2 Kings 17:21-31

21 For he tore Yisra'el from the house of David; and they made Yarov`am the son of Nevat king: and Yarov`am drove Yisra'el from following the LORD, and made them sin a great sin.
22 The children of Yisra'el walked in all the sins of Yarov`am which he did; they didn't depart from them;
23 until the LORD removed Yisra'el out of his sight, as he spoke by all his servants the prophets. So Yisra'el was carried away out of their own land to Ashshur to this day.
24 The king of Ashshur brought men from Bavel, and from Kutah, and from Avva, and from Hamat and Sefarvayim, and placed them in the cities of Shomron instead of the children of Yisra'el; and they possessed Shomron, and lived in the cities of it.
25 So it was, at the beginning of their dwelling there, that they didn't fear the LORD: therefore the LORD sent lions among them, which killed some of them.
26 Therefore they spoke to the king of Ashshur, saying, The nations which you have carried away, and placed in the cities of Shomron, don't know the law of the god of the land: therefore he has sent lions among them, and, behold, they kill them, because they don't know the law of the god of the land.
27 Then the king of Ashshur commanded, saying, Carry there one of the Kohanim whom you brought from there; and let them go and dwell there, and let him teach them the law of the god of the land.
28 So one of the Kohanim whom they had carried away from Shomron came and lived in Beit-El, and taught them how they should fear the LORD.
29 However every nation made gods of their own, and put them in the houses of the high places which the Shomroni had made, every nation in their cities in which they lived.
30 The men of Bavel made Sukkot-Benot, and the men of Kut made Nergal, and the men of Hamat made Ashima,
31 and the `Avvim made Niv'chaz and Tartak; and the Sefarvayim burnt their children in the fire to Adrammelekh and `Anammelekh, the gods of Sefarvayim.

2 Kings 17:21-31 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 2 KINGS 17

This chapter relates the captivity of the ten tribes of Israel, and how it came about, 2Ki 17:1-6, the cause of it, their idolatry, which they persisted in, notwithstanding the remonstrances made against it, 2Ki 17:7-23, in whose stead were placed people from different parts, who exercised a mixed religion, partly Heathenish, and partly Israelitish, 2Ki 17:24.

The Hebrew Names Version is in the public domain.