Sects During Biblical Times — Samaritans Ic
“Where two sit together to study the Torah, the Shekinah rests between them” (Mishnah)
“For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”- Matt. 18:20
Sects During Biblical Times — Samaritans Draft Ic
Question: “We know who were the Samaritans, but what were their beliefs?”
A summary of some commentators:
Rashi (1040 – 1105) — Shlomo Yitzchaki, today generally known by the acronym Rashi (Hebrew: רש״י, RAbbi SHlomo Itzhaki), was a medieval French rabbi and author of a comprehensive commentary on the Talmud and commentary on the Tanakh. Acclaimed for his ability to present the basic meaning of the text in a concise and lucid fashion.
Adam Clarke (1761– 1832) — was a British Methodist theologian and biblical scholar. He was born in the townland of Moybeg Kirley near Tobermore in Northern Ireland. He is chiefly remembered for writing a commentary on the Bible which took him 40 years to complete and which was a primary Methodist theological resource for two centuries.
John Gill (1697 – 1771) — was an English Baptist pastor, biblical scholar, and theologian who held to a firm Calvinistic soteriology. Born in Kettering, Northamptonshire, he attended Kettering Grammar School where he mastered the Latin classics and learned Greek by age 11. He continued self-study in everything from logic to Hebrew, his love for the latter remaining throughout his life.
Answer: Part A — The most famous Samaritan, Simon Magus:
The Samaritans occupied the country formerly belonging to the half-tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh. The capital of the country was Samaria, formerly a large and splendid city. When the ten tribes were carried away into captivity to Assyria, the king of Assyria sent people from Cutha, Ava, Hamath, and Sepharvaim to inhabit Samaria (2 Kings 17:24; Ezra 4:2-11).
2 Kings 17:24 And the king of Assyria brought men from Babylon, and from Cuthah, and from Ava, and from Hamath, and from Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel; and they possessed Samaria and dwelt in the cities thereof.
Comment: Hence the Jews assert that the Samaritans are “Cuthaeans,” one of the tribes from Babylon.
Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Matthew 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
Mark 13:22 For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.
Acts 20:29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
Saul Persecutes the Church
Acts 8 And Saul was consenting to Stephen’s death.
On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem. And they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2 Devout men carried Stephen to his burial and made great lamentation over him. 3 But Saul ravaged the church, entering house by house and dragging out both men and women and committing them to prison.
The Gospel Preached in Samaria
4 Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word. 5 Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. 6 When the crowds heard Philip and saw the miracles which he did, they listened in unity to what he said. 7 For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed. And many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. 8 So there was much joy in that city.
Simon the Sorcerer Believes
9 Now a man named Simon was previously in the city practicing sorcery and astonishing the nation of Samaria, saying he was someone great, 10 to whom they all listened, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the great power of God.” 11 They listened to him, because for a long time he had astonished them by his sorceries. 12 But when they believed Philip preaching about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. 13 Even Simon himself believed. And when he was baptized, he continued with Philip and was amazed as he watched the miracles and signs which were done.
14 Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. 15 When they came down, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16 for still He had come on none of them. They were only baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
18 When Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, 19 saying, “Give me also this power, that whomever I lay hands on may receive the Holy Spirit.”
20 Peter said to him, “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could purchase the gift of God with money! 21 You have neither part nor share in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. 22 Therefore repent of your wickedness, and ask God if perhaps the intention of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.”
24 Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me that nothing you have spoken may come upon me.”
So who was this Simon?
1) He was a Samaritan
Acts 8:9 But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:
The Samaritan were originally Assyrian/Babylonians put there when Ancient Israel was taken as slaves and became the lost 10 tribes.
2 Kings 17:5 Then the king of Assyria came up throughout all the land, and went up to Samaria, and besieged it three years.
2 Kings 17:6 In the ninth year of Hoshea the king of Assyria took Samaria, and carried Israel away into Assyria, and placed them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.
It is common practice that when Assyrian take slaves they replace the original inhabitants of the land with their people.
2 Kings 17:23 Until the LORD removed Israel out of his sight, as he had said by all his servants the prophets. So was Israel carried away out of their own land to Assyria unto this day.
2 Kings 17:24 And the king of Assyria brought men from Babylon, and from Cuthah, and from Ava, and from Hamath, and from Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel: and they possessed Samaria, and dwelt in the cities thereof.
