John 4:7 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

There cometh a woman of Samaria, &c.— An inhabitant of the country, not the town of Samaria; for Sebaste, the ancient Samaria, according to Mr. Maundrell, is about two hours or six miles distant from Sychar, consequently about seven miles from the well; a distance by far too great for one, even in that country, to come and fetch water. Though Jesus did not choose to go to the town himself, he sent his disciples thither to buy meat; for it seems the Jews might buy what they would of the Samaritans, as they might likewise from heathens; but they were not to accept of any thing from them in the way of beneficence, (see on John 4:9.) that being a crime, in their opinion, equal to the eating of swine's flesh; so bitter was the animosity which subsisted between the Samaritans and the Jews! See Ch. John 8:48 and the note on Luke 10:33.