2 Kings 17:23-41

231untilH5704H834 the LordH3068 removedH5493 IsraelH3478 from His sightH6440, 2justH3512 asH3512 He had spokenH1696 throughH3027 allH3605 His servantsH5650 the prophetsH5030. 3So IsraelH3478 wentH1540 intoH1540 exileH1540 from their own landH127 to AssyriaH804 untilH5704 thisH2088 dayH3117.

244Then the kingH4428 of AssyriaH804 broughtH935 people from BabylonH894, CuthahH3575, 56AvvaH5755, 7HamathH2574, and SepharvaimH5617, and settledH3427 them in the citiesH5892 of SamariaH8111 inH8478 placeH8478 ofH8478 the sonsH1121 of IsraelH3478. So they tookH3423 possessionH3423 of SamariaH8111 and livedH3427 in its citiesH5892. 25And at the beginningH8462 of their livingH3427 thereH8033, they 8did not fearH3372 the LordH3068; therefore the LordH3068 sentH7971 lionsH738 among them that were killingH2026 some of them. 26So they spokeH559 to the kingH4428 of AssyriaH804, sayingH559, “The nationsH1471 whomH834 you have takenH1540 intoH1540 exileH1540 and settledH3427 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 are killingH4191 them becauseH834 they do not knowH3045 the customH4941 of the GodH430 of the landH776.”

27Then the kingH4428 of AssyriaH804 issuedH6680 commandsH6680, sayingH559, “TakeH1980 oneH259 of the priestsH3548 thereH8033 whomH834 you ledH1540 intoH1540 9exileH1540, and have 10him goH1980 and liveH3427 thereH8033; and have him teachH3384 them the customH4941 of the GodH430 of the landH776.” 28So oneH259 of the priestsH3548 whomH834 they had ledH1540 intoH1540 exileH1540 from SamariaH8111 cameH935 and livedH3427 in BethelH1008, and taughtH3384 them howH349 they were to fearH3372 the LordH3068.

29But everyH1471 nationH1471 was still makingH6213 godsH430 of its own, and they putH5117 them 11in the housesH1004 of the highH1116 placesH1116 whichH834 the peopleH8118 ofH8118 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 were burningH8313 their childrenH1121 in the fireH784 to 14AdrammelechH152 and AnammelechH6048, the godsH430 of 15SepharvaimH5617. 3216They also fearedH3372 the LordH3068 and 1718appointedH6213 from their entireH7098 populationH7098 priestsH3548 of the highH1116 placesH1116, who actedH6213 for them in the housesH1004 of the highH1116 placesH1116. 33They fearedH3372 the LordH3068, yet they were servingH5647 their own godsH430 in accordance with the customH4941 of the nationsH1471 from among whomH834 they had been takenH1540 intoH1540 exileH1540.

34To thisH2088 dayH3117 they actH6213 in accordance with the earlierH7223 customsH4941: they do not fearH3372 the LordH3068, norH369 do they 19followH6213 their statutesH2708, their ordinancesH4941, the LawH8451, or the commandmentsH4687 whichH834 the LordH3068 commandedH6680 the sonsH1121 of JacobH3290, 20whomH834 He namedH7760H8034 IsraelH3478. 35The LordH3068 madeH3772 a covenantH1285 with them and commandedH6680 them, sayingH559, “21You shall not fearH3372 otherH312 godsH430, norH3808 22bowH2331 downH2331 to them, norH3808 23serveH5647 them, norH3808 sacrificeH2076 to them. 36But the LordH3068, 24whoH834 broughtH5927 you upH5927 from the landH776 of EgyptH4714 with greatH1419 powerH3581 and with 25an outstretchedH5186 armH2220, 26Him you shall fearH3372, and to Him you shall bowH2331 downH2331, and to Him you shall sacrificeH2076. 37And the statutesH2706, the ordinancesH4941, the LawH8451, and the commandmentH4687 whichH834 He wroteH3789 for you, 27you shall takeH8104 careH8104 to doH6213 alwaysH3605H3117; 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 you shall fearH3372 the LordH3068 your GodH430; and He will saveH5337 you from the handH3027 of allH3605 your enemiesH340.” 40However, they did not listenH8085, but they kept actingH6213 in accordance with their earlierH7223 customH4941. 4129So while theseH428 nationsH1471 fearedH3372 the LordH3068, they also servedH5647 their 30idolsH6456; their childrenH1121 likewiseH1571 and their grandchildrenH1121, justH3512 asH3512 their fathersH1 didH6213, they doH6213 to thisH2088 dayH3117.