Why were Samaritans despised?

Answer 1

In the thread of history of Israel, when the Nation split into two kingdoms, the Northern Kingdom of Israel made its capital, Samaria. These 10 tribes of Israel primarily would be conquered and taken captive by the Assyrian Empire during 722-718 BC. They would never return and the conquerors would move other previously conquered peoples of different tribes into the now vacant land.

These new peoples would soon intermix with the remainder of the 10 tribes of Israel left behind. They would intermarry and absorb the Israelite teachings - changing the Laws of God (which had already severely changed by the Israelites causing their punishment) to include their pagan customs. They expanded and eventually became known as the Samaritans whom the tribes of the Southern Kingdom of Judah did not like or have anything to do with. They were anathema to them.

Jesus however, told of the Good Samaritan as a lesson to the Pharisaic teachings of His day. He included and came for all mankind, though first to the Jews.

Answer 2

The truth (according to Jewish tradition) was just the opposite of what the Question implies. It was the Samaritans who treated the Jews as outcasts:

The Talmud relates how the Samaritans denounced the Jews to Alexander in an unsuccessful attempt to get him to destroy the newly-built Second Temple (Talmud, Yoma 69a), and how they interfered with the declaring of Rosh Hodesh (the New Moon) (Talmud, Rosh Hashanah 22b). Our traditions relate how the Samaritans would waylay the Jews who tried to journey to the Holy Temple. And eventually they were found to be simple idolaters, with an idolatrous image in their house of worship (Talmud, Chullin 6a).

Answer 3

because they were not better than the Egypt people