Why did Jesus send His disciples into town before the Samaritan woman arrived?
Jesus sent His disciples into town to buy food and to keep them from being present when He met the Samaritan woman. Their absence prevented controversy, because Jews were not supposed to talk with Samaritans, and it allowed Him to wait at Jacob’s well and reveal Himself as Messiah.
Les explains that Jesus foreknew what lay ahead as they traveled toward Galilee. Instead of circumventing Samaria as the good Jews did, Jesus insisted, “This time we go through Samaria.” At Jacob’s well, He sent the disciples on into town so they would not be around to cause controversy, since they were not supposed to talk to a Samaritan. He sat down on the well and waited. The woman of Samaria came to draw water, and though she seemed to meet Him accidentally, it was not accidental; the Lord knew He would meet her. Verse 8 says He sent the disciples to the city to buy food, while verse 7 says the woman came to draw water. She came to recognize Him as the Messiah, ran into town, and shared.
(For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.)