2 Kings 17:28
New International Version
So one of the priests who had been exiled from Samaria came to live in Bethel and taught them how to worship the LORD.

New Living Translation
So one of the priests who had been exiled from Samaria returned to Bethel and taught the new residents how to worship the LORD.

English Standard Version
So one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and lived in Bethel and taught them how they should fear the LORD.

Berean Standard Bible
Thus one of the priests they had carried away came and lived in Bethel, and he began to teach them how they should worship the LORD.

King James Bible
Then one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and dwelt in Bethel, and taught them how they should fear the LORD.

New King James Version
Then one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and dwelt in Bethel, and taught them how they should fear the LORD.

New American Standard Bible
So one of the priests whom they had led into exile from Samaria came and lived in Bethel, and taught them how they were to fear the LORD.

NASB 1995
So one of the priests whom they had carried away into exile from Samaria came and lived at Bethel, and taught them how they should fear the LORD.

NASB 1977
So one of the priests whom they had carried away into exile from Samaria came and lived at Bethel, and taught them how they should fear the LORD.

Legacy Standard Bible
So one of the priests whom they had taken away into exile from Samaria came and settled at Bethel, and instructed them how they should fear Yahweh.

Amplified Bible
So one of the priests whom they had exiled from Samaria came [back] and lived in Bethel and taught them how they should fear [and worship] the LORD.

Christian Standard Bible
So one of the priests they had deported came and lived in Bethel, and he began to teach them how they should fear the LORD.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
So one of the priests they had deported came and lived in Bethel, and he began to teach them how they should fear Yahweh.

American Standard Version
So one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and dwelt in Beth-el, and taught them how they should fear Jehovah.

Contemporary English Version
One of the Israelite priests was chosen to go back to Israel. He lived in Bethel and taught the people how to worship the LORD.

English Revised Version
So one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and dwelt in Beth-el, and taught them how they should fear the LORD.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
So one of the priests who had been taken prisoner from Samaria went to live in Bethel. He taught them how to worship the LORD.

Good News Translation
So an Israelite priest who had been deported from Samaria went and lived in Bethel, where he taught the people how to worship the LORD.

International Standard Version
So one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria went to live in Bethel to teach them how they ought to fear the LORD.

Majority Standard Bible
Thus one of the priests they had carried away came and lived in Bethel, and he began to teach them how they should worship the LORD.

NET Bible
So one of the priests whom they had deported from Samaria went back and settled in Bethel. He taught them how to worship the LORD.

New Heart English Bible
So one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and lived in Bethel, and taught them how they should fear the LORD.

Webster's Bible Translation
Then one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and dwelt in Beth-el, and taught them how they should fear the LORD.

World English Bible
So one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and lived in Bethel, and taught them how they should fear Yahweh.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And one of the priests whom they removed from Samaria comes in, and dwells in Beth-El, and he is teaching them how they fear YHWH,

Young's Literal Translation
And one of the priests whom they removed from Samaria cometh in, and dwelleth in Beth-El, and he is teaching them how they do fear Jehovah,

Smith's Literal Translation
And one of the priests which they carried into exile from Shomeron will come and dwell in the house of God, and he will be teaching them how they shall fear Jehovah.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
So one of the priests who had been carried away captive from Samaria, came and dwelt in Bethel, and taught them how they should worship the Lord.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And so, when one of the priests, who had been led away captive from Samaria, had arrived, he lived in Bethel. And he taught them how they should worship the Lord.

New American Bible
So one of the priests who had been deported from Samaria returned and settled in Bethel, and began to teach them how to venerate the LORD.

New Revised Standard Version
So one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and lived in Bethel; he taught them how they should worship the LORD.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Then one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and dwelt in Beth-el, and taught them how they should worship the LORD.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And one of the Priests whom they took captive from Samaria came and he dwelt in Bayth Eil, and he was teaching them so that they would stand in awe before LORD JEHOVAH.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
So one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and dwelt in Beth-el, and taught them how they should fear the LORD.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And they brought one of the priests whom they had removed from Samaria, and he settled in Baethel, and taught them how they should fear the Lord.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Israel's Cities Resettled by Foreigners
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.” 28Thus one of the priests they had carried away came and lived in Bethel, and he began to teach them how they should worship the LORD. 29Nevertheless, the people of each nation continued to make their own gods in the cities where they had settled, and they set them up in the shrines that the people of Samaria had made on the high places.…

Cross References
2 Kings 17:24-27
Then the king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sepharvaim and settled them in the towns of Samaria to replace the Israelites. They took possession of Samaria and lived in its towns. / Now when the settlers first lived there, they did not worship the LORD, so He sent lions among them, which killed some of them. / 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.” ...

