The Samaritan Guardians of the Law

Regarding the Canaanites, before Abraham arrived in the land. When the guardians arrived, they were called Samaritans, that is, guardians. These were guardians not only of the land, but also of the law; for they were guarding the Pentateuch alone, which they had received from the king through Ezra, so that by this the seed of Abraham might be distinguished.

But they did not guard the law completely; for this reason the Scripture says, 'They remained doing the law of God, and worshiping idols.' Since the law commands that idols must not be worshiped, how can it still be fulfilled? The hypothesis provides this method: for the wicked of the four nations, knowing that Ezra had settled and detesting idols according to the law of God, hurried to hide the idols in a cave on Mount Gerizim, and turned the hearts of the Samaritans toward the mountain to pray.

Consequently, wherever they may be, those turning from east to west, and from west to east, and from north toward the south, they pray while facing the northern mountain, so that the Scripture might be fulfilled, which says, 'They remained doing the law of God, and worshiping their idols.' For even if they themselves are ignorant that the idols lie there, it is not possible to make the divine Scripture a liar.