their fascinating history:

1. Origins and Split:

   • After King Solomon’s reign, the unwise actions of his son Rehoboam led to a schism in the kingdom. Israel split into the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah.
   • The northern kingdom fared worse, falling to the Assyrians in 721 B.C. Many Israelites were taken captive, but some remained in the land and intermarried with foreigners planted by the Assyrians. These half-Jewish, half-Gentile people became known as the Samaritans.
   • The Samaritans viewed themselves as descendants of Israelites who were not subject to the Assyrian captivity ¹.

2. Theological Differences:

   • The Samaritans revered the Samaritan Pentateuch as the unaltered Torah. They considered the Jews as close relatives but believed that Judaism fundamentally altered the original Israelite religion.
   • The most significant theological divide concerned the holiest site:
     • Jews believed it was the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.
     • Samaritans believed it was Mount Gerizim near modern Nablus and ancient Shechem ².

3. Survival and Decline:

   • Once a large community, the Samaritans faced challenges:
     • Samaritan revolts were brutally suppressed by the Byzantine Empire in the 6th century.
     • Christianization under the Byzantines and later Islamization further reduced their numbers.
   • In the 12th century, only around 1,900 Samaritans remained in Palestine and Syria.
   • Today, approximately 900 Samaritans persist, split between Israel and the West Bank. They continue to practice their faith centered on the Pentateuch and Mount Gerizim ³⁴.
   • Their survival is a testament to their resilience and unique place in history.