2 Kings 17:29-33
Nevertheless, the people of each nation continued to make their own gods in the cities where they had settled, and they set them up in the shrines that the people of Samaria had made on the high places. / The men of Babylon made Succoth-benoth, the men of Cuth made Nergal, the men of Hamath made Ashima, / the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burned their children in the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech the gods of Sepharvaim. ...

2 Kings 17:34-41
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. / For the LORD had made a covenant with the Israelites and commanded them, “Do not worship other gods or bow down to them; do not serve them or sacrifice to them. / Instead, worship the LORD, who brought you out of the land of Egypt with great power and an outstretched arm. You are to bow down to Him and offer sacrifices to Him. ...

2 Kings 18:4
He removed the high places, shattered the sacred pillars, and cut down the Asherah poles. He also demolished the bronze snake called Nehushtan that Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had burned incense to it.

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.

2 Chronicles 30:6-9
At the command of the king, the couriers went throughout Israel and Judah with letters from the king and his officials, which read: “Children of Israel, return to the LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, so that He may return to those of you who remain, who have escaped the grasp of the kings of Assyria. / Do not be like your fathers and brothers who were unfaithful to the LORD, the God of their fathers, so that He made them an object of horror, as you can see. / Now do not stiffen your necks as your fathers did. Submit to the LORD and come to His sanctuary, which He has consecrated forever. Serve the LORD your God, so that His fierce anger will turn away from you. ...

2 Chronicles 30:18-20
A large number of the people—many from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun—had not purified themselves, yet they ate the Passover, contrary to what was written. But Hezekiah interceded for them, saying, “May the LORD, who is good, provide atonement for everyone / who sets his heart on seeking God—the LORD, the God of his fathers—even if he is not cleansed according to the purification rules of the sanctuary.” / And the LORD heard Hezekiah and healed the people.

Ezra 4:1-2
When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were building a temple for the LORD, the God of Israel, / they approached Zerubbabel and the heads of the families, saying, “Let us build with you because, like you, we seek your God and have been sacrificing to Him since the time of King Esar-haddon of Assyria, who brought us here.”

Nehemiah 4:1-3
Now when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he was furious and filled with indignation. He ridiculed the Jews / before his associates and the army of Samaria, saying, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Can they restore the wall by themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they complete it in a day? Can they bring these burnt stones back to life from the mounds of rubble?” / Then Tobiah the Ammonite, who was beside him, said, “If even a fox were to climb up on what they are building, it would break down their wall of stones!”

Isaiah 2:6
For You have abandoned Your people, the house of Jacob, because they are filled with influences from the east; they are soothsayers like the Philistines; they strike hands with the children of foreigners.

Jeremiah 10:1-5
Hear the word that the LORD speaks to you, O house of Israel. / This is what the LORD says: “Do not learn the ways of the nations or be terrified by the signs in the heavens, though the nations themselves are terrified by them. / For the customs of the peoples are worthless; they cut down a tree from the forest; it is shaped with a chisel by the hands of a craftsman. ...

Matthew 28:19-20
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, / and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

John 4:22
You worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews.

Acts 8:4
Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.

Acts 8:25
And after Peter and John had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many of the Samaritan villages.


Treasury of Scripture

Then one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and dwelled in Bethel, and taught them how they should fear the LORD.

in Bethel

1 Kings 12:29-32
And he set the one in Bethel, and the other put he in Dan…

taught them

Isaiah 29:13
Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:

Matthew 15:14
Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.