When they entered the land of Israel they were attacked by wild animals and they blamed the God of the land (its a pagan concept that each land had its own God) for their troubles saying he was angry with them.
2 Kings 17:25 And so it was at the beginning of their dwelling there, that they feared not the LORD: therefore the LORD sent lions among them, which killing some of them.
So the Assyrian king sent a priest from one of the captives of Israel back to teach the people the God of the land.
2 Kings 17:26 Wherefore they spoke to the king of Assyria, saying, The nations which you have removed, and placed in the cities of Samaria, know not the manner of the God of the land: therefore he has sent lions among them, and, behold, they killing them, because they know not the manner of the God of the land.
So the Samaritans learnt of the God of Israel but what they learnt would become a counterfeit religion with truth mixed with error….
2 Kings 17:28 Then one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and dwelt in Bethel, and taught them how they should fear the Lord.
So the Samaritans learnt about the God of Israel but still served their own Gods hence syncretised the religions
29 However every nation continued to make gods of its own, and put them in the shrines on the high places which the Samaritans had made, every nation in the cities where they dwelt.
30 The men of Babylon made Succoth Benoth, the men of Cuth made Nergal, the men of Hamath made Ashima,
31 and the Avites made Nibhaz and Tartak; and the Sepharvites burned their children in fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim.
32 So they feared the Lord, and from every class they appointed for themselves priests of the high places, who sacrificed for them in the shrines of the high places.
33 They feared the Lord, yet served their own gods—according to the rituals of the nations from among whom they were carried away.
So the Samaritans think they worshipping God but really they are not. Its a counterfeit religion.
2) He was worshipped
He had power and he redirected worship to himself. He did not honour God but himself
Acts 8:9 But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:
10 To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.
11 And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.
3) He recognises the truth
He understands the truth but is drunk with power he wants the power the apostles had
Acts 8:12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
Acts 8:13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
4) He wants power and wants the people to come to him
Peter recognises his evil and says his heart is not right with God. Simon wants the people to worship him hence its not enough to have the power he wants the ability to give it also
Acts 8:18 And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money,
19 saying, “Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
20 But Peter said to him, “Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money!
21 You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God.
5) He had a gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity
Peter says “I perceive” that’s something in his heart “gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity”.
Acts 8:22 Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you.
23 For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.
24 Then Simon answered and said, “Pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things which you have spoken may come upon me.”
What is “gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity”?
The gall of bitterness – A Hebraism for excessive bitterness: gall, wormwood, and such like, were used to express the dreadful effects of sin in the soul; the bitter repentance, bitter regret, bitter sufferings, bitter death, etc, which it produces.
It’s a reference to Leading the children of Israel to other Gods.
Deuteronomy 29:18 Lest there should be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart turneth away this day from the LORD our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations; lest there should be among you a root that bearing gall and wormwood;
“Wormwood” is another name for bitterness. Of the herbs its the MOST bitter herb
The whole family is remarkable for the extreme bitterness of all parts of the plant: ‘as bitter as Wormwood’ is a very Ancient proverb.
But this Simon never repent, in fact he was identified as the man of lawlessness
The Man of Lawlessness
2 Thessalonians 2
1 Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, 2 not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. 3 Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 4 who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. 5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? 6 And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, 10 and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, 12 in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
Matthew 24:11 — False prophets – 24 Jesus departed from the temple and was leaving when His disciples came to show Him the temple buildings. 2 Jesus answered them, “Do you not see all these things? Truly I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another that shall not be thrown down.”
Troubles and Persecutions
Matt 24:3 As He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?”
4 Jesus answered them, “Take heed that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. 6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled. For all these things must happen, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines, epidemics, and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
9 “Then they will hand you over to be persecuted and will kill you. And you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. 10 Then many will fall away, and betray one another, and hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will rise and will deceive many.
Also were to be raised up; such as Simon Magus and his followers; and the false teachers complained of by Paul, 2 Corinthians 11:13, who were deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
II Cor 11:12 And I will continue doing what I am doing, that I may cut off the opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be found equal to us in what they boast about. 13 For such are false apostles and deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder! For even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also disguise themselves as ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.
From Wikipedia — Pseudo-Clementine literature
The Pseudo-Clementine Recognitions and Homilies give an account of Simon Magus and some of his teachings in regards to the Simonians. They are of uncertain date and authorship, and seem to have been worked over by several hands in the interest of diverse forms of belief.
