2 Kings 17:26
New International Version
It was reported to the king of Assyria: “The people you deported and resettled in the towns of Samaria do not know what the god of that country requires. He has sent lions among them, which are killing them off, because the people do not know what he requires.”

New Living Translation
So a message was sent to the king of Assyria: “The people you have sent to live in the towns of Samaria do not know the religious customs of the God of the land. He has sent lions among them to destroy them because they have not worshiped him correctly.”

English Standard Version
So the king of Assyria was told, “The nations that you have carried away and placed in the cities of Samaria do not know the law of the god of the land. Therefore he has sent lions among them, and behold, they are killing them, because they do not know the law of the god of the land.”

Berean Standard Bible
So they spoke to the king of Assyria, saying, “The peoples that you have removed and placed in the cities of Samaria do not know the requirements of the God of the land. Because of this, He has sent lions among them, which are indeed killing them off.”

King James Bible
Wherefore they spake to the king of Assyria, saying, The nations which thou hast removed, and placed in the cities of Samaria, know not the manner of the God of the land: therefore he hath sent lions among them, and, behold, they slay them, because they know not the manner of the God of the land.

New King James Version
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.”

New American Standard Bible
So they spoke to the king of Assyria, saying, “The nations whom you have taken into exile and settled in the cities of Samaria do not know the custom of the God of the land; so He has sent lions among them, and behold, they are killing them because they do not know the custom of the God of the land.”

NASB 1995
So they spoke to the king of Assyria, saying, “The nations whom you have carried away into exile in the cities of Samaria do not know the custom of the god of the land; so he has sent lions among them, and behold, they kill them because they do not know the custom of the god of the land.”

NASB 1977
So they spoke to the king of Assyria, saying, “The nations whom you have carried away into exile in the cities of Samaria do not know the custom of the god of the land; so he has sent lions among them, and behold, they kill them because they do not know the custom of the god of the land.”

Legacy Standard Bible
So they spoke to the king of Assyria, saying, “The nations whom you have taken away into exile and settled in the cities of Samaria do not know the custom of the god of the land; so he has sent lions among them, and behold, they are putting them to death because they do not know the custom of the god of the land.”

Amplified Bible
So the king of Assyria was told, “The nations whom you have sent into exile and settled in the cities of Samaria do not know the custom of the god of the land; so He has sent lions among them, and they are killing them because they do not know the manner of [worship demanded by] the god of the land.”

Christian Standard Bible
The settlers said to the king of Assyria, “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.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
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.”

American Standard Version
Wherefore they spake to the king of Assyria, saying, The nations which thou hast carried away, and placed in the cities of Samaria, know not the law of the god of the land: therefore he hath sent lions among them, and, behold, they slay them, because they know not the law of the god of the land.

Contemporary English Version
A messenger told the king of Assyria, "The people you moved to Israel don't know how to worship the god of that country. So he sent lions that have attacked and killed some of them."

English Revised Version
Wherefore they spake to the king of Assyria, saying, The nations which thou hast carried away, and placed in the cities of Samaria, know not the manner of the God of the land: therefore he hath sent lions among them, and, behold, they slay them, because they know not the manner of the God of the land.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then someone said to the king of Assyria, "The people you took as captives and settled in the cities of Samaria don't know the customs of the god of that country, so he sent lions. Now the lions are killing them because they don't know the customs of the god of this country."

Good News Translation
The emperor of Assyria was told that the people he had settled in the cities of Samaria did not know the law of the god of that land, and so the god had sent lions, which were killing them.

International Standard Version
As a result, they reported to the king of Assyria, "Because the nations whom you exiled to live in the cities of Samaria don't know the law of the god of the land, he has sent lions among them. Look how the lions are killing them, because they don't know the law of the god of the land!"

Majority Standard Bible
So they spoke to the king of Assyria, saying, “The peoples that you have removed and placed in the cities of Samaria do not know the requirements of the God of the land. Because of this, He has sent lions among them, which are indeed killing them off.”

NET Bible
The king of Assyria was told, "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 because they do not know the requirements of the God of the land."

New Heart English Bible
Therefore they spoke to the king of Assyria, saying, "The nations which you have carried away, and placed in the cities of Samaria, do not know the law of the god of the land. Therefore he has sent lions among them, and look, they kill them, because they do not know the law of the god of the land."

