2 Kings 17:28–41

²⁸So one of the priests they had deported came and lived in Bethel, ^land he began to teach them how they should fear Yahweh.

²⁹But the people of each nation were still making their own gods in the cities where they lived and putting them in the shrines of the high places that the people of Samaria had made. ^m30The men of Babylon made Succoth-benoth, the men of Cuth made Nergal, the men of Hamath made Ashima, ³¹the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burned their children in the fire ⁿto Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of the Sepharvaim. ³²They feared the Lord, but they also appointed from their number priests to serve them in the shrines of the high places. ^o33They feared the Lord, but they also worshiped their own gods ^paccording to the custom of the nations where they had been deported from.

³⁴They are still practicing the former customs to this day. None of them fear the Lord or observe their statutes and ordinances, the law and commandments the Lord commanded the descendants of Jacob. He had renamed him Israel. ^q35The Lord made a covenant with them and commanded them, “Do not fear other gods; do not bow down to them; ^rdo not serve them; do not sacrifice to them. ^s36Instead fear the Lord, who brought you from the land of Egypt with great power ^tand an outstretched arm. ^uYou are to bow down to Him, and you are to sacrifice to Him. ³⁷You are to be careful always ^vto observe the statutes, the ordinances, the law, and the commandments He wrote for you; do not fear other gods. ³⁸Do not forget the covenant that I have made with you. ^wDo not fear other gods, ³⁹but fear the Lord your God, and He will deliver you from the hand of all your enemies.” ^x

⁴⁰However, they would not listen but continued practicing their former customs. ⁴¹These nations feared the Lord but also served their idols. Their children and grandchildren continue doing as their fathers did until today. ^y