7For the children of Israel had sinned against the LORD their God, Who had brought them up out of the land of Egypt, from under control of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and had worshipped other gods, 8And walked in the statutes of the nations whom the LORD drove out from before them, and the gods that the kings of Israel had made. 9And the children of Israel did secretly evil things, opposing the LORD their God, and they built high places in all their cities, from the tower of the watchmen to the fortified city. 10And they set up images and idols on every high hill, and under every green tree: 11And they burned incense in all the high places, like the nations whom the LORD drove out before them; and did wicked things to provoke the LORD to anger; 12For they served idols, of which the LORD had said to them, “You shall not do this thing.” 13Yet the LORD warn Israel and Judah, by all the prophets, and by all the seers, saying, “Turn from your evil ways, and keep My commandments and My statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by My servants, the prophets.” 14Nevertheless, they would not hear, but stiffened their necks, like the necks of their fathers, who did not trust in the LORD their God. 15And they rejected His statutes, His covenant that He made with their fathers, and His testimonies which He warned them about; and they pursued worthless idols, and made themselves worthless by following the pagan rituals of the nations that were around them, which the LORD had warned them not to do. 16And they rejected all the commandments of the LORD their God, and made them melted images - two calves, and other idols, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served Baal. 17And they made their sons and daughters pass through the fire (as human sacrifices), and used divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke Him to anger. 18Therefore, the LORD was very angry with Israel, and removed them from His sight; there was none left except only the tribe of Judah. 19And even Judah did not keep the commandments of the LORD their God, but followed the practices which Israel initiated. 20And the LORD rejected all those of Israel, and afflicted and delivered them to the plunderers, until He finally thrust them out of His sight.

21He forcibly removed Israel from the house of David; for they made Jeroboam I, son of Nebat, king; who enticed Israel away from following the LORD, and caused them to sin a great sin. 22For the children of Israel followed all the sins which Jeroboam I did; and did never departed from them; 23Until the LORD removed Israel out of His sight, as He had warned by all His servants, the prophets. And so Israel was carried away out of their land to Assyria unto this day.

24And Shalmaneser, king of Assyria, brought men from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath, and from Sepharvaim, and settled them in the cities of Samaria in place of the children of Israel; and they occupied Samaria, and dwelt in its cities. 25And when they began to dwell there, since they did not fear the LORD, the LORD sent lions among them, which slew some of them. 26Therefore, they said to Shalmaneser, “The people whom you have placed and settled in the cities of Samaria do not know the manner of the God of this land; therefore He has sent lions among them that are killing them, because they do now know the manner of worship demanded by the God of the land”. 27Then the king of Assyria commanded, “Take one of the priests that you brought from there and let them return and dwell there, and teach them the custom of the God of the land”. 28Then one of the priests, whom they had carried away from Samaria, came and dwelt in Bethel, and taught them how they should fear (and worship) the LORD. 29But every nation still made gods of their own, and put them in the houses of the high places which the Samaritans had made, every nation in their cities in which they dwelt. 30And the men (that Shalmaneser settled in Samaria brought their own gods or idols with them as enumerated here:) the men of Babylon worshipped Succoth-benoth; the men of Cuth worshipped Nergal; the men of Hamath worshipped Ashima, 31And the Avvites worshipped Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burned their children in fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim. 32So they also feared the LORD, and appointed all sorts of their people as priests of the high places, who sacrificed for them in the houses of the high places. 33And so they feared the LORD, but at the same time served their own gods, after the custom of the nations they were carried away from.

34Unto this day they do after the former pagan customs; they do not (truly) worship the LORD, nor do they follow after the statutes, the ordinances, or the law which the LORD commanded the children of Jacob, whom He named Israel, 35and with whom the LORD had made a covenant, and charged them, saying, “You shall not fear (worship) other gods, nor bow yourselves to them, nor serve them, nor sacrifice to them. 36But the LORD, Who brought you up out of the land of Egypt with great power and a stretched out arm, Him shall you fear, and Him shall you worship, and to Him shall you offer sacrifice. 37And the statutes, ordinances, the law, and the commandment, which He wrote for you, you shall observe to do for evermore; and you shall not fear (worship) other gods. 38And the covenant that I have made with you, you shall not forget; nor shall you fear (worship) other gods. 39But the LORD your God you shall fear (and worship); and He shall deliver you out of the hand of all your enemies.” 40However, they did not listen, but pursued their former ways.

41So these nations feared the LORD, but also served their carved images, both their children, and their children's children; as did their fathers, and do so they unto this day.