Between the testaments - Charles White - 2_ 5_2023
Teacher
Lesson Summary
The class examined the post‑exilic landscape, focusing on how Persian rule created a blended community of Jews and Gentile remnants, which ultimately gave rise to the Samaritan identity. Charles White explained that the Samaritans accepted only the Pentateuch and established their own temple on Mount Gerizim, a site associated with the blessings spoken by Moses. He noted that the temple was destroyed around 110 B.C. by John Hyrcanus, a Hasmonean leader, and that this historical animosity set the stage for the New Testament’s references to Samaritan‑Jewish tension, such as Jesus’ dialogue with the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4). The teacher also described the development of synagogues during the Persian period, emphasizing that they served dispersed Israelites who could not travel to Jerusalem. He highlighted the Hebrew term *knesset* (parliament) and its modern use for Israel’s legislature, drawing a parallel to today’s varied Jewish congregations. By linking ancient worship practices with New Testament encounters, the lesson underscored how historical context enriches our reading of Scripture.