5 gods on the mountain

So I've sometimes worried I'm getting to be like the local experts Jesus so worried in his hometown -- at least when it comes to the gospel of the Samaritan Woman at the Well.  I literally wrote a book on it.  Not a particularly researched book, but one prayed and worked on for years.  One born of spiritual searching and full of whatever wisdom I've earned in my time.

But I didn't know that there were 5 false gods on the mountain of Samaria, echoed poetically in the 5 husbands of the Samaritan Woman.  The last of whom she apparently didn't even really believe in.

I also missed the now-obvious translation attempt that "living water" obviously is.  I took it for basic metaphor, pretty language, etc.  This one I a) should have done enough research to learn about and b) should really have recognized from my dabbling in translation-issues.

There was stagnant water and spring water, moving water or "living water".  Healthier, cleaner (seeming), less likely to breed mosquitoes or be poisoned naturally or otherwise.  A fresh, above ground source, not a well robbing water from the earth.  A free gift, not a man-made work around.

God's lessons are so cool.  It's a shame Nazareth stopped being able to see new things, or got lost in the person delivering the message.

I'm sure I've been guilty of that in my time.  But at least today I was able to listen.