Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 65:259 (Jul 1908)
Article: The Samaritan Sabbath
Author: William Eleazar Barton

BSac 65:259 (July 1908) p. 430

The Samaritan Sabbath

William E. Barton

Jacob, Son Of Aaron1

The following is the third chapter of a manuscript volume by the High Priest of the Samaritans on the rites and customs of his people. The first two chapters have already appeared in the Bibliotheca Sacra (July, 1906 and 1907).

It cannot fail of interest to us to know in what manner the Samaritans observe the Sabbath day. In our New Testament lessons we are perplexed at times to know at just what points the scribes of Jesus’ day had enlarged upon the legitimate applications of the Law of Moses to conditions of their own time. The customs of the Samaritans, while they cannot settle, do cast a side-light upon, these questions. They show to us a rigidly Sabbatarian sect; yet with very interesting differences from the customs of the Jews. These differences the High Priest discusses in detail. His treatise is an interesting, and in some respects an important, contribution to the literature of the Sabbath.

William E. Barton.

How The Samaritan People Observe The Sabbath

As to the Sabbath and the manner of its observance and what must be done on it, in so far as the ceremonies current among the Samaritans are concerned, explanations are given in the following pages. Points of difference existing between us and the Jews will be shown to the reader, and substantial proofs will be adhered to convince him that the Jews violate the Sabbath through their unlawful practices.

BSac 65:259 (July 1908) p. 431

The Preparation On Friday

From the outset every Samaritan individual must prepare himself for the observance of this noble day on Friday, which is the sixth day in the creation of the world, thereby following the command given in the Torah (Ex. 16:23) to the effect that the preparation for the Sabbath must be made on the sixth day. On this day all Samaritans procure for themselves, each according to his need and as far as his means may permit, the required provisions for both Friday and the Sabbath, and in such a state of preparation they await the oncoming Sabbath, on which they are commanded not to work. Cleansing of the body and changing the garments are also strictly carried out by them on the day of Friday.

The Assembling On Friday Evening

About sunset on Friday they present themselves at the house of worship, where they offer their prayers, which are composed for that time and are of a brief nature, handed down to them from ancient times. With these prayers they are quite familiar, and it must be said that for...