“marvelled that he talked with the woman” (KJV) becuase the Jews did not consider a lengthy conversation with a woman to be right, good, or even legal.  Their rule was:

“do not multiply discourse with a woman, with his wife they say, much less with his neighbour’s wife: hence the wise men say, at whatsoever time a man multiplies discourse with a woman, he is the cause of evil to himself, and ceases from the words of the law, and at last shall go down into hell.”

This was thought to be especially bad in any public place as demonstrated by the following rule:

“let not a man talk with a woman in the streets, even with his wife; and there is no need to say with another man’s wife.”

But for a scholar or rabbi to engage in a public conversation with a woman was even worse.  His instructions were to:

“let him not talk with a woman in the street, though she is  his wife, or his sister, or his daughter.” (all qt’d in McGarvey)

Women were obviously not well thought of at the time.  Roman law allowed the husband to treat the wife however he wanted, even to the point of killing her if he so wished; and Jewish divorce practices were indicative of their view of the wife.  In fact, a prayer still found in the Jewish prayer book says, “Blessed art thou, O Lord…who hast not made me a woman.” (qt’d in Morris)  But Jesus was not just engaged in a public conversation with a woman, He was talking with a Samaritan woman!  How shocking!

“But no-one asked…” Even in the face of the disciples’ astonishment at the public conversation of Jesus with a Samaritan woman, they did not say anything to Him about it.  Why not?  Probably due to their reverence for Him and knowledge that He never did anything without good reasons.

Some other questions which must be brought up at some point in this passage recounting the meeting of Jesus with the woman at the well follow:

1. What did Jesus see in this woman? Outwardly she had particular features and clothes, but what did He see inside her that would attract Him to her?  Did she possess any traits that it would be good for us to emulate?
2. Why did Jesus engage her in a conversation in the first place? Certainly to get her saved, but what was/were His other motive(s)?Was it possible that He just liked what He saw inside her and wanted to spend some time with her?  Is it possible that He likes what He sees in you and wants to spend some time with you?