2 Kings 17:6-12

New International Version

⁶ In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria^(A) captured Samaria^(B) and deported^(C) the Israelites to Assyria. He settled them in Halah, in Gozan^(D) on the Habor River and in the towns of the Medes.

Israel Exiled Because of Sin

⁷ All this took place because the Israelites had sinned^(E) against the Lord their God, who had brought them up out of Egypt^(F) from under the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt. They worshiped other gods ⁸ and followed the practices of the nations^(G) the Lord had driven out before them, as well as the practices that the kings of Israel had introduced. ⁹ The Israelites secretly did things against the Lord their God that were not right. From watchtower to fortified city^(H) they built themselves high places in all their towns. ¹⁰ They set up sacred stones^(I) and Asherah poles^(J) on every high hill and under every spreading tree.^{(K) 11} At every high place they burned incense, as the nations whom the Lord had driven out before them had done. They did wicked things that aroused the Lord’s anger. ¹² They worshiped idols,^(L) though the Lord had said, “You shall not do this.”^[a]