²⁵ When they first lived there, they did not fear Yahweh. So the Lord sent lions among them, which killed some of them.^{(A) 26} The settlers spoke to the king of Assyria, saying, “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.^(B) Have him go and live there so he can teach them the requirements of the God of the land.”