Simon was a Samaritan, and a native of Gitta. The name of his father was Antonius, that of his mother Rachel. He studied Greek literature in Alexandria, and, having in addition to this great power in magic, became so ambitious that he wished to be considered a highest power, higher even than the God who created the world. And sometimes he “darkly hinted” that he himself was Christ, calling himself the Standing One. Which name he used to indicate that he would stand for ever, and had no cause in him for bodily decay. He did not believe that the God who created the world was the highest, nor that the dead would rise. He denied Jerusalem, and introduced Mount Gerizim in its stead. In place of the Christ of the Christians he proclaimed himself; and the Law he allegorized in accordance with his own preconceptions.
Some historians, like Justin Martyr, wrote that he later went to Rome in AD 45, and known as the Peter there, later instituted as the first Pope of Rome. But Simon Peter the Apostle went to Rome much later, in AD 68.
Simon Magus impersonated himself as Simon Peter and became the first Pope of Rome.
Three Sources about Simon Magus
Apostolic Fathers: Three key writers.
1. Justin Martyr – 100-167 A.D.
2. Irenaeus – 130-200 A.D.
3. Eusebius – 264-339 A.D.
1. Justin Martyr (and 2. Irenaeus) writes in The First Apology that Simon was eventually honored as a god
by a statue. This is found in Justin Martyr by Thomas B. Falls, Vol. VI:
“After the ascension of Christ into Heaven, the demons produced certain men
who claimed to be gods, who were not only not molested by you, (the Romans) but even showered with honors. There was a certain Simon, a Samaritan, from the village called Gitta, who in the time of Emperor Claudius through the force of the demons working in him, performed mighty acts of magic in your royal city of Rome and was reputed to be a god. And as a god he was honored by you with a statue, which was erected (on an island) in the Tiber River, between the two bridges, with this Roman inscription: ‘To Simon, the holy God.’ Almost every Samaritan, and even a few from other regions, worship him and call him the first God.” (p. 62)
From Wikipedia:
Justin Martyr (in his Apologies, and in a lost work against heresies, which Irenaeus used as his main source) and Irenaeus (Adversus Haereses) record that after being cast out by the Apostles, Simon Magus came to Rome where, having joined to himself a profligate woman of the name of Helen, he gave out that it was he who appeared among the Jews as the Son, in Samaria as the Father and among other nations as the Holy Spirit. He performed such signs by magic acts during the reign of Claudius that he was regarded as a god and honored with a statue on the island in the Tiber which the two bridges cross, with the inscription Simoni Deo Sancto, “To Simon the Holy God” (First Apology, XXVI). However, in the 16th century, a statue was unearthed on the island in question, inscribed to Semo Sancus, a Sabine deity, leading most scholars to believe that Justin Martyr confused Semoni Sancus with Simon.
In Irish legend Simon Magus came to be associated with Druidism. He is said to have come to the aid of the Druid Mog Ruith. The fierce denunciation of Christianity by Irish Druids appears to have resulted in Simon Magus being associated with Druidism. The word Druid was sometimes translated into Latin as magus, and Simon Magus was also known in Ireland as “Simon the Druid”.
3. From Eusebius
Simon Magus (the magician) was the Samaritan who was converted by Philip’s teaching, and then disastrously confronted Peter the apostle over his desire to possess the spiritual powers the apostles had (Acts viii:9-24). He was regarded by the Fathers as the father of all heresy: the great heresiologists of the second and third century (Irenaeus, Hippolytus) trace all heresy (principally Gnosticism) back to him. Part of the reason for this is doubtless the desire to see the fount of all heresy decisively defeated as the beginning by the principal apostle. Justin tells us, in a passage reproduced by Eusebius (II. 13.3f.). that he worked his magic in Rome and was commemorated by a statue there. The base of the statute was discovered in 1574, but the inscription read SEMONI SANCO DEO etc. Semo Sancus was a Subine deity; Justin or his informant had evidently misread the inscription. Simon seems to be regarded himself as a saviour-figure: he led about with him a woman he had saved from prostitution, whom he called Helen and regarded as Ennoia (= ‘thought’), the first emanation, whose downfall led to the existence of the world. There seems to have existed a sect of Simonians at the end of the second century. (Eusebius, pg 417)
SIMON’S PROSTITUTE WIFE HELEN
A. Married a prostitute and made her a goddess. The Dictionary of Christian Biography, Literature, Sects and Doctrines by Smith and Wace explains:
“Helen was a prostitute whom he had redeemed at Tyre, and led about with
him, saying that she was the first conception of his mind, the mother of all, by
whom he had in the beginning conceived the making of angels and archangels.