Webster's Bible Translation
Wherefore they spoke to the king of Assyria, saying, The nations which thou hast removed, and placed in the cities of Samaria, know not the manner of the God of the land: therefore he hath sent lions among them, and behold, they slay them, because they know not the manner of the God of the land.

World English Bible
Therefore they spoke to the king of Assyria, saying, “The nations which you have carried away and placed in the cities of Samaria don’t know the law of the god of the land. Therefore he has sent lions among them; and behold, they kill them, because they don’t know the law of the god of the land.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And they speak to the king of Asshur, saying, “The nations that you have removed and place in the cities of Samaria have not known the custom of the God of the land, and He sends the lions among them, and behold, they are destroying them, as they do not know the custom of the God of the land.”

Young's Literal Translation
And they speak to the king of Asshur, saying, 'The nations that thou hast removed, and dost place in the cities of Samaria, have not known the custom of the God of the land, and He sendeth among them the lions, and lo, they are destroying them, as they do not know the custom of the God of the land.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And they will say to the king of Assur, saying, The nations which thou carriedst into exile, and thou wilt set in the cities of Shomeron, knew not the judgment of the God of the land, and he will send among them lions, and behold them slaying them because they knew not the judgment of the God of the land.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And it was told the king of the Assyrians, and it was said: The nations which thou hast removed, and made to dwell in the cities of Samaria, know not the ordinances of the God of the land: and the Lord hath sent lions among them: and behold they kill them, because they know not the manner of the God of the land.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And this was reported to the king of the Assyrians, and it was said: “The peoples that you transferred and caused to live in the cities of Samaria, they are ignorant of the ordinances of the God of the land. And so the Lord has sent lions among them. And behold, they have killed them, because they were ignorant of the rituals of the God of the land.”

New American Bible
A report reached the king of Assyria: “The nations you deported and settled in the cities of Samaria do not know the proper worship of the god of the land, so he has sent lions among them that are killing them, since they do not know the law of the god of the land.”

New Revised Standard Version
So the king of Assyria was told, “The nations that you have carried away and placed in the cities of Samaria do not know the law of the god of the land; therefore he has sent lions among them; they are killing them, because they do not know the law of the god of the land.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Therefore they told the king of Assyria, saying, The nations which you have carried captive and placed in the cities of Samaria do not know the religion of the god of the land; therefore he has sent lions against them, and, behold, they slay them because they do not know the religion of the god of the land.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And they told the King of Assyria, and they said to him: “The nations which you took captive and you have settled in the towns of Samaria do not know the judgment of the God of the land, and he sent lionesses upon them, and behold, they are killing among them, because they do not know the judgment of the God of the land!”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Wherefore they spoke to the king of Assyria, saying: 'The nations which thou hast carried away, and placed in the cities of Samaria, know not the manner of the God of the land; therefore He hath sent lions among them, and, behold, they slay them, because they know not the manner of the God of the land.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And they spoke to the king of the Assyrians, saying, The nations whom thou hast removed and substituted in the cities of Samaria for the Israelites, know not the manner of the God of the land: and he has sent the lions against them, and, behold, they are slaying them, because they know not the manner of the God of the land.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Israel's Cities Resettled by Foreigners
25Now when the settlers first lived there, they did not worship the LORD, so He sent lions among them, which killed some of them. 26So they spoke to the king of Assyria, saying, “The peoples that you have removed and placed in the cities of Samaria do not know the requirements of the God of the land. Because of this, He has sent lions among them, which are indeed killing them off.” 27Then the king of Assyria commanded: “Send back one of the priests you carried off from Samaria, and have him go back to live there and teach the requirements of the God of the land.”…

Cross References
Leviticus 26:22
I will send wild animals against you to rob you of your children, destroy your livestock, and reduce your numbers, until your roads lie desolate.

Deuteronomy 32:24
They will be wasted from hunger and ravaged by pestilence and bitter plague; I will send the fangs of wild beasts against them, with the venom of vipers that slither in the dust.

2 Chronicles 36:17
So He brought up against them the king of the Chaldeans, who put their young men to the sword in the sanctuary, sparing neither young men nor young women, neither elderly nor infirm. God gave them all into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar,

Isaiah 5:6
I will make it a wasteland, neither pruned nor cultivated, and thorns and briers will grow up. I will command the clouds that rain shall not fall on it.”

