Mt. Gerizim site

After leaving the ruins of Shechem, we drove up to Mt. Gerizim Archeological Park.

These are the ruins of Luz or Luza, an ancient Samaritan village.  According to the Samaritan Torah (Pentateuch), Luza is Beth-El where Jacob dreams of a ladder and where he was named Israel.  Most scholars locate Beth-El near Ramallah, close to the modern city of  Beit-El.

Overlooking modern day Nablus, where the ancient city of Shechem was located.

The red domed building is the church we had visited (prior post).

This villa was built by a wealthy billionaire from Nablus.



We walked down the hill into the town of Kiryat Luza, the last wholly Samaritan village.  There are approximately 750 Samaritans left in the world.

We stopped for a restroom break.  Our bus driver and a villager taking a smoke.

We then walked next door to a Samaritan museum.  We couldn't believe our eyes.

A watch dog watches our every move.

At the museum, this Samaritan priest spoke to us about their faith.  They believe only in the first 5 books of the Old Testament.

He got a call from his wife.  ("Be sure to bring home some bread, milk...?)

He explained their genealogy.  They are descendants of Aaron.

He told their history (Joshua 8)

They still practice sacrifice to this day

at this location just down the street.

Unfortunately they do not know the High  Priest, Jesus Christ who "is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to intercede for them.  Such a high priest meets our need - One who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens.  Unlike the other high priests, He does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for His own sins, and then for the sins of the people.  He sacrificed their sins ONCE FOR ALL when He offered Himself."  Hebrews 7:25-27