Knowing thus his will, she had leaped away from him, descended to the lower
regions, and generated angels and powers by whom this world was made. But
this ‘Ennoea’ was detained in these lower regions by her offspring, and not
suffered to return to the Father of whom they were ignorant. Thus she suffered
all manner of contumely, so far as to be included in a human body, and to pass by transmigration from one female body to another. She was for example, the Helen for whose sake the Trojan was fought; and afterwards fell lower and lower, until at last she was found in a brothel. She was the lost sheep. In order to redeem her, the Supreme Power descended to the lower world; he passed through the regions ruled by the principalities and powers and angels, in each region making himself like to those who dwelt there; and so among men he seemed to be man though not really so, and seemed to suffer though he really did not. His object was to bring to men the knowledge of himself, and so to give them salvation from the sway of those powers who, through their mutual jealousies, had misgoverned the world…This ‘Jezebel’ can be equated with the ‘Female Principle’ which Simon introduced into his ‘Christianity.’ None other than Simon’s Helen — the reclaimed temple prostitute — what better type of person is there who could so expertly ‘teach’ and ‘seduce my servants to commit fornication,’ literally as well as spiritually?” (p. 682)
B. This could have been the beginnings of “Mary worship.” Together they made up a story that she was the spirit of Helen of Troy wandering through the spirits waiting for him to be born.
Similarities to the Harlot of Revelation
Both practice the Babylonian mystery religion (See 2 Kings 17:30 and 2 Kings 17:33 above)
Revelation 17:5 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
Both mixed their practice with the God of Israel (See 2 Kings 17:33 above)
Matthew 24:5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ [they say Jesus is the Messiah but they deceive]; and shall deceive many.
1 John 2:18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist [in place of and against Christ] shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
Revelation 13:11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb [lamb = Jesus see John 1:29, Revelation 13:8], and he spake as a dragon.
They both desired worship (notice the mystery of iniquity was already working at that time) exalting themselves
2 Thessalonians 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
2 Thessalonians 2:9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
2 Thessalonians 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
Simon deceived the people by his sorceries. The Harlot of Revelation also deceived the nations by her sorceries
Revelation 18:23 And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.
So from this its very likely that Simon the Sorcerer is the initiator of the Babylonian mystery religion merging with Christianity. If it is not him why is he singled out in the beginning of the book of Acts in the days of the early Church and also how did the Babylonian mystery religion enter the Church?
Answer: Part B — The Samaritans as a sect
The Samaritans as a sect only believe in the Torah or the Pentateuch, plus the book of Joshua. They don’t believe the Writings nor the Prophets. Neither do they knowledge the guidance of the Oral Law, nor the Talmud.
Fast forward 700 year to time of Christ and he is talking to Samaritan women. You see the Samaritan women talks to Christ. They worship on her own mountain (that is on their own high place as in 2 Kings 17:29 above). See Jesus response
John 4:20 Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship.”
John 4:21 Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father.
John 4:22 You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews.
The difference between the Jews and Samaritans in interpreting the “even” or “evening” – the time for slaughtering the lamb for the Passover.
The Jews define the term erev as “evening”, arbayim as “the two evenings” and ben ha arbayim as “between the two evenings”. It appears that the time erev (even) is enclosed inside the time ben ha arbayim (between the two evenings). Exodus 16:12; 30:8, used as marking the space of time during which the paschal lamb was slain, Ex 12:6; Lev 23:5; Num 9:3; and the evening sacrifice was offered, Ex 29:39; Num 28:4.
The same word erev was used in:
Ex 12:6 And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month, and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening.
Lev 23:5 On the fourteenth day of the first month at evening is the LORD’S Passover.
Numbers 9:3 In the fourteenth day of this month at evening ye shall keep it in his appointed season. According to all the rites of it and according to all the ceremonies thereof shall ye keep it.”
Exodus 29:39 The one lamb thou shalt offer in the morning, and the other lamb thou shalt offer at evening.
Numbers 28:4 The one lamb shalt thou offer in the morning, and the other lamb shalt thou offer at evening.
The term ben ha arbayim is also used in Numbers 28:4: “The one lamb shalt thou offer in the morning, and the other lamb shalt thou offer at even.”
