And the king of Assyria brought men from Babylon, and from Cuthah, and from Ava, and from Hamath, and from Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel: and they possessed Samaria, and dwelt in the cities thereof.
The king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, Ava, Hamath, and Sepharvaim, and settled them in the cities of Samaria to replace the Israelites. These foreign people took over Samaria and lived in its cities.
This verse describes how the Assyrian king replaced the exiled Israelites with foreign settlers from various nations, fundamentally changing the population of the northern kingdom.
📚 Historical Context
This occurred around 722 BC after Assyria conquered the northern kingdom of Israel and deported most Israelites to other lands. The Assyrians followed a standard practice of relocating conquered peoples to prevent rebellions and break cultural identity. These foreign settlers would eventually intermarry with remaining Israelites, creating the mixed population known as Samaritans in Jesus' time.
Ask the AI Assistant
Have a question about this chapter or verse? Ask below for a clear explanation.