Melachim Bais 17:26

26 Wherefore they spoke to Melech Ashur, saying, The Goyim which thou hast removed, and placed in the cities of Shomron, know not the mishpat Elohei HaAretz; therefore He hath sent the arayot among them, and, behold, they slew them, because they know not the mishpat Elohei HaAretz.

Melachim Bais 17:26 Meaning and Commentary

2 Kings 17:26

Wherefore they spake to the king of Assyria
In letters, or by messengers they sent unto him:

saying, the nations which thou hast removed;
from different places before mentioned:

and placed in the cities of Samaria, know not the manner of the God of
the land;
taking Jehovah the God of Israel to be a topical deity, limited peculiarly to the land of Israel, whereas he was the God of the whole earth; a like notion obtained among the Syrians, see ( 1 Kings 20:28 ) now they say they know not his "manner" or "judgment" ^F14, the laws, statutes, ordinances, and judgments, according to which he was worshipped by the people of Israel:

therefore he hath sent lions among them, and, behold, they slay them;
they perceived it was not a common case, nor could they impute it to any second cause, as want of food with the lions but the hand of a superior Being was in it: and they could think of no other reason, but

because they know not the manner of the God of the land;
how he was to be worshipped; and because they did not worship him, and knew not how to do it, it was resented in this manner by him.

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FOOTNOTES:

F14 (jpvm) "judicium", Pagninus, Montanus

Melachim Bais 17:26 In-Context

24 And Melech Ashur brought men from Babylon, and from Kutah, and from Ava, and from Chamat, and from Sepharvayim, and placed them in the cities of Shomron in the place of Bnei Yisroel; and they possessed Shomron, and dwelt in the cities thereof.

25 And so it was at the beginning of their dwelling there, that they feared not Hashem; therefore Hashem sent among them the arayot which killed some of them.

26 Wherefore they spoke to Melech Ashur, saying, The Goyim which thou hast removed, and placed in the cities of Shomron, know not the mishpat Elohei HaAretz; therefore He hath sent the arayot among them, and, behold, they slew them, because they know not the mishpat Elohei HaAretz.

27 Then Melech Ashur commanded, saying, Carry back there one of the kohanim whom ye brought captive from there; and let them go and dwell there, and let him teach them the mishpat Elohei HaAretz.

28 Then one of the kohanim whom they had carried away captive from Shomron came and dwelt in Beit-El, and was moreh (teacher) to them how they should fear Hashem.