2 Kings 17:17-31

17They sacrificedH5674 their sonsH1121 and daughtersH1323 in the fireH7841 and practicedH7080 divinationH7081 and soothsayingH5172. They devoted themselvesH4376 to doingH6213 evilH7451 in the sightH5869 of the LORDH3068, provoking Him to angerH3707.

18So the LORDH3068 was veryH3966 angryH599 with IsraelH3478, and He removed themH5493 fromH5921 His presenceH6440H3808. OnlyH7535 the tribeH7626 of JudahH3063H905 remainedH7604, 19and evenH1571 JudahH3063 did notH3808 keepH8104 the commandmentsH4687 of the LORDH3068 their GodH430, but livedH1980 according to the customsH2708 IsraelH3478 had introducedH6213. 20So the LORDH3068 rejectedH3988 allH3605 the descendantsH2233 of IsraelH3478. He afflicted themH6031 and delivered themH5414 into the handsH3027 of plunderersH8154, untilH5704 He had banished themH7993 from His presenceH6440.

21WhenH3588 the LORD had tornH7167 IsraelH3478 away fromH5921 the houseH1004 of DavidH1732, they made JeroboamH3379 sonH1121 of NebatH5028H5077 kingH4427, and JeroboamH3379 led IsraelH3478 away from followingH310 the LORDH3068 and caused them to commitH2398 a greatH1419 sinH2401. 22The IsraelitesH1121H3478 persistedH1980 in allH3605 the sinsH2403 thatH834 JeroboamH3379 had committedH6213 and did notH3808 turn awayH5493 from themH4480. 23FinallyH5704, the LORDH3068 removedH5493 IsraelH3478 fromH5921 His presenceH6440, asH834 He had declaredH1696 throughH3027 allH3605 His servantsH5650 the prophetsH5030. So IsraelH3478 was exiledH1540 fromH5921 their homelandH127 into AssyriaH804, where they are toH5704 thisH2088 dayH3117.

24Then the kingH4428 of AssyriaH804 broughtH935 people from BabylonH894, CuthahH3575, AvvaH5755, HamathH2574, and SepharvaimH5617 and settled themH3427 in the townsH5892 of SamariaH8111 to replaceH8478 the IsraelitesH1121H3478. They took possession ofH3423 SamariaH8111 and livedH3427 in its townsH5892.

25NowH1961 when the settlers firstH8462 livedH3427 thereH8033, they did notH3808 worshipH3372 the LORDH3068, so HeH3068 sentH7971 lionsH738 among them, whichH1961 killedH2026 some of them. 26So they spokeH559 to the kingH4428 of AssyriaH804, sayingH559, “The peoplesH1471 thatH834 you have removedH1540 and placedH3427 in the citiesH5892 of SamariaH8111 do notH3808 knowH3045 the requirementsH4941 of the GodH430 of the landH776. Because of thisH834H369H3045, He has sentH7971 lionsH738 among them, which are indeedH2009 killing them offH4191.”

27Then the kingH4428 of AssyriaH804H559 commandedH6680: “Send backH1980 oneH259 of the priestsH3548 you carried offH1540 fromH8033 Samaria, and have him go backH1980 to liveH3427 thereH8033 and teachH3384 the requirementsH4941 of the GodH430 of the landH776.”

28Thus oneH259 of the priestsH3548 they had carried awayH1540H8111 cameH935 and livedH3427 in BethelH1008H1961, and he began to teachH3384 themH853 howH349 they should worshipH3372 the LORDH3068.

29NeverthelessH1961, the people of each nationH1471 continued to makeH6213 their own godsH430 in the citiesH5892 whereH834 theyH1992 had settledH3427, and they set them upH5117 in the shrinesH1004 thatH834 the peopleH1471 of SamariaH8118 had madeH6213 on the high placesH1116. 30The menH582 of BabylonH894 madeH6213 Succoth-benothH5524, the menH582 of CuthH3575 madeH6213 NergalH5370, the menH582 of HamathH2574 madeH6213 AshimaH807, 31the AvvitesH5761 madeH6213 NibhazH5026 and TartakH8662, and the SepharvitesH5616 burnedH8313 their childrenH1121 in the fireH784 to AdrammelechH152 and AnammelechH6048 the godsH433 of SepharvaimH5617.