Historical Context:
The resettlement of Samaria is a significant event in the history of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, following its conquest by the Assyrian Empire. This event is recorded in the Old Testament, specifically in 2 Kings 17. The fall of Samaria, the capital of the Northern Kingdom, occurred in 722 B.C. under the reign of King Hoshea, marking the end of the kingdom due to its persistent idolatry and disobedience to God.

Biblical Account:
The Assyrian king, Shalmaneser V, laid siege to Samaria, and after three years, the city fell. The Assyrians, known for their policy of deporting conquered peoples to prevent rebellion, exiled many Israelites to Assyria. The Berean Standard Bible states in 2 Kings 17:6, "In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria captured Samaria and deported the Israelites to Assyria. He settled them in Halah, in Gozan on the Habor River, and in the towns of the Medes."

Resettlement by Foreign Peoples:
Following the deportation of the Israelites, the Assyrians repopulated Samaria with people from various regions of their empire. 2 Kings 17:24 records, "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 over Samaria and lived in its towns."

Religious Syncretism and Conflict:
The new inhabitants of Samaria brought with them their own gods and religious practices, leading to a syncretistic form of worship. Initially, they did not fear the LORD, resulting in divine judgment through attacks by lions, as described in 2 Kings 17:25 : "Now when they first lived there, they did not worship the LORD; so He sent lions among them, which killed some of them."

In response, the Assyrian king sent back one of the exiled Israelite priests to teach the new settlers how to worship the LORD. However, the result was a mixed religion, as the people continued to serve their own gods alongside the worship of Yahweh. 2 Kings 17:33 notes, "They worshiped the LORD, but they also served their own gods according to the customs of the nations from which they had been brought."

Theological Implications:
The resettlement of Samaria and the resulting religious syncretism highlight the consequences of Israel's disobedience and idolatry. The introduction of foreign peoples and their gods into the land underscores the loss of Israel's distinct identity as God's chosen people. This event serves as a reminder of the importance of faithfulness to God's covenant and the dangers of compromising with pagan practices.

Legacy and Later Developments:
The mixed population of Samaria eventually became known as the Samaritans, who developed their own version of the Pentateuch and worshiped at Mount Gerizim. By the time of Jesus, the Samaritans were viewed with suspicion and hostility by the Jews, as seen in the New Testament. The animosity between Jews and Samaritans is evident in passages such as John 4, where Jesus speaks with the Samaritan woman at the well, breaking cultural and religious barriers.

The resettlement of Samaria thus set the stage for significant cultural and religious developments that would impact the region for centuries, influencing the socio-religious landscape encountered by Jesus and the early Church.