2 Kings 17:24-40

241Then the kingH4428 of AssyriaH804 broughtH935 people from BabylonH894, CuthahH3575, 23AvvaH5755, 4HamathH2574, 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 5did 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 6exileH1540, and have 7him 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 8in the housesH1004 of the highH1116 placesH1116 whichH834 the peopleH8118 ofH8118 SamariaH8118 had madeH6213, everyH1471 nationH1471 in their citiesH5892 in whichH834 they livedH3427. 309The 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 10the SepharvitesH5616 were burningH8313 their childrenH1121 in the fireH784 to 11AdrammelechH152 and AnammelechH6048, the godsH430 of 12SepharvaimH5617. 3213They also fearedH3372 the LordH3068 and 1415appointedH6213 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 16followH6213 their statutesH2708, their ordinancesH4941, the LawH8451, or the commandmentsH4687 whichH834 the LordH3068 commandedH6680 the sonsH1121 of JacobH3290, 17whomH834 He namedH7760H8034 IsraelH3478. 35The LordH3068 madeH3772 a covenantH1285 with them and commandedH6680 them, sayingH559, “18You shall not fearH3372 otherH312 godsH430, norH3808 19bowH2331 downH2331 to them, norH3808 20serveH5647 them, norH3808 sacrificeH2076 to them. 36But the LordH3068, 21whoH834 broughtH5927 you upH5927 from the landH776 of EgyptH4714 with greatH1419 powerH3581 and with 22an outstretchedH5186 armH2220, 23Him 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, 24you shall takeH8104 careH8104 to doH6213 alwaysH3605H3117; and you shall not fearH3372 otherH312 godsH430. 38The covenantH1285 that I have madeH3772 with you, 25you 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.