5 So He came to a city of Samaria which is called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.
Jesus made His way in Samaria to a historic place, Jacob’s Well between Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim.
5 So
The word “so” draws an inference from the first three verses. Jesus completely disregarded the tension between Jews and Gentiles. He went there in the face of prejudice. Jesus included everyone in His mission.
He came to a city of Samaria which is called Sychar,
Sychar was located just east of Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal. Sychar was not Shechem, as some claim, but it replaced Shechem as the most important city in Samaria. Sychar is probably the modern village of Askar on the shoulder of Mount Ebal facing Mount Gerizim. Jesus later told the story of “The Good Samaritan.”
“Sychar” was about half a mile from Jacob’s Well near the town of Shechem. This city was located on the slope of Mount Ebal. Mounts Gerizim and Ebal were the mountains of cursing and blessing.
near the plot of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.
After 20 years away, Jacob bought a parcel of ground near the city of Shechem when he returned to Canaan. He then bequeathed this property to Joseph near the time of his death (Ge 48:22). Joseph was buried there.
This reference to Jacob’s Well and the mention of Mount Gerizim (Jn 4:20) place the encounter with the Samaritan woman in a very well-known place. The site of Jacob’s Well is certain. It is about 100 feet deep. There are many springs in this location.
PRINCIPLE:
Good witness goes to where the lost are.
APPLICATION:
Nicodemus was orthodox theologically, respected, and learned. The woman at the well was despised, unschooled and without influence, a moral outcast. However, both needed to embrace Jesus as Savior.
