2 Kings 17:29-40

International Standard Version

Assyrian Settlers Create Lasting Corruption

²⁹ Nevertheless, each nation continued to craft their own gods and install them in the temples on the high places that the people of Samaria had constructed—every nation in their own cities where they continued to live. ³⁰ Settlers^[a] from Babylon built Succoth-benoth, settlers^[b] from Cuth built Nergal, settlers^[c] from Hamath built Ashima, ³¹ and settlers^[d] from Avva built Nibhaz and Tartak. The residents of Sephar-vaim burned their children in fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sephar-vaim.

³² Because they feared the Lord, they also appointed from among themselves priests for the high places who acted on their behalf in the temples on the high places. ³³ While they continued to fear the Lord, they served their own gods, following the custom of the nations whom they had carried away from there. ³⁴ To this very day, they still follow the former customs: they don’t fear the Lord and they don’t live in accordance with the statutes, ordinances, laws, or commandments that the Lord had given to the descendants of Jacob—whom he renamed Israel— ³⁵ and with whom the Lord had made a covenant when he gave these^[e] orders to them:

⁴⁰ But they wouldn’t listen. Instead, they did what they had been doing before.