“between the two evenings” (ben ha arbayim עַרְבָּיִםהָ בֵּין)
For the timing of the evening sacrifice, Josephus (War, vi. 9, 3), testified that a lamb or kid was slain between the evenings, that is, between the 9th and 11th hours, which is from 3 PM to 5 PM.
The Jewish translation defines “evening’ [erev] as ‘the going down of the sun’. In defining between the two evenings, the “first evening” was that period when the sun was verging towards setting, and the “second evening” the moment of actual sunset. Sometimes, the first evening is defined as the going down of the sun. The sun starts to go down immediately after it reaches its zenith (noon).
The term ba erev simply means “evening,” and the first “evening” begins when the sun begins to go down in the sky, and the second “evening” is sunset. Says Gesenius Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon,
“The Pharisees . . . and the Rabbinists considered the time when the sun began to descend to be called the FIRST EVENING (Arabic ‘little evening’; when it begins to draw towards evening); and the SECOND EVENING to be the REAL SUNSET” (p. 652, #6153).
The Samaritan, reading the Hebrew Text without Jewish guardian nor Oral Law, define erev as twilight, and ben ha arbayim (between the two evenings) as between sunset and dark. “Between the Two Evenings”
Says the Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, however:
“Tradition, however, interprets the phrase ‘between the two evenings’ to mean from afternoon to the disappearing of the sun, the first evening being from the time when the sun begins to decline from its vertical or noontide point towards the west; and the second from its going down and vanishing out of sight, which is the reason why the daily sacrifice might be killed at 12:30 p.m. on a Friday. . . But as the Paschal lamb was slain after the daily sacrifice, it generally took place from 2:30-5:30 P.M. ..We should have deemed it superfluous to add that such faithful followers of Jewish tradition as Saadia, Rashi, Kimchi, Ralbag, etc. , espouse this definition of the ancient Jewish canons . . . Now Rashi most distinctly declares, ‘From the sixth hour [=12 o’clock] and upwards is called “between the two evenings,” because the sun begins to set for the evening. Hence it appears to me that the phrase “between the two evenings” denotes the hours between the evening of the day and the evening of the night. The evening of the day is from the beginning of the seventh hour [=immediately after noontide], when the evening shadows begin to lengthen, while the evening of the night is at the beginning of the night’ (Commentary on Exo.12:6). Kimchi says almost. literally the same thing: ‘”Between the two evenings” is from the time when the sun begins to incline towards the west, 12 which is from the sixth hour [=12 o’clock] and upwards. It is called erevim [“evenings”] because there are TWO EVENINGS, for from the time that the sun begins to decline is one evening, and the other evening is after the sun has GONE DOWN, and it is the space between which is meant by “between the two evenings”’ Eustathius, in a note on the seventeenth book of the Odyssey, shows that the Greeks too held that there were two evenings, one which they called the latter evening, at the close of the day; and the other the former evening, which commenced immediately after noon. . .” (McClintock and Strong, vol. VII, 1877, p.735).
Therefore, when God said that the Passover was to be sacrificed “at the going down of the sun” (Deut.16:6), He obviously meant – as every faithful Jew knows – during the afternoon, when the sun is declining or descending in the Western sky. This sacrifice was done during daylight – not after dark! It was done while the sun was STlLL “going down” in the sky – not AFTER it had already “set,” or disappeared beneath the western horizon!
Answer: Part C — Convergence of Catholics and Samaritans
On Shavuot, the Samaritans count 50 days from the weekly Sabbath after Passover, like the Sadducees and Karaites and various CoG Communities.
Pentecost, or Shavuot, is always on Sunday, (the Catholics’ Easter plus seven weeks, or 49 days) ending it always on a Sunday, calling it Whitsunday. Because Easter is always on Sunday, so 49 days later will also always be on Sundays.
The Samaritans, on Passover, when their High Priest is praying, he faced the west, when the sun is setting. That is, they are sun worshippers.
Why White Sunday, or Whitsunday? It is to recall the sound of the mighty wind which accompanied the Descent of the Holy Spirit, which is supposed to be white. Flowers, the wearing of white robes, or white dresses recalling Baptism, rites such as the laying on of hands, and vibrant singing play prominent roles on these joyous occasions, the blossoming of Spring forming an equal analogy with the blossoming of youth.
Jesus last word on the Samaritans: You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews (John 4:22).
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Joel Huan
The Mystery of Ephraim 