2 Kings 17:26

“Wherefore they spake to the king of Assyria, etc.] In letters, or by messengers they sent unto him: saying, the nations which thou hast removed; from different places before mentioned: and placed in the cities of Samaria, know not the manner of the God of the land; taking Jehovah the God of Israel to be a topical deity, limited peculiarly to the land of Israel, whereas he was the God of the whole earth; a like notion obtained among the Syrians, (see <112028>1 Kings 20:28) now they say they know not his “manner” or “judgment” f208, the laws, statutes, ordinances, and judgments, according to which he was worshipped by the people of Israel: therefore he hath sent lions among them, and, behold,…”

“17:26-31 The king of Assyria was Sargon II (721–705 BC). • the God of the land . . . has sent lions: Religious belief in the ancient Near East held that the tranquility and success of a land was strongly identified with its god and the rites associated with his worship. • One of the priests . . . returned to Bethel, though his instruction in how to worship the Lord was doubtless influenced by the religion of Jeroboam I and mixed with paganism. • The foreigners also continued to worship their own gods. They simply added the worship of Israel’s God to the worship of their own gods. Most of the false gods mentioned here are unknown. Their names may have been altered by Jewish scribes. • Nergal…”

“and placed: Kg2 17:24 know not: Kg2 17:27; Sa1 8:9, Sa1 10:25; Amo 8:14 4 Kings (2 Kings) 17:27”