Why is it unusual for a Samaritan to help a Jew?

Answer 1

Samaritans were the descendants of the Tribes of Ephraim & Manessah, whereas mainline Jews were the descendants of the Tribes of Judah & Benjamin. Both viewed each other with suspicion & had nothing to do with each other. This was because mainline Jews built the Temple in Jerusalem, while Samaritans built a Temple on the mountain believed to have been where Abraham tried to sacrifice Isaac.

Another Answer:

After the Assyrian Empire conquered the Northern Kingdom of Israel (primarily the 10 tribes of Israel not including Judah and Benjamin primarily) circa 722-718 BC, the Israelites were taken away into what is now Northern Syria/Iraq. The Assyrians planted other captives in this new land of Israel. Of course not all the Israelites were captured and transported. Eventually, the newly transplanted peoples inter-married with the remaining Israelites and incorporated some of their beliefs and customs.

Now the Southern Kingdom, though too conquered by the Babylonians in three stages - 604, 597, and finally 586 BC - were allowed to return by Cyrus the Persian leader who God called His servant. They re-established Jerusalem. They interpreted the treating of 'neighbors' as other Jews (now including Judah, many of Benjamin, most of Simeon and Levi too) and even had a written description of how to do this (legalism). They did not recognize the people living to their north - the Samaritans and in fact despised them generally.

So the story Jesus told of the Good Samaritan was meant to teach the Jews the spiritual meaning of God's law of love - even to a Samaritan who was the only one to help the injured man in need of it.

Answer 2

The Talmud relates how the Samaritans adopted some of the mitzvot (Torah-commands) but not others (Talmud, Berakhot 47b), how they denounced the Jews to Alexander in an unsuccessful bid 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 sometimes waylay the Jews who tried to journey to the Holy Temple.See also:

Ancient groups in Judea

Answer 3

After the Assyrian Empire conquered the Northern Kingdom of Israel (primarily the 10 tribes of Israel not including Judah and Benjamin primarily) circa 722-718 BC, the Israelites were taken away into what is now Northern Syria/Iraq. The Assyrians planted other captives in this new land of Israel. Of course not all the Israelites were transported. Eventually, the newly transplanted peoples of the Assyrians inter-married with the remaining Israelites and incorporated some of their beliefs and customs.

Now the Southern Kingdom, thought to be conquered in 3 phases by the Babylonians - 604, 597, and finally 586 BC - were allowed to return by Cyrus the Persian leader who God called His servant. They re-established Jerusalem. They interpreted the treating of 'neighbors' as other Jews and even had a written description of how to do this (legalism). They did not recognize the people living to their north - the Samaritans and in fact despised them generally.

So the story Jesus told of the Good Samaritan was meant to teach the Jews the spiritual meaning of God's law of love - even to a Samaritan who was the only one to help the injured man in need of it.