כתים ודודנים ורודנים ושומרונים

After identifying the four nations mentioned in Gen 10:4 - Elisha, Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim - Gen R. goes on to state that the different spelling 'Dodanim' in Gen 10:4 and 'Rodanim' in 1 Chr 1:7 is due to the fact that when the Jews are prospering, these people present themselves as the Jews' cousins (benei dodim), and when the Jews are low, these people come and lord it (rodim) oer them. In light of very similar characterizations of the Samaritans in the writings of Josephus. it is here suggested that the Genesis Rabbah passage preserves an anti-Samaritan sermon, of the type 'al tikri (do not read) Kittim, but Kuthim', i.e., it is the Samaritans who are sometimes the Jews' 'cousins', and on other occasions their haughty 'overlords'.