What is a Samaritan and why is that detail mentioned a lot?

Good question.

In 722BC, when Assyria conquered the northern kingdom of Israel and destroyed the capital, Samaria, a change was afoot. Some Assyrians married Jewish people and settled in the area once called Israel. The nation of Judah still existed for 140 or so more years, but Israel was never the same. These “half-breed” individuals began to be looked down upon by the “pure-blood” Jews still living in the area, and especially within the nation of Judah. Judah was conquered by Babylon in 586BC and lost its capital, Jerusalem. When Cyrus and other kings allow for the walls and temple to be rebuilt, a belief in the old ways was stirring that they were superior. This led to bad blood.

The “half-breed” people became known as Samaritans. The bad blood led the Samaritans to rob Jewish people and other atrocities. So, Jesus talking to a Samaritan woman is no little detail. His using a Samaritan in a story to make a point is huge. Jesus crossed boundary lines to share His plan with people. Are we?