{He must needs pass through Samaria} (Edei de auton
dierchesthai dia t(8873) Samarias). Imperfect indicative of the
impersonal verb dei with subject infinitive (dierchesthai)
and accusative of general reference (auton). Note repetition of
dia. It was only necessary to pass through Samaria in going
directly north from Judea to Galilee. In coming south from
Galilee travellers usually crossed over the Jordan and came down
through Perea to avoid the hostility of the Samaritans towards
people who passed through their land to go to Jerusalem. Jesus
once met this bitterness on going to the feast of tabernacles
( Lu 9:51-56 ).