Samaritans were considered unclean by Jews primarily because they were seen as ethnically and religiously mixed descendants of Israelites who had intermarried with pagan peoples after the Assyrian conquest of the Northern Kingdom of Israel around 722 BC. This mixture resulted in a syncretistic religion that combined elements of true Israelite worship with pagan practices. The Samaritans only accepted the Torah (the first five books of the Bible) and rejected other Jewish scriptures and traditions, including worshiping at Mount Gerizim instead of Jerusalem, which the Jews viewed as heretical. Because of their mixed ancestry and religious differences, Jews regarded Samaritans as impure and apostate, and feared ritual contamination from them. This led to strong mutual hostility, avoidance, and social segregation, with Jews refusing to share water or even paths with Samaritans to avoid becoming ceremonially unclean. Additionally, the Samaritans upset the Jewish rebuilding of Jerusalem’s temple and walls, further exacerbating animosity. These factors combined made Samaritans considered "unclean" from the Jewish perspective during the time of Jesus and earlier Jewish history.