Tradition Kept: The Literature of the Samaritans [Hardcover]

Robert T. Anderson (Author), Terry Giles (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 156563747X | ISBN-13: 978-1565637474 | Publication Date: April 2005

The "Good Samaritan" of Jesus’ parable was a member of a significant religious community, also mentioned elsewhere in the New Testament accounts of early Christianity. Even though Samaritans continue to live and practice their religion in Israel and Palestine to the present day, until now, their body of sacred literature has not been widely available to the English-speaking world.

In this volume, Samaritan experts Anderson and Giles have created an accessible introduction to the sacred literature of the Samaritans. The book features fresh translations of the most important and least available portions of this literature. It includes major historical works, liturgies, theological compositions, and even samplings of Samaritan astronomical and amulet texts. Students and scholars will particularly benefit from a bibliography that provides direction for further research into the corpus of Samaritan sacred texts.

Tradition Kept is an effective companion to the authors’ history of the Samaritans, The Keepers (Hendrickson, 2002).

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Robert T. Anderson, author of Samaritan Manuscripts and Artifacts, is Professor Emeritus of Religious Studies at Michigan State University.

Terry Giles teaches biblical studies as Professor of Theology at Gannon University. He has also been active in higher education administration and served as guest teaching faculty in Europe,Asia, and Africa.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 448 pages
• Publisher: Hendrickson Publishers (April 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 156563747X
• ISBN-13: 978-1565637474
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,942,928 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fine Samaritans English Translation, February 19, 2007

By 

J. Buterbaugh "Hermes Trismegistus" (Boston, MA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Tradition Kept: The Literature of the Samaritans (Hardcover)

Hundreds of years before Jesus or Rabbinic Judaism the Israelites were conquered, with a large section of the population sent into exile in Babylon. This was the watershed that led to two distinct religious traditions. Disagreement regarding both the message and canon of the divine arose after those in exile returned to those who were not lead into exile. By the time of Jesus the term Samaritans was considered by many to be derogatory. The New Testament story of the good Samaritan was ironic to the original audience, the message being those who you disparage are capable of good.
English translations of Samaritan text are limited, only recently has the literature of the Samaritans become of interest to scholars. Traditions Kept is a fine translation of many sources important to the Samaritan religious tradition for both scholars or the beginning student.

5.0 out of 5 stars Tradition Kept, February 8, 2011

By 

S. Cranow "The Granovitch" (ENCINO, CA, US) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Tradition Kept: The Literature of the Samaritans (Hardcover)

The Samaritans or Northern Israelite, who claim descent from the tribes of Ephraim and Menasseh, have had a seperate literary tradition alongside their Jewish bretheren that stems from the Torah. Their pentateuch or first five books of Moses is almost the same as the pentateuch of the Jews. THe first chapter of the book identifies and analyzes the 4 sources of the Bible. The book of E or Elohim, the book of J or Yahweh, the priestly source and the Northern source. The Samaritan version comes from the Northern source. The Samaritans also have a book of Joshua but it is way different from the book of Joshua the Jews use. The Samaritan book of Joshua traces the history of Mose's passing and Joshua's ascencion to leadership. The book discusses the wars of the Israelite conquest of Canaan and beyond. Much the same as the one used by the Jews but there are many differences. The Samaritans do not believe that Jerusalem is the Holy Place for the children of Israel. They believe that Mount Gerizim is the Holy Place where the Tabernacle or Holy Ark belongs.
The book of Joshua is also the book of History of the Samaritans.

According to Samaritan theology, historiography and mythology. The time of Judges was really a time of divine favor for the Israelites and the judges were in fact kings of Israel. These were good times for the nation of Israel. But then things went sour. The Israelite strayed. The first to stray was Eli the priest. He erred by establishing a false temple in Shiloh . THe Israelites also erred in the acceptance of foreign idols. The Nation was divided and had sinned. The High Priest found a cave in Mount Gerizim and hid the temple artifacts their. Later on the Kingdoms of the north and south would divide even further with Rehoboam leading the south and Jereboam leading the North. Jereboam would cause further division by setting up a temple at Bethel and having the Israelite worship idol their. Interesting to note that Samuel the prophet is described as a sorcerer and magician and the Davidic line is described as sinful and errant.

Further on in History the Greeks would take over the country. To placate Alexander the Samaritans would name all their children after Alexander instead of placing idols in sanctuary and bowing to them. THe Roman would persecute them as would the Byzantine Greeks. Baba Raba was the Samaritan Leader who devised a scheme to defeat the copper owl placed on Gerizim by the Byzantines to prevent the Samaritans from ascending the mountain. Baba Raba sent his nephew to learn in the seminaries of the Christian Byzantines as a ploy to figure out how to defeat the copper owl. The nephew eventually rose to rank of Bishop. It was while leading a group of Christians that the nephew ascended the mountain and destroyed the owl. A great slaguhter ensued and Baba Raba was eventually held as a royal hostage in Byzantium never to return to his native land. He was buried in a synagogue that was later converted to a church.

Tradition kept analyzes the varuious works of literature important to the Samaritans. Such works include Abul Fathi, Tibat Maqare and Asatir book. Also examine are the liturgy and amulet making procedure. For understanding the Samaritans this book essential.