Cuthites

The term "Cuthites" refers to the inhabitants of Cuthah (also spelled Cuth, Cutha, or Kuta), a city in ancient Mesopotamia. According to the Hebrew Bible, specifically the Second Book of Kings (2 Kings 17:24-41), the Assyrian king deported people from various places, including Cuthah, to Samaria in the northern kingdom of Israel after its conquest. These deportees were intended to repopulate the region and replace the Israelite inhabitants who had been exiled.

The biblical narrative indicates that the Cuthites brought their own religious practices and beliefs with them, which were distinct from those of the Israelites. Initially, they suffered from attacks by lions, which they attributed to a lack of proper worship of the local God. Consequently, an Israelite priest was sent back to Samaria to instruct them in the worship of Yahweh. However, the Cuthites are described as continuing to worship their own gods alongside Yahweh, creating a syncretistic religious practice.

Over time, the term "Cuthite" became associated with the Samaritans, a group inhabiting the region around Samaria. While the precise historical relationship between the Cuthites and the Samaritans is debated, the biblical account contributed to a negative perception of the Samaritans in Jewish tradition. Jewish writings often characterized the Samaritans as being of foreign origin and having an impure religion, tracing their lineage back to the Cuthites brought to Samaria by the Assyrians. However, Samaritan tradition disputes this origin story, claiming descent from the ancient Israelite tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh.

The historical accuracy of the biblical account of the Cuthites and their role in the formation of the Samaritan population remains a subject of scholarly discussion. Archaeological evidence and other historical sources provide limited corroboration of the biblical narrative. Nevertheless, the term "Cuthites" remains significant due to its presence in the Bible and its association with the Samaritans, shaping religious and cultural perceptions throughout history.