24 Then the Assyrian king sent people from Bavel (Babylon) and from Kut and from Ivah and from Hamat and Sefarvayim, and he settled them in the cities of the northern kingdom in place of the Israelis. And they possessed Shomron (Samaria) and lived in its towns. 25 At first the new inhabitants living there didn’t respect Yahweh, however he sent lions among them and they started killing them. 26 They told the Assyrian king, “The people groups that you exiled from their own countries and settled in the towns around Shomron, don’t know the customs of the god of the land. So he’s sent lions against them, and look at them—killing them because they don’t know the customs of the god of the land.” 27 “Send one of the priests back that was brought from there,” the Assyrian king commanded. “He can go back there and settle there again, then he can teach them the customs of the god of that place.” 28 So they found one of the priests who had been exiled from Shomron and sent him back to Yisrael (Israel). He settled in Beyt-El (Bethel) and taught the people how Yahweh wanted to be served.

29 But each people group had made their own gods and put them in the hilltop shrines that the Israelis had made before being exiled. Each people group did that in the area where they’d been resettled. 30 Those from Bavel made their god Sukot-Benot, those from Kut made Nergal, those from Hamat made their god Ashima, 31 and the Avim made Nivhaz and Tartak. The Sefarvim sacrificed their own sons in the fire to their gods Adramelek and Anamelek. 32 At the same time, they tried placating Yahweh, but they also made their own priests to make sacrifices for them in their hilltop shrines. 33 So they were worshipping Yahweh along with their own gods—they’d brought those customs with them from the countries they’d been exiled from 34 and which they still follow to this day.

They’re not actually obeying Yahweh because they’re not obeying the statutes or laws, or instructions or behaviour that Yahweh commanded the descendants of Ya’akov (Jacob) (who he’d renamed to ‘Yisrael’).[ref] 35 Yahweh had made an agreement with them and had commanded them, “You all must not honour other gods or bow to them. You all must not serve them or sacrifice to them.[ref] 36 Only serve Yahweh who used his incredible power to rescue you all out of Mitsrayim (Egypt). Honour him, and only bow to him and sacrifice to him.[ref] 37 Always take care to obey the statutes and customs, and the law and the instructions that he wrote for you, and you all must not honour other gods. 38 Don’t forget the agreement that I made with you all, and don’t honour other gods—39 only your god Yahweh, and then he himself will rescue you from all your enemies.” 40 However, they didn’t listen, preferring to follow the customs from their former places of residence.

41 So those people groups honoured Yahweh, but also served their idols. This continued through the generations with their descendants continuing the same behaviour.