an ancient sect among the Jews, still existing in some parts of the Levant, under the same name.

Its origin was in the time of Rehoboam, under whose reign the people of Israel were divided into two distinct kingdoms, that of Judah and that of Israel; when the capital of the latter being Samaria, the Israelites obtained the name of Samaritans.

They were anciently guilty of idolatry, and the rabbins pretend, that they worshipped the figure of a dove on mount Gerizim; but the present Samaritans, who are but few in number, are far from being idolaters. They celebrate the passover every year, on the fourteenth day of the first month, on mount Gerizim, and begin that feast with the sacrifice appointed for that purpose in Exodus: they keep the Sabbath with all the rigour with which it is enjoined in the book of Exodus, none among them stirring out of doors but to the synagogue: they sacrifice nowhere but on mount Gerizim: they observe the feasts of expiation, tabernacles, harvest, &c., and never defer circumcision beyond the eighth day; they never marry their nieces, as the Jews do; have but one wife; and in fine, do nothing but what is commanded in the law.