Volume 2

Dina, the Samaritan
183
to Jacob's Well. He wore a long, white robe of fine wool
like an alb, bound with a broad girdle. It was a garment
such as the Prophets wore, and which the disciples usually
carried for Him. He made use of it only on solemn occasions
when He preached, or fulfilled some Prophecy.
Dina coming thus suddenly upon Jesus was startled.
She lowered her veil and hesitated to advance, for the
Lord was sitting full in her path. I saw passing through
her mind the characteristic thoughts: ""A man! What is he
doing here? Is it a temptation'?" She saw that Jesus was a
Jew as, beaming with benevolence, He graciously drew
His feet back, for the path was narrow, with the words:
""Pass on, and give Me to drink!"
These words touched the woman, since the Jews and
the Samaritans were accustomed to exchange only glances
of mutual aversion, and so she still lingered, saying: ""Why
art Thou here all alone at this hour? If anyone should
happen to see me here with Thee, he would be scandalized."
To which Jesus answered that His companions
had gone on to the city to purchase food. Dina said: ""Indeed!
The three men whom I met? But they will find little
at this hour. What the Sichemites have prepared for today,
they need for themselves." She spoke as if it were
either a feast or a fast that day in Sichar, and named
another place to which they should have gone for food.
But Jesus again said: ""Pass on, and give Me to drink!"
Then Dina passed by Him. Jesus arose and followed her
to the well, which she unlocked. While going thither, she
said: ""How canst Thou, being a Jew, ask a drink from a
Samaritan?" And Jesus answered her: ""If thou didst know
the gift of God and who He is that sayeth to thee: "Give
Me to drink,' thou wouldst perhaps have asked of Him,
and He would have given thee living water."
Then Dina loosened the cover and the bucket, meanwhile
saying to Jesus, who had seated Himself on the rim
of the well: ""Sir, thou hast nothing wherein to draw, and