The Samaritans are unique among the many religious groups described in the Bible apart from traditional Judaism and Christianity: the others have long passed into oblivion, but the Samaritans still survive in our own day, as a community preserving its ancient rites on its holy site, Mount Gerizim, near the ancient site of Shechem and the modern city of Nablus. Samaria occupies the geographical center of the Holy Land. On the west, the mountains of Samaria descend to the Plain of Sharon, "I am the rose of Sharon, the lily of the valleys." (Song of Songs 2;1 )

Shechem, which has been called "the uncrowned queen of Palestine," lies in almost the exact center of the land. A broad valley here separates the twin limestone massifs of Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal One day, while camped at Shechem, Abraham, the ancestor of the people of Israel, knew that he was in the presence of the Lord. During this transcendent experience he heard the divine promise, never to be forgotten, "To your descendants I will give this land" (Genesis 12:7).

Jewish pilgrims from Galilee on their way to Jerusalem for the annual festivals usually avoided the direct route through Samaria and detoured by way of the far side of the Jordan. Jesus, however, used the road through Samaria at least three times (Luke 9:52; 17:11; John 4:4). As has already been mentioned, on one occasion he conversed at length with a Samaritan woman and dealt with the chief problem dividing Jews from Samaritans. This conversation took place at Jacob's well at Sychar not far from the site of ancient Shechem. According to the Fourth Gospel, "many Samaritans from that city believed in him because of the woman's testimony" (John 4:39).

Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well, and It was about the sixth hour. There cometh a woman of Sama'ria to draw water. Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink. 8 (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat) 9 Then saith the woman of Samaria said unto him, How is It that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samalria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Sa-marl-tans. 10 Jesus answered and said unto her. It thou knewest the gift of God, and who it Is that saith to thee, Give me to drink thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou bast nothing to draw with, and the well Is deep: from whence then bast thou that living water? 12 Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle? 13 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thrist again But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall nev er thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water sp up Into everlasting life. 15 The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw. 16 Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither. 17 The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband: 18 For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast Is not thy husband, In that saidst thou truly. 19 The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet 20 Our fathers worshipped In this mountain; and ye say, that In Jerusalem Is the place where men ought to worship. 21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither In this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. 22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. 23 But the hour cometh, and now Is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father In spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship hhn in spirit and In truth. 25 The woman saith unto him, I know that Mes-silas cometh, which is called Christ: when he Is come, he will tell us all things. 26 Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he. 27 And upon this came his disciples, and marvelled that he talked with the wonmw yet no man said, VVhat seekest thou? or. Why talkest thou with her? 28 The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, 29 Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did. Is not this the Christ? 30 'Men they went out of the city, and came unto him 31 In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat. 32 But he said unto them. I have meat to eat that ye lmow not of. 33 'Iberefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat? 34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat Is to do the will of him that sent me. and to finish his work. 35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest 36 And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together. 37 And herein Is that saying true. One soweth, and another reapeth. 38 I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour- other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours. 39 And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did. 40 So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them and he abode there two days. 41 And many more believed because of his own word; 42 And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this Is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.

In chapter three of the gospel of John, just prior to this report about Jesus and the woman at the well, John is speaking of himself as the friend of the Bridegroom (John 3:29)Jesus then has a conversation with a Samaritian woman and their conversation turns to her marital status.

Point blank; Jesus tells this woman what he has not confessed openly to anyone else! That he is the Messiah. This is similar to Mary later having the wisdom to anniont his head with oil before his crucifiction; a knowledge that none of the male apostles knew.

Further; this is the longest discourse by Jesus to another person in the Gospels. She immediately proceeds to enter in to the Lord's labour of harvesting souls; And many believed her (John 4:29-42), while the male apostles are still asking about bread. This is similar to Mary remaining in the garden seeking the Lord while the others did not and then being the first to say she found the risen saviour.
 

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