Jump to Previous
Abode Bethel Beth-El Carried Dwelleth Dwelt Exile Exiled Fear Live Priests Prisoner Removed Samaria Sama'ria Taught Teacher Teaching Worship
Jump to Next
Abode Bethel Beth-El Carried Dwelleth Dwelt Exile Exiled Fear Live Priests Prisoner Removed Samaria Sama'ria Taught Teacher Teaching Worship
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 one of the priests
This phrase indicates a specific individual from the Levitical priesthood, which was established by God to serve in the temple and teach His laws to the people. The priesthood was a sacred office, and the mention of "one of the priests" suggests a remnant of the original religious order that had been disrupted by the Assyrian exile. Historically, the priesthood was central to Israel's worship and spiritual life, and this priest's role was crucial in re-establishing the fear of the LORD among the people.

who had been exiled from Samaria
The exile from Samaria refers to the Assyrian conquest and subsequent deportation of the Israelites in 722 B.C. Samaria was the capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, and its fall marked a significant turning point in Israel's history. The exile was a divine judgment for the persistent idolatry and disobedience of the Israelites. This context underscores the gravity of the situation and the need for spiritual reformation.

came to live in Bethel
Bethel, meaning "House of God," was a significant location in Israel's history, known for its association with the patriarch Jacob and as a center of worship. However, it had also become a site of idolatrous practices under King Jeroboam. The priest's arrival in Bethel symbolizes a return to true worship and an opportunity to restore the spiritual integrity of the place.

and taught them
The act of teaching is central to the priestly function. In Hebrew, the word for "teach" (למד, lamad) implies not just imparting knowledge but also guiding and discipling. This teaching was not merely academic but was intended to transform hearts and lead the people back to a covenant relationship with God.

how they should fear the LORD
The "fear of the LORD" is a foundational concept in the Hebrew Bible, often associated with reverence, awe, and obedience to God. It is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10) and denotes a proper relationship with the Creator. In this context, the priest's teaching aimed to instill a deep respect and commitment to God's commandments, contrasting with the idolatrous practices that had led to Israel's downfall.

(28) And taught.--And was teaching, implying a permanent work.

In Bethel.--Because he was a priest of the calfworship.

Fear the Lord.--Not in the modern ethical but in the ancient ceremonial sense.

Verse 28. - Then one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria - the country, not the city, as in vers. 24 and 25 - came and dwelt in Bethel. Bethel from a very early time greatly eclipsed Dan. While the allusions to Bethel, commonly called "Bethaven" (" House of nothingness" for "House of God "), are frequent in the Israelitish prophets (Hosea 4:15; Hosea 5:8; Hosea 10:5, 8, 15; Amos 3:14; Amos 4:4; Amos 5:5, 6; Amos 7:10-13), there is but a single distinct allusion to Dan (Amos 8:14). Bethel was "the king's chapel" and "the king's court" (Amos 7:13). The priest selected by Sargon's advisers was a Bethelite priest, and, returning thither, took up the worship familiar to him. And taught them - i.e., the new settlers - how they should fear the Lord. This worship could only be that of the calf-priests instituted by Jeroboam, which was, however, most certainly a worship of Jehovah, and an imitation or travesty of the temple - worship at Jerusalem. Whether the returned priest set up a new calf-idol to replace the one which had been carried off to Assyria (Hosea 10:5), is doubtful.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Thus one
אֶחָ֣ד (’e·ḥāḏ)
Number - masculine singular
Strong's 259: United, one, first

of the priests
מֵהַכֹּהֲנִ֗ים (mê·hak·kō·hă·nîm)
Preposition-m, Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3548: Priest

they had carried away
הִגְלוּ֙ (hiḡ·lū)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 1540: To denude, to exile, to reveal

came
וַיָּבֹ֞א (way·yā·ḇō)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

and lived
וַיֵּ֖שֶׁב (way·yê·šeḇ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3427: To sit down, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to marry

in Bethel,
אֵ֑ל (’êl)
Preposition | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 1008: Bethel -- 'house of God', a city in Ephraim, also a place in southern Judah

and he began to teach
מוֹרֶ֣ה (mō·w·reh)
Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 3384: To flow as water, to lay, throw, to point out, to teach

them how
אֵ֖יךְ (’êḵ)
Interjection
Strong's 349: How?, how!, where

they should worship
יִֽירְא֥וּ (yî·rə·’ū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 3372: To fear, to revere, caus, to frighten

the LORD.
יְהוָֽה׃ (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel


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OT History: 2 Kings 17:28 So one of the priests whom they (2Ki iiKi ii ki 2 kg 2kg)
2 Kings 17:27
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