Samaritans

Samaritans we're viewed as a mixed race by some of the Judeans at that time. They were accused by the Pharisees to be practicing an impure, half-pagan religion.

Their schism dates back to at least Nehemiah.

Samaritans saw there interpretation of the Torah as accurate. The Essenes also saw the interpretation of the Torah as a fiction and a fraud. Even Jesus condemned the practice of the Corban of the Pharisees that made the word of God to none effect and were not bearing fruit. And he praised the charity of the "good Samaritan" while finding fault with with the Samaritan women at the well who had not been constant in marriage.

They saw themselves as the true descendants of Israel. This was not that they tried to proclaim Israel as a singular bloodline only. But Israel to them is actually "the place where God prevails".

They did claim to be from the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh. They seem to have a unique version of the Pentateuch and may have preserved some of the intent of the original Mosaic religion. At the rebuilding of Jerusalem after the Babylonian captivity there was a conflict growing between the two groups.( See Ezra 4:17; Nehemiah 2:10). Also the Elephantine Papyri points to a growing division between the Jews and Samaritans.

While some will blame this schism on the Jews of the northern kingdom who intermarried with Assyrians in 721 BC during the captivity of the northern kingdom that was not the true point of division. The true schism has always the willingness to live by the ways of Cain, Nimrod, and the men who call themselves benefactors but exercise authority one over the other. It is that covetous covenants with ruler and the appetite for benefits at the expense of your neighbor that degenerates the righteous social bonds of a free society. It divided not only from each other but from God himself.

It brings back into the bondage of Egypt and the captivity of Assyria.

While some will blame this schism on the Jews of the northern kingdom who intermarried with Assyrians in 721 BC during the captivity of the northern kingdom that was not the true point of division.

The true schism has always the willingness to live by the ways of Cain, Nimrod, and the men who call themselves benefactors but exercise authority one over the other. It is that covetous covenants with ruler and the appetite for benefits at the expense of your neighbor that degenerates the righteous social bonds of a free society. It divided not only from each other but from God himself.

It brings back into the bondage of Egypt and the captivity of Assyria. This will turn the people merchandise and curse children.

Jesus was accused of being a “Samaritan” in John 8:48 do to some presumed question of his mother's unfaithfulness.