The children of Israel had sinned against God their Lord by fearing other gods after God brought them out of Egypt. The Israelites built pillars and images of Asherah on every high place and city,
on all the hills and under every green tree and sacrificed there and did wicked things like the other nations. The Lord had warned Israel and Judah of their wrong ways through his prophets and seers. But they did not listen but they hardened themselves. They despised the commandments and his covenant, which he made with their fathers. They did as the nations did that were around them.
They also made two big calves and an image of Asherah, worshiped all the host of heaven and served Baal. They caused their sons and daughters to pass through the fire, used divination and sorcery and sold themselves to do what was evil in God’s sight. God became angry and hid his face from them. Only the tribe of Judah was left. But even they did things against the Lord. So he gave them into the hand of the raiders, and cast them away. The Lord tore Israel from the house of David. They made Jeroboam, son of Nebat, king and he turned away from the Lord. This was the reason for the deportation to Assyria.
The king of the Assyrians brought people to live where the Israelites once lived
and put them in Samaria in Israel’s place. But they did not know the Lord and did not fear him. And the Lord sent lions among them, which killed them, because they knew nothing about the worship of the God of that land. A priest came and taught them the worship of God. But every nation and every city made their own gods. Those from Babel made Succoth Benoth, those from Cuth made Nergal, those from Hamath made Ashima, those from Avva made Nibhaz and Tartak and the Sepharvites burned their children in the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech.