Modern Tribalism – Part I

Shortly after King Solomon died, the people of Israel split into two kingdoms, due to the short-sighted and immature leadership of Solomon’s son, Rehoboam, who succeeded him. Rehoboam refused to listen to the wisdom of his more experienced and older advisors who counseled him to begin gently with the people. Instead, Rehoboam followed the advice his young buddies who told him that he must be hard and demanding. There was rebellion. Two tribes chose to stick with Rehoboam, and the Temple in Jerusalem. These became known as the Judeans.

The other group of ten tribes went north to the area we know as Samaria, chose their own king and set up a holy place in Bethel. The animosity between these two “kingdoms” of brothers only grew over time due to mutual grievances and reprisals, big and small. They called themselves the Kingdom of Israel.

When the northern tribes were conquered by the Assyrians, in 721 BC, The Assyrians, as was common practice, took all the people of wealth, skill, education and power into exile, under their eye, and transplanted captives from various other nations in Samaria. This greatly reduced the likelihood of rebellion against the captors.

Now the population of Samaria consisted of the poor, ignorant, and incapacitated Israelites, and those from other nations and religious traditions. This mixing of religions only increased their loathsomeness in the sight of the “pure” Judeans. In short, the Judeans hated the Samaritans. The Samaritans despised the Judeans. This tradition of enmity was faithfully passed on down from generation to generation.

Which brings us to a couple of gospel passages. The first, in Luke’s Gospel, the turning point in the action happens near the end of Chapter Nine (Luke 9:51-56). Jesus has determined that it is time to confront his fate, and so turns resolutely in the direction of Jerusalem. He senses that it is only in the Holy City that the kingdom he came to announce could really receive significant impetus. The most direct route to Jerusalem crosses the territory of Samaria.

Jesus, when he travelled with his band of disciples, would send messengers ahead of them into the towns on their way, to prepare the townsfolk, and to make ready for any hospitality he and his group might require. Very shortly after beginning the journey, Jesus sends the Sons of Zebedee, James and John, ahead with this task. The first village these two enter refused to offer welcome to Jesus and his followers because their destination was Jerusalem, the hated capital of their bitter enemies.

James and John, instead of going on to the next town, return to Jesus to ask, “Master, do you want us to call down fire from Heaven to consume that inhospitable place?” (No wonder Jesus nicknamed those brothers, “Boanerges” or “Sons of Thunder”!) Jesus responds, “No way, let’s move on.” It is as much to say, “Keep your eyes on the goal, and live like you are part of God’s Kingdom, not continuing the rivalries and hatreds of the past. Like it or not, we are all brothers and sisters.” We all belong to the same “tribe”.