2 Kings 17:23-41

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.

32SoH1961 the new residents worshipedH3373 the LORDH3068, but they also appointedH6213 for themselves priestsH3548 of all sortsH7098 to serveH6213 in the shrinesH1004H1116 of the high placesH1116H1961. 33They worshipedH3373 the LORDH3068, but they also servedH5647 their own godsH430H1961 according to the customsH4941 of the nationsH1471 from whichH834 they had been carried awayH1540.

34ToH5704 thisH2088 dayH3117 theyH1992 are still practicingH6213 their formerH7223 customsH4941. NoneH369 of them worshipH3373 the LORDH3068H369 or observeH6213 the statutesH2708, ordinancesH4941, lawsH8451, and commandmentsH4687 thatH834 the LORDH3068 gaveH6680 the descendantsH1121 of JacobH3290, whom He namedH7760H8034 IsraelH3478.

35For the LORDH3068 had madeH3772 a covenantH1285 withH854 the Israelites and commanded themH6680H559, “Do notH3808 worshipH3372 otherH312 godsH430 or bow downH7812 to them; do notH3808 serve themH5647 or sacrificeH2076 to them. 36InsteadH3588H518, worshipH3372 the LORDH3068, whoH834 broughtH5927 youH853 out of the landH776 of EgyptH4714 with greatH1419 powerH3581 and an outstretchedH5186 armH2220. You are to bow downH7812 to Him and offer sacrifices to HimH2076. 37AndH853 you must alwaysH3605 be carefulH8104H3117 to observeH6213 the statutesH2706, ordinancesH4941, lawsH8451, and commandmentsH4687 He wroteH3789 for you. Do notH3808 worshipH3372 otherH312 godsH430. 38Do notH3808 forgetH7911 the covenantH1285 I have madeH3772 with youH854. Do notH3808 worshipH3372 otherH312 godsH430, 39butH3588H518 worshipH3372 the LORDH3068 your GodH430, and HeH1931 will deliverH5337 youH853 from the handsH3027 of allH3605 your enemiesH341.”

40But they would notH3808 listenH8085, andH3588H518 they persisted inH6213 their formerH7223H1992 customsH4941. 41SoH1961 theseH428 nationsH1471 worshipedH3373 the LORDH3068 but also servedH5647H1571 their idolsH6456, andH1961 toH5704 thisH2088 dayH3117 their childrenH1121 and grandchildrenH1121 continue to doH6213 asH834 their fathersH1H1992 didH6213.