Page 75 - Bible Geography and Near East Studies - Textbook w videos short

people. Tensions between Jews and Samaritans continued to increase. Though living in close proximity,
most Jews avoided the more direct path through Samaria as they traveled to and from Jerusalem.
Instead, they detoured around the region and traveled through the Jordan River Valley.

Famously, Jesus passed through the land of Samaria at least once (John 4), and perhaps several times. In
doing this, Jesus demonstrated his love for all people, regardless of race. One of his most famous
parables made a hero of the “Good Samaritan.” During the rapid spread of the early church, Philip the
evangelist preached a great revival in the region Samaria (Acts 8:5).

Today, this area is the northern portion of the “West Bank.” It remains a place where racial, cultural and
political tensions openly exists between Jews and Palestinians. Few Jewish families will journey through
the heart of the West Bank today, just as their ancestors wouldn’t travel through “Samaria.”

Samaria, the City
Omri, the king of Israel, purchased a hill, and made it the capital city of the Kingdom of Israel. In the
days of Ahab, Benhadad II came up against it with 32 vassal kings, but was defeated with a great
slaughter (I Kings 20:1-21). A second time he attempted to conquer it, but was utterly routed, and was
compelled to surrender to Ahab (I Kings 20:29-34). It was also in Samaria that Benhadad sieged the city
in the days of Jehoram, during which time the city was reduced to almost no food. People were eating
other people. Benhadad suddenly broke the siege when his army heard noises of chariots and horses
and a great army, so they fled, leaving their camp and all their possessions behind. The famishing
inhabitants of the city were informed by some lepers that the Assyrian army was gone, and the city was
saved.

The woman of Samaria and several of her townsmen were the first fruits gathered by Christ (John 4) and
a fuller harvest followed under Philip the evangelist (Acts 8). Jesus healed the lepers here (Luke 17:11-
19). The Samaritans were expecting the Messiah and many disciples came from the inhabitants of
Samaria (Acts 8:5-8, 14-17, 25).

A panoramic view of a valley below Dothan. Shepherds still graze their flocks in these fields.

Dothan or Tel Dothan

At his father’s request, Joseph searched for his brothers near Dothan (Genesis 37:17). Unfortunately for
Joseph, his brothers sold him to Ishmaelite merchants, who took him to Egypt. While that story turned
out well for Joseph and his family (Genesis 50:20), one glance at the rich pasture land of Dothan will
explain why shepherds had been grazing their flocks there. Dothan was also the home of Elisha late in

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