Watts - BX5200 .W3 1813 v.5

CHAPTER XIX. 481 priest, for marrying the daughter of Sanballat the Horonite ; Nehem. xiii. 28. 18. Q. What did Sanballat do with his son-in-law, Ma- nasseh, on this occasion ? A. He procured a grant fromDarius Nothus, who was now king of Persia, to build ou mount Geri- zim, near Samaria, a temple like that at Jerusalem, and to make Manasseh, his son-in-law, thehigh-priest of it. 19. Q. What was the consequence of this practice? A. Samaria thenceforth became the refuge of the rebellious Jews, who were called to account for breaking the sabbath, eating un- clean meats, or were found guilty in sinning against the law in any remarkable instances. 20. Q. What change was wrought hereby among the Sa- maritans ? A. Their first original was from some eastern heathens who were planted there by the king of Assyria, after the capti- vityof Israel ; but when, on several occasions, the Jews flocked to them, it made a considerable change in their religion ; for though, before, they worshipped the God of Israel, in conjunc- tion with other gods ; 2 Kings xvii. 24-41. they now cast off their idolatry : And since a temple was built amongst them, in which the Jewish service was performed, and the law of Moses read publicly, they carne much nearer to the worship of the ttvtte God, prescribed in scripture. 21. Q. Did not the Jews love them the better on this ac- count ? A. No, by no means ; but they hated them grievously : the enmity which began from the opposition which they the Samaritans made to the Jews in their rebuilding Jerusalem, and the temple, was so exceedingly increased by their shelter- ing all the rebellious Jews, that the Jews at. Jerusalem publish- ed the bitterest curse against them that ever was denounced against any people. 22. Q. What miseries were contained in this curse ? A. The Jews forbid all communication with the Samaritans, de- clared all the fruits of their land, and their cattle unclean ; ex- cluded them from being ever received as proselytes, and barred them, as far as possible, from having any portion in the resur- rectionof the dead to eternal life. 23. Q. What appearance of this great enmity do we find in the New Testament ? A.. This seems to be confirmed by the words of scripture ; John iv. 9. " The Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans :" and the woman of Samaria asked our Saviour, " How is it that thou, being aJew, askest drink of me who am a woman of Samaria ?" And when the Jews would give the worst naine they could to our Saviour, they said, " Thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil ;" John viii. 48. SECT. II:-Of the Jewish Aÿairs under the Persian and Grecian Monarchies. I. Question. now were the Jews governed after the dea h

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