Matthew Poole and continuators on Luke 9:53

53 And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem.

The Land of Canaan was by Ioshuah divided among all the Twelve Tribes of Israel, as we read in the Book of Ioshuah 14, 15, 16, 17, Ch. Saul, David, and Solomon (after the Death of Ioshuah, the Iudges and Samuel) ruled over them all, but Rehoboam the Son of Solomon, following the Counsel of the young Men in his Counsels; Ten Tribes Revolted from the House of David, 1 Kings 12.17, 18. Ieroboam brought them to Idolatry, v. 29. setting up Calves at Dan and Bethel. So as that there was a perpetual difference between the Israelites, and those that adhered to the House of David, both upon a Civil and Religious account. This held for about two hundred and sixty years. In the time of Hoshea their last King, the King of Assyria, after a Siege of three years, takes Samaria their Head City. Of this we have an account, 2 Kings 17.6. as also of those Sins which had Provoked God to give them up into his Hands, v. 24. of that Chapter, we read that the King of Assyria brought Men from Babylon, Cuthah▪ Avah, Hamah, Sepharvaim, and placed them in the Cities of Samaria, instead of the Children of Israel, he removed the most of the Jews, v. 6. of that Chap. and placed them, in Halah, and in Habor, by the River of Gozan, in the Cities of the Medes, after this there were several Mutations in the Government of those Countries. We must not imagine, that all the Jews were carried away, but the Chief, and Principal Men▪ and we read in that 17. Ch. that a Priest was sent back to instruct the new Colonies, how to Worship the God of the Country; because the Lyons infesting them▪ they conceived their non-Acquaintance, with the Methods of Worship used toward the God of that Country, was the cause of it, 2 Kings 17.26, 27. v. But yet v. 29. The People of the several Nations brought thither, Worshipped their several Idols, as may be read there: After this, about a hundred and sixty years, these Places came under the Dominion of Cyrus, who gave the Iews a liberty to return, but it chiefly concerned those that belonged to the Kingdom of Iudah, for we read Ezra 1.5. That they were the Fathers of Iuda, and Benjamin that rose up to return. The Samaritanes were their Enemies as to the Building of the Temple, Ezra 4.5. After this, they fell under the Power, first, of the Grecians, then of the Romans (under which they at this time were) this old Feud both upon the account of their former civil difference, and their difference in Religion still held, so as there was a great Enmity (especially occasioned by their difference in Religion) betwixt those who belonged to the Tribes of Iudah, and Benjamin, and the Samaritanes who were indeed Idolaters. The Iews (for so now were they only called, who adhered to the House of David) had no dealings with them. Iohn 14.9. Tho it be the opinion of some, that there were common Civilities betwixt them, and that the Rigedness lay on the Iewish part, rather than the Samaritanes. Galilee lay beyond Samaria, and it should seem was more generally inhabited by Native Iews. The King of Assyria planted his Colonies (it is probable) more in that which was now more strictly called Samaria, which lay in the Heart of the Land▪ which might be the reason, that the Inhabitants of that part now called Samaria, were more absurd, and Gross in their Worship, than the Inhabitants of Galilee, amongst whom Christ so long Preached. From whence (as was before said) Christ going to Ierusalem to the Feast, was to pass. The Samaritaines refused to receive him, which ordinarily, it is said, they did not to Passengers, but possibly, their knowing, that he was going to the Feast, was the cause, or his Attendants might be more than they liked. When we come to Iohn 4. we shall hear more of the Religious differences betwixt the Iews, and the Samaritanes. This is enough to have at present Noted.