23 until the Lord removed Israel out of His sight, ^aas He had said by all His servants the prophets. ^bSo Israel was carried away from their own land to Assyria, as it is to this day.  ‡

24 ^aThen the king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, ^bAva, Hamath, and from Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel; and they took possession of Samaria and dwelt in its cities.  ‡

26 So they spoke to the king of Assyria, saying, “The nations whom you have removed and placed in the cities of Samaria do not know the rituals of the God of the land; therefore He has sent lions among them, and indeed, they are killing them because they do not know the rituals of the God of the land.”

27 Then the king of Assyria commanded, saying, “Send there one of the priests whom you brought from there; let him go and dwell there, and let him teach them the rituals of the God of the land.”