Jeremiah 5:6
Therefore a lion from the forest will strike them down, a wolf from the desert will ravage them. A leopard will lie in wait near their cities, and everyone who ventures out will be torn to pieces. For their rebellious acts are many, and their unfaithful deeds are numerous.

Hosea 13:8
Like a bear robbed of her cubs I will attack them, and I will tear open their chests. There I will devour them like a lion, like a wild beast tearing them apart.

Amos 3:12
This is what the LORD says: “As the shepherd snatches from the mouth of the lion two legs or a piece of an ear, so the Israelites dwelling in Samaria will be rescued having just the corner of a bed or the cushion of a couch.

Matthew 7:15
Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.

Luke 10:3
Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.

Acts 20:29
I know that after my departure, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock.

1 Peter 5:8
Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Revelation 13:2
The beast I saw was like a leopard, with the feet of a bear and the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority.

2 Kings 17:33-34
They worshiped the LORD, but they also served their own gods according to the customs of the nations from which they had been carried away. / To this day they are still practicing their former customs. None of them worship the LORD or observe the statutes, ordinances, laws, and commandments that the LORD gave the descendants of Jacob, whom He named Israel.

2 Kings 17:41
So these nations worshiped the LORD but also served their idols, and to this day their children and grandchildren continue to do as their fathers did.

2 Kings 18:12
This happened because they did not listen to the voice of the LORD their God, but violated His covenant—all that Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded—and would neither listen nor obey.


Treasury of Scripture

Why they spoke to the king of Assyria, saying, The nations which you have removed, and placed in the cities of Samaria, know not the manner of the God of the land: therefore he has sent lions among them, and, behold, they slay them, because they know not the manner of the God of the land.

and placed

2 Kings 17:24
And the king of Assyria brought men from Babylon, and from Cuthah, and from Ava, and from Hamath, and from Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel: and they possessed Samaria, and dwelt in the cities thereof.

know not

2 Kings 17:27
Then the king of Assyria commanded, saying, Carry thither one of the priests whom ye brought from thence; and let them go and dwell there, and let him teach them the manner of the God of the land.

1 Samuel 8:9
Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.

1 Samuel 10:25
Then Samuel told the people the manner of the kingdom, and wrote it in a book, and laid it up before the LORD. And Samuel sent all the people away, every man to his house.

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Assyria Carried Cities Kill Law Nations Placed Removed Samaria Wherefore
2 Kings 17
1. Hoshea the Last King of Israel
3. Being subdued by Shalmaneser, he conspires against him with So, king of Egypt
5. Samaria for sinning is led into captivity
24. The strange nations transplanted into Samaria make a mixture of religions.














So they spoke to the king of Assyria
This phrase indicates a direct communication with the king of Assyria, who was a powerful ruler during this period. Historically, the Assyrian Empire was known for its military prowess and administrative efficiency. The Assyrians often relocated conquered peoples to prevent rebellion, which is the context here. The phrase underscores the political dynamics of the time, where the king held significant authority over the displaced nations.

the nations that you have exiled and resettled
The term "nations" refers to the various ethnic groups that the Assyrians had conquered and forcibly moved. This practice of exile and resettlement was common in the Assyrian Empire as a means of control. The Hebrew root for "exiled" (גָּלָה, galah) implies a stripping away or uncovering, symbolizing the loss of homeland and identity. This highlights the plight of these people, who were uprooted and placed in foreign lands.

in the cities of Samaria
Samaria was the capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. After its conquest, the Assyrians repopulated it with people from other regions. Archaeological evidence supports the presence of diverse cultures in Samaria during this period, reflecting the Assyrian policy of mixing populations. This phrase sets the geographical and cultural context for the events described.

do not know the requirements of the God of the land
The "requirements" refer to the laws and religious practices that were expected to be followed in the land of Israel. The Hebrew word for "requirements" (מִשְׁפָּט, mishpat) often denotes justice or ordinances. This highlights the belief that each land had its own deity with specific expectations. The failure to adhere to these requirements was seen as a serious offense, leading to divine retribution.

