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.
So one of the priests who had been taken away from Samaria came back and lived in Bethel, where he taught the people how they should worship and reverence the LORD.
This verse describes how a Jewish priest returned to teach the foreign settlers how to properly worship God after they experienced troubles in the land.
📚 Historical Context
In the 8th century BC, the Assyrian Empire conquered the Northern Kingdom of Israel, exiling many of its people and resettling foreigners in Samaria. These newcomers began experiencing troubles, such as attacks by wild animals, which they attributed to not worshiping the God of the land as required. As a result, the Assyrian king sent back one of the exiled priests to live in Bethel and teach the people how to properly fear and worship the Lord.
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