Yeshua Leaves for Galilee

We pick up our story of Yeshua’s ministry in Yochanan 4:1-4. ¹ When Yeshua learned that the P’rushim had heard he was making and immersing more talmidim than Yochanan ² (although it was not Yeshua himself who immersed but His talmidim), ³ Yeshua left Y’hudah and set out again for the Galil (Galilee). ⁴ This meant that he had to pass through Shomron (Samaria).

As you can see on the map below, the shortest distance to the Galil from Judea was to go directly thru Shomron.

There had historically been animosity since the exile of the Northern Kingdom and the Southern Kingdom, which continued in Yeshua’s day. Both groups excluded the other from their respective cultic centers, the Jerusalem Temple and the Samaritan Temple on Mt Gerizim. The Samaritans, for example, were forbidden access to the inner courts of the Temple, and any offering they might give was considered as if it were from a Gentile. Thus, although probably more accurately defined as “dissidents,” it appears Samaritans were in practice treated as Gentiles. Therefore, all marriage between the groups was forbidden, and social relations were greatly restricted (Yochanan 4:9). With such criminal separation, it is not surprising that any interaction between the two groups was strained. The mere term Samaritan was one of contempt on the lips of Jews (Yochanan 8:48), and among some scribes, it possibly would not even be uttered. ^[1]

Well, the best-laid plans don’t always work. I thought it would be wise to lay the background out that Yeshua was challenging conventional wisdom.

Our next post will examine that Yeshua Meets the Women at the Well.

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^[1] Elwell, W. A., & Comfort, P. W. (2001). Tyndale Bible Dictionary. (p. 1154)​