2 Kings 17:23-41

231untilH5704H834 the LordH3068 removedH5493 IsraelH3478 from His sightH6440, 2as He spokeH1696 throughH3027 allH3605 His servantsH5650 the prophetsH5030. 3So IsraelH3478 was carriedH1540 awayH1540 into exileH1540 from their own landH127 to AssyriaH804 untilH5704 thisH2088 dayH3117.

244The kingH4428 of AssyriaH804 broughtH935 men from BabylonH894 and from CuthahH3575 and from 56AvvaH5755 and from 7HamathH2574 and SepharvaimH5617, and settledH3427 them in the citiesH5892 of SamariaH8111 in placeH8478 of the sonsH1121 of IsraelH3478. So they possessedH3423 SamariaH8111 and livedH3427 in its citiesH5892. 25At the beginningH8462 of their livingH3427 thereH8033, they 8did not fearH3372 the LordH3068; therefore the LordH3068 sentH7971 lionsH738 among them which killedH2026 some of them. 26So they spokeH559 to the kingH4428 of AssyriaH804, sayingH559, “The nationsH1471 whomH834 you have carriedH1540 awayH1540 into exileH1540 in the citiesH5892 of SamariaH8111 do not knowH3045 the customH4941 of the godH430 of the landH776; so he has sentH7971 lionsH738 among them, and beholdH2009, they killH4191 them becauseH834 they do not knowH3045 the customH4941 of the godH430 of the landH776.”

27Then the kingH4428 of AssyriaH804 commandedH6680, sayingH559, “TakeH1980 thereH8033 oneH259 of the priestsH3548 whomH834 you carriedH1540 awayH1540 into 9exileH1540 and let 10him goH1980 and liveH3427 thereH8033; and let him teachH3384 them the customH4941 of the godH430 of the landH776.” 28So oneH259 of the priestsH3548 whomH834 they had carriedH1540 awayH1540 into exileH1540 from SamariaH8111 cameH935 and livedH3427 at BethelH1008, and taughtH3384 them howH349 they should fearH3372 the LordH3068.

29But everyH1471 nationH1471 still madeH6213 godsH430 of its own and putH5117 them 11in the housesH1004 of the highH1116 placesH1116 whichH834 the peopleH8118 of SamariaH8118 had madeH6213, everyH1471 nationH1471 in their citiesH5892 in whichH834 they livedH3427. 3012The menH376 of BabylonH894 madeH6213 Succoth-benothH5524, the menH376 of CuthH3575 madeH6213 NergalH5370, the menH376 of HamathH2574 madeH6213 AshimaH807, 31and the AvvitesH5757 madeH6213 NibhazH5026 and TartakH8662; and 13the SepharvitesH5616 burnedH8313 their childrenH1121 in the fireH784 to 14AdrammelechH152 and AnammelechH6048 the godsH430 of 15SepharvaimH5617. 3216They also fearedH3372 the LordH3068 and 1718appointedH6213 from amongH7098 themselves priestsH3548 of the highH1116 placesH1116, who actedH6213 for them in the housesH1004 of the highH1116 placesH1116. 33They fearedH3372 the LordH3068 and servedH5647 their own godsH430 according to the customH4941 of the nationsH1471 from among whomH834 they had been carriedH1540 awayH1540 into exileH1540.

34To thisH2088 dayH3117 they doH6213 according to the earlierH7223 customsH4941: they do not fearH3372 the LordH3068, norH369 do they 19followH6213 their statutesH2708 or their ordinancesH4941 or the lawH8451, or the commandmentsH4687 whichH834 the LordH3068 commandedH6680 the sonsH1121 of JacobH3290, 20whomH834 He namedH7760H8034 IsraelH3478; 35with whom the LordH3068 madeH3772 a covenantH1285 and commandedH6680 them, sayingH559, “21You shall not fearH3372 otherH312 godsH430, norH3808 22bowH7812 downH7812 yourselves to them norH3808 23serveH5647 them norH3808 sacrificeH2076 to them. 36But the LordH3068, 24whoH834 broughtH5927 you up from the landH776 of EgyptH4714 with greatH1419 powerH3581 and with 25an outstretchedH5186 armH2220, 26Him you shall fearH3372, and to Him you shall bowH7812 yourselves downH7812, and to Him you shall sacrificeH2076. 37The statutesH2706 and the ordinancesH4941 and the lawH8451 and the commandmentH4687 whichH834 He wroteH3789 for you, 27you shall observeH8104 to doH6213 foreverH3605H3117; and you shall not fearH3372 otherH312 godsH430. 38The covenantH1285 that I have madeH3772 with you, 28you shall not forgetH7911, norH3808 shall you fearH3372 otherH312 godsH430. 39But the LordH3068 your GodH430 you shall fearH3372; and He will deliverH5337 you from the handH3027 of allH3605 your enemiesH340.” 40However, they did not listenH8085, but they didH6213 according to their earlierH7223 customH4941. 4129So while theseH428 nationsH1471 fearedH3372 the LordH3068, they also servedH5647 their 30idolsH6456; their childrenH1121 likewiseH1571 and their grandchildrenH1121, as their fathersH1 didH6213, so they doH6213 to thisH2088 dayH3117.