2 Kings 17:24-26

New English Translation

The King of Assyria Populates Israel with Foreigners

²⁴ The king of Assyria brought foreigners^[a] from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sepharvaim and settled them in the cities of Samaria^[b] in place of the Israelites. They took possession of Samaria and lived in its cities. ²⁵ When they first moved in,^[c] they did not worship^[d] the Lord. So the Lord sent lions among them and the lions were killing them. ²⁶ The king of Assyria was told,^[e] “The nations whom you deported and settled in the cities of Samaria do not know the requirements of the God of the land, so he has sent lions among them. They are killing the people^[f] because they do not know the requirements of the God of the land.”