2 Kings 17:24

Samaria Resettled · 2 Kings 17:24–41
Read 2 Kings 17

Translations

Modern
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.
Traditional
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.
Literal
And the king of Assyria brought in those from Babylon and Cuthah and Ava and Hamath and Sepharvaim, and he caused them to dwell in the cities of Samaria instead of the sons of Israel. And they took possession of Samaria and dwelt in its cities.
Latin
Adduxit autem rex Assyriorum de Babylone, et de Cutha, et de Avah, et de Emath, et de Sepharvaim: et collocavit eos in civitatibus Samariæ pro filiis Israël: qui possederunt Samariam, et habitaverunt in urbibus ejus.

Original

Hebrew
English
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.

Notes

  • The Assyrians exiled the Israelites to other regions they controlled (2 Kings 17:6) and sent different groups to settle in Israel. By mixing these diverse peoples, the Assyrians aimed to control the population better and shift their loyalties to Assyria.

  • Samaria became the official name of this new Assyrian province.

The writer adds information about later events in Israel, like foreigners moving into the land and the mixed population's blended religious practices.

Theme notes and profiles

Arameans Assyria Samaritans

People

Israel: Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes

Places

Assyria: A powerful ancient empire, often in conflict with Israel Babylon: Ancient Mesopotamian city, capital of Babylonian Empire, site of the Tower of Babel Cuthah: Babylonian city; origin of Samaritan settlers Hamath: A major city and kingdom in Syria, often mentioned in the Bible Ivvah: City conquered by Assyria, people resettled in Samaria Samaria: Capital city of the northern kingdom of Israel; Samaritan inhabitants Sepharvaim: City of origin for people resettled in Samaria

Glossary

Ava Avva Babel Book of Micah Cuth, Cuthah Dispersion of the Jews, Diaspora Gezer Hamath Jeroboam Kings, Books of First and Second Manasseh, Tribe of Nergal Orontes Samaritans Sepharvaim, Sepharvites Syria, Syrians

Topics

Ancient Samaria: Repeopled from Assyria Assyria: Shalmaneser Assyria: Shalmaneser King of Re-Peopled Samaria from Assyria Ava: A District Near Babylon Babylon: Empire of Divisions of Babylon: Empire of Samaria Babylon: Founded by the Assyrians, and a Part of Their Empire Captivity of the Ten Tribes Colonization of Conquered Countries and People Cuth: A District of Asia, from Which Colonists Were Transported to Samaria Israel: The Land Repopulated Judgments: Delivered: Into the Hands of the Assyrians Modern Samaria: Inhabitants of Their True Descent Presents: Not Bringing, Considered a Mark of Disrespect Samaria: Country of: Foreign Colonies Distributed Among the Cities of, by the King of Assyria Sepharvaim: An Assyrian City, from Which the King of Assyria Colonized Samaria Syria: People of, Colonized in Samaria by the King of Assyria