The term “one-hit wonder” is most commonly used to designate musicians who had only one popular song. For example, one list of “The Greatest One-Hit Wonders of All Time” ranks the 1996 Los del Rios’ song, “Macarena,” at number one.
For purposes of this series, a “one-hit wonder” is a Bible character who is mentioned once, sometimes not even by name. Some of these characters play critical parts in important events, and some just give us an interesting glimpse into their world.
Because little is known about these minor characters, it is necessary to give them personalities that would be reasonable for the situation, then concentrate the episode of the Eyewitness Bible Series around events portrayed in the Bible.
As we often caution, we are not trying to add to what the Bible says; we are simply trying to add context that will help you understand the Bible better. We invite you to read the applicable Scriptures for these stories so you will know exactly what the Bible says.
Just as some one-hit wonder songs are a bit whimsical. Perhaps you will find some of these stories to be the same way. I hope you enjoy them, and learn some unexpected things.
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Any story in the New Testament having to do with Samaritans cannot be properly understood unless there is corresponding knowledge of the bitter history of the Samaritans and Jews. The antagonism starts with King Jeroboam splitting Israel into the Northern and Southern Kingdoms in about 930 B.C.
All of the kings of the Northern Kingdom led their people into idolatry or at least continued its practice. God’s patience finally ended when he allowed the Assyrians to take over the Northern Kingdom in about 721 B.C. and scatter its leaders throughout the Assyrian empire. From then on, the ten tribes of the Northern Kingdom were “lost”.
In 538 B.C., members of the Southern Kingdom began returning from their exile in Babylon and started rebuilding the Temple and the country. They found the remnant of Jews living in the Northern Kingdom had intermarried with the Assyrians and others, and no longer considered them Jews; instead, they became known as Samaritans, named after the former capital of the Northern Kingdom. Animosity between the two groups started at this time.