Therefore He has sent lions among them
The sending of lions is a divine act of judgment. In the ancient Near East, lions were symbols of power and danger. The presence of lions was interpreted as a sign of divine displeasure. This phrase emphasizes the belief in a direct correlation between human actions and divine response, a common theme in the Old Testament.

and indeed, they are killing them
This phrase underscores the severity of the situation. The Hebrew verb for "killing" (הָרַג, harag) conveys a sense of violent death. The use of "indeed" stresses the reality and seriousness of the threat. It serves as a warning of the consequences of ignoring divine laws.

because the people do not know the requirements of the God of the land
Reiterating the earlier point, this phrase emphasizes ignorance as the root cause of the calamity. The repetition highlights the importance of understanding and following divine laws. It serves as a reminder of the need for spiritual knowledge and obedience to avoid divine judgment.

(26) They spake.--Rather, men spake, i.e., the prefects of the province.

The manner of the God.--The word mishp?t, "judgment," "decision," here means "appointed worship" or "cultus." In the Koran the word din, "judgment," is used in a similar way, as equivalent to "religion," especially the religion of Islam.

Verse 26. - Wherefore they spake to the Feng of Assyria, saying. The meaning seems to be, not that the colonists made direct complaint to the king, but that some of the persons about the court, having heard of the matter, reported it to him as one requiring consideration and remedy. Hence the use of the third person instead of the first. The nations which thou hast removed, and placed in the cities of Samaria (see ver. 24), know not the manner of the God of the land. It was the general belief of the heathen nations of antiquity that each country and nation had its own god or gods, who presided over its destinies, protected it, went out at the head of its armies, and fought for it against its enemies. Each god had his own "manner," or ritual and method of worship, which was, in some respects at any rate, different from that of all other gods. Unless this ritual and method were known, new-comers into any land were almost sure to displease the local deity, who did not allow of any departure from traditional usage in his worship. Therefore he hath sent lions among them, and, behold, they slay them, bemuse they know not the manner of the God of the land.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
So they spoke
וַיֹּאמְר֗וּ (way·yō·mə·rū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 559: To utter, say

to the king
לְמֶ֣לֶךְ (lə·me·leḵ)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4428: A king

of Assyria,
אַשּׁוּר֮ (’aš·šūr)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 804: Ashshur

saying,
לֵאמֹר֒ (lê·mōr)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“The peoples
הַגּוֹיִ֗ם (hag·gō·w·yim)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 1471: A foreign nation, a Gentile, a troop of animals, a flight of locusts

that
אֲשֶׁ֤ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

you have removed
הִגְלִ֙יתָ֙ (hiḡ·lî·ṯā)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 1540: To denude, to exile, to reveal

and placed
וַתּ֙וֹשֶׁב֙ (wat·tō·wō·šeḇ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 3427: To sit down, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to marry

in the cities
בְּעָרֵ֣י (bə·‘ā·rê)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine plural construct
Strong's 5892: Excitement

of Samaria
שֹׁמְר֔וֹן (šō·mə·rō·wn)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 8111: Samaria -- capital of northern kingdom of Israel

do not
לֹ֣א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

know
יָֽדְע֔וּ (yā·ḏə·‘ū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 3045: To know

the requirements
מִשְׁפַּ֖ט (miš·paṭ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4941: A verdict, a sentence, formal decree, divine law, penalty, justice, privilege, style

of the God
אֱלֹהֵ֣י (’ĕ·lō·hê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

of the land.
הָאָ֑רֶץ (hā·’ā·reṣ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

Because of this,
כַּאֲשֶׁר֙ (ka·’ă·šer)
Preposition-k | Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

He has sent
וַיְשַׁלַּח־ (way·šal·laḥ-)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7971: To send away, for, out

lions
הָאֲרָי֗וֹת (hā·’ă·rā·yō·wṯ)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 738: A lion

among them,
בָּ֣ם (bām)
Preposition | third person masculine plural
Strong's 0: 0

which are indeed
וְהִנָּם֙ (wə·hin·nām)
Conjunctive waw | Interjection | third person masculine plural
Strong's 2009: Lo! behold!

killing them off.”
מְמִיתִ֣ים (mə·mî·ṯîm)
Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 4191: To die, to kill


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OT History: 2 Kings 17:26 Therefore they spoke to the king (2Ki iiKi ii ki 2 kg 2kg)
2 Kings 17:25
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