Just in sight was Mount Gerizim, its temple demolished, and only the altar remaining. The place of worship had been a subject of contention between the Jews and Samaritans. The latter people had once belonged to Israel, but had become divided from them because of their transgressions in neglecting to obey the statutes of God. The Lord suffered them to be overcome by an idolatrous nation, whose religion had gradually contaminated their own. Still preserving their reverence for the true God, they represented him by images of wood and stone, before which they bowed in worship. {2SP 142.3}

Lige foran dem lå bjerget Garisim. Dets tempel var nedbrudt, og intet uden alteret var tilbage. Der havde været en strid mellem jøder og samaritaner om, hvilket sted man skulle tilbede. Nogle af samaritanernes forfædre havde engang tilhørt Israel; men på grund af deres overtrædelser og ulydighed mod Guds bud tillod Herren, at de blev overvundet (143) af et afguderiske folk, og gennem mange slægter blandede de sig med afgudsdyrkere, hvis religion lidt efter lidt fordærvede deres egen. Selv om de bevarede deres agtelse for den sande Gud, så fremstillede de ham dog i billeder af træ og sten, for hvilke de nedbøjede sig og tilbad.