Then the king of Assyria commanded, saying, Carry thither one of the priests whom ye brought from thence; and let them go and dwell there, and let him teach them the manner of the God of the land.
Then the king of Assyria gave an order, saying, 'Take one of the priests you brought from there back to that place. Let them go and live there, and have him teach the people how to worship the God of that land.'
The Assyrian king ordered that a Jewish priest be sent back to teach the new settlers how to properly worship God in Israel's land.
📚 Historical Context
This occurred after Assyria conquered the northern kingdom of Israel in 722 BC and deported most Israelites, replacing them with foreign settlers. When these new inhabitants experienced divine judgment (wild animals attacking them), they attributed it to not knowing how to worship the local God properly, so the king sent back an Israelite priest to teach them.
Ask the AI Assistant
Have a question about this chapter or verse? Ask below for a clear explanation.