Changes

'''Samaritans''' today are a people of mixed ethnicity who live in [[Israel]], who practice a religion having similarities to and differences with the [[Jewish faith]]. They accept as their canon the written part of [[Torah]] and the [[Book of Joshua]], as do [[Christian]]s, while rejecting other [[Jewish]] [[Scriptures]].

'''Samaritans''' today are a people of mixed ethnicity who live in [[Israel]], who practice a religion having similarities to and differences with the [[Jewish faith]]. They accept as their canon the written part of [[Torah]] and the [[Book of Joshua]], as do [[Christian]]s, while rejecting other [[Jewish]] [[Scriptures]].

Originally, they were a unique people and ethno-religious group, descendants of the "Cuthites", immigrants from (ancient Assyrian city of) ''Kutha'', who were annexed to the people of Israel during the Assyrian period, and mingled with the priests of the Ten Tribes.(There was a debate if their conversion to Judaism was sincere). They did not abandon their pagan religion and their knowledge of halakhic law was limited. During the Second Temple period, they were in hostile relations with the Jewish community, and sought to sabotage the construction of the Temple. Their halakhic status was in doubt for generations, until they finally separated from the Jewish people.<ref>hamikchlol</ref>

Originally, they were a unique people and ethno-religious group, descendants of the "Cuthites", immigrants from (ancient Assyrian city of) ''Kutha'', who were annexed to the people of Israel during the Assyrian period, and mingled with the priests of the Ten Tribes. (There was a debate if their conversion to Judaism was sincere). They did not abandon their pagan religion and their knowledge of halakhic law was limited. During the Second Temple period, they were in hostile relations with the Jewish community, and sought to sabotage the construction of the Temple. Their halakhic status was in doubt for generations, until they finally separated from the Jewish people.<ref>hamikchlol</ref>

The Samaritan [[Pentateuch]] has a more [[pro-life]] translation of the ban on [[abortion]] in {{bibleref|Exodus|21|22-23}} than the Jewish Masoretic text does.  “Philo (Spec., 3:108) specifically prescribes the imposition of the death penalty for causing an abortion, and the text is likewise construed in the Samaritan Targum.”<ref>https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/abortion-in-judaism</ref>

The Samaritan [[Pentateuch]] has a more [[pro-life]] translation of the ban on [[abortion]] in {{bibleref|Exodus|21|22-23}} than the Jewish Masoretic text does.  “Philo (Spec., 3:108) specifically prescribes the imposition of the death penalty for causing an abortion, and the text is likewise construed in the Samaritan Targum.”<ref>https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/abortion-in-judaism</ref>