his father upon the latter's death and became the de facto leader of the Samaritan community. He divided Samarian lands into districts, which he then awarded to aristocratic families, executed several reforms, installed state institutions, and codified much of the liturgy Samaritans continue to use today. He also organized the first Samaritan revolt, which began with the expulsion of the tax collectors. Micha Yosef Berdychevsky tells the story of the beginning of the rebellion that ended successfully:And Nathaniel shall have three sons, the name of the firstborn is Baba, and he is Baba Rabba, the second name is Akbon, and the third name is Phinehas. And it came to pass, when they saw the affliction of their tribes, and the plagues that were smitten from within and without, that the spirit of the LORD was upon them, and they envied his jealousy. Then they came down to the people and cried out: Who is God, to us! And all the holes of the people and their nobles shall be gathered unto them, and seven men shall choose from them. Soldiers and intellectuals, and he appointed them ministers over all the people, and ordered them to command all the tribes and all the families, to teach them the law of the Lord and to keep his commandments and to be their shield before his enemies. And strengthen their hearts, and embrace and strengthen them, that they may not hear the words of the decrees, and their hearts should not fade. And the people shall rejoice in hearing all these things, and shall say, All that thou hast spoken thou and thy brother unto us is done. All the statues of the Gentiles rose up and burned all their nerves; Return to God with all your heart and sing and we will sing to God with songs and thanksgiving. And it came to pass, when they had made an end of speaking in the house of Egypt, that the children of Ephraim revolted against the king and his officials, and that they began to serve their gods openly and without mercy; And Baba and his brethren stood up with all the seven ministers and commissioners with their men and their heroes and stood against them and made them a great slain and the rest fled to their souls, and let there be peace in Samaria and her daughters! Unfortunately, the reality of