good Samaritans

March 18, 2019

He took care of him (Lk 10:34-10:34)

“The Samaritan

Approached him.

He bandaged

His wounds.

He poured oil

And wine

On them.

Then he put him

On his own animal.

He brought him

To an inn.

He took care of him.”

 

καὶ προσελθὼν κατέδησεν τὰ τραύματα αὐτοῦ ἐπιχέων ἔλαιον καὶ οἶνον, ἐπιβιβάσας δὲ αὐτὸν ἐπὶ τὸ ἴδιον κτῆνος ἤγαγεν αὐτὸν εἰς πανδοχεῖον καὶ ἐπεμελήθη αὐτοῦ.

 

Luke continued his unique story.  Jesus said that this Samaritan went to or approached this wounded man (καὶ προσελθὼν), instead of crossing over to the other side of the road.  He bandaged his wounds (κατέδησεν τὰ τραύματα αὐτοῦ) and poured oil and wine on them (ἐπιχέων ἔλαιον καὶ οἶνον).  Apparently, oil and wine were like medicine to heal the wounds.  Then he put him on his own animal (ἐπιβιβάσας δὲ αὐτὸν ἐπὶ τὸ ἴδιον κτῆνος), either a horse or a mule.  He then brought him to an inn (ἤγαγεν αὐτὸν εἰς πανδοχεῖον).  This Samaritan really took care of this wounded man (καὶ ἐπεμελήθη αὐτοῦ).  This underclass Samaritan stepped up.  He helped the wounded half dead man by the wayside.  He apparently was ready for this kind of thing, because he had bandages, oil, and wine with him.  He even was traveling with an animal, probably a mule.  There was no mention of any animal with the priest or the Levite.  Thus, we have the famous saying about Good Samaritans, based on this story, someone unrelated, who shows up and helps a person in need.  This Good Samaritan story has become part of our contemporary secular cultural language.  Thus, this story has reached beyond a pure religious context.  However, the assumptions are always that the helping person was motivated by a higher calling.  Have you ever been a Good Samaritan?

January 12, 2015

The men of Ephraim return the captives from Judah (2 Chr 28:12-28:15)

“Moreover, certain chiefs of the Ephraimites, Azariah son of Johanan, Berechiah son of Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah son of Shallum, and Amasa son of Hadlai, stood up against those who were coming from the war. The chiefs said to them. ‘You shall not bring the captives in here. You propose to bring on us guilt against Yahweh in addition to our present sins and guilt. For our guilt is already great. There is a fierce wrath against Israel.’ So the warriors left the captives and the booty before the officials and all the assembly. Then those mentioned by name got up and took the captives. With the booty they clothed all that were naked among them. They clothed them. They gave them sandals. They provided them with food and drink. They anointed them. They carried all the feeble among them on donkeys. They brought them to their kindred at Jericho, the city of palm trees. Then they returned to Samaria.”

The men of Ephraim play a strange role. They were willing to fight with Judah, but then King Amaziah refused to let them fight with him because of a prophetic interdiction in chapter 25. There they were mad but somehow seemed closer to Judah than the other northern tribes. Here the 4 Ephraimite leaders, Azariah, Berechiah, Jehizkiah, and Amasa, were kind to the captives. They treated them like humans. They clothed them, gave them food and drink, and let the weak ride on donkeys. They gave them their stolen goods back. Finally they brought them to Jericho, which was in the Benjamin area before returning to Samaria. They were the original good Samaritans.