As a religious sect, reportedly, the Samaritans broke away from the mainstream Jews around the fifth century BCE, but according to Samaritan accounts it was the southern tribes that left the original worship set forth by Joshua.
The Samaritans broke away from the mainstream Jews around the fifth century BCE. This was as a religious sect. This was reportedly. It was the southern tribes. This was according to Samaritan accounts. This was as a religious sect. These southern tribes left the original worship. This original worship was set forth by Joshua.