Samaria was built by Omri- capital of the kingdom of Israel (1Kings 16:23-24) untill its capture by Salmaneser, B.C. 721. After the deportation of the ten tribes, a mingled race was brought to occupy the district left depopulated. They became worshippers of Jehovah (2Kings 17:41), and on the return from the Captivity, Samaritans sought to share with the Jews in the work of rebuilding the Temple, and worship in its courts. That claim was refused, and in B.C. 409, guided by Manasseh, a priest (Nehemiah 13:28), obtained permission from the Persian king, Darius, to erect a temple on Mount Gerizim-》 antagonism. They refused all hospitality to pilgrims, profaned the Temple. the Jews looked on the Samaritans as worse than heathen.