Melachim Bais 17:28-41

Orthodox Jewish Bible

²⁸ Then one of the kohanim whom they had carried away captive from Shomron came and dwelt in Beit-El, and was moreh (teacher) to them how they should fear Hashem.

²⁹ Howbeit every goy (nation) made g-ds of their own, and set them up in the batim (houses) of the high places which the Shomronim had made, every goy in their towns wherein they dwelt.

³⁰ And the men of Babylon made [the g-d] Sukkot Benot, and the men of Kutah made Nergal, and the men of Chamat made Ashima,

³¹ And the Avim made Nivchaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvim burned their banim in eish to Adramelech and Anammelech, the g-ds of Sepharvayim.

³² So they feared Hashem, and made for themselves of the lowest of them kohanim of the [idolatrous] high places, which were officiating for them in beis habamot.

³³ They feared Hashem, and served their own g-ds, after the mishpat (manner) of the Goyim from which places as exiles they had been carried away.

³⁴ Unto this day they [the Samaritans] do after the mishpatim harishonim (former practices); they fear not Hashem, neither do they after their chukkot, or after their mishpatim, or after the torah and mitzvah which Hashem commanded the Bnei Ya’akov, whom He named shmo Yisroel;

³⁵ With whom Hashem had cut a Brit, and commanded them, saying, Ye shall not fear elohim acherim, nor bow yourselves to them, nor serve them, nor offer zevakhim to them;

³⁶ But Hashem, Who brought you up out of Eretz Mitzrayim with koach gadol and a stretched out zero’a, Him shall ye fear, and to Him shall ye bow down in worship, and to Him shall ye offer zevakhim.

³⁷ And the chukkot, and the mishpatim, and the torah, and the mitzvah, which He wrote for you, ye shall be shomer over to do kol hayamim; ye shall fear no elohim acherim.

³⁸ And the Brit that I have made with you ye shall not forget; neither shall ye fear elohim acherim.

³⁹ But Hashem Eloheichem ye shall fear; and He shall deliver you out of the yad of all your oyevim.

⁴⁰ Howbeit they did not pay heed, but they did after their mishpat harishon (former custom).

⁴¹ So these Goyim feared Hashem, and also served their peselim, both their banim, and their bnei banim; as did their avot, so do they unto this day.