The Samaritan, probably no other than Simon [The only alternative would be to identify this ‘messiah’ with Simon’s rival and contemporary Dositheos.] ‘ the magician,’ whom Philip had baptized, was determined to convince the people, by a miracle, of no less a fact than that he himself was the expected Joshua or Jesus, the ta’eb. His intention was to lead his armed followers in solemn procession up Mt. Gerizim, and there, in a hollow on the top, probably the rock-cave still visible to-day, to exhibit the old tabernacle and its sacred vessels which Joshua was reputed to have concealed there. According to Josephus and the Christian account, the man was an impostor ‘who did not mind a lie.’
