2 Kings 17:23-27

Christian Standard Bible Anglicised

²³ Finally, the Lord removed Israel from his presence just as he had declared through all his servants the prophets. So Israel has been exiled to Assyria from their homeland to this very day.^(A)

Foreign Refugees in Israel

²⁴ Then the king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sepharvaim and settled them in place of the Israelites in the cities of Samaria. The settlers took possession of Samaria and lived in its cities.^{(B) 25} When they first lived there, they did not fear the Lord. So the Lord sent lions among them, which killed some of them.^{(C) 26} The settlers said to the king of Assyria, ‘The nations that you have deported and placed in the cities of Samaria do not know the requirements of the god of the land. Therefore he has sent lions among them that are killing them because the people don’t know the requirements of the god of the land.’

²⁷ Then the king of Assyria issued a command: ‘Send back one of the priests you deported.^(D) Make him go and live there so he can teach them the requirements of the god of the land.’