1 Hoshea, son of Elah, became king of Israel in the city Samaria. He was king for nine years while Ahaz was king in Judah. ️ 2 Hoshea did bad to God, but not as bad as the kings before him. 3 A big king from Assyria came. Hoshea had to send him gifts each year. 4 Hoshea asked a king in Egypt for help and stopped the gifts. The Assyria king caught him and put him in jail. 5 The Assyria king came to the land and camped by Samaria for three years. ⛺️⏳ 6 In year nine, the king took the city. He took the people to Assyria, to Halah, Habor, Gozan, and towns of the Medes. ➡️ 7 This happened because the people did bad to God. God saved them from Egypt, but they prayed to fake gods. ➡️️❌ 8 They did the same bad ways as other lands. ⚠️ 9 The people did secret bad things. They made tall places to pray to fake gods in many towns. ️ 10 They put up stone things and wood poles. They prayed to fake gods on hills and under trees. 11 They burned sweet smoke to fake gods and did many bad things. God was angry. 12 They bowed to fake gods. God had said, do not do that. ❌ 13 God sent His helpers to say, “Stop bad ways. Obey God. Keep His rules like long ago.” 14 They would not listen. They were hard and would not change, like their dads. 15 They said no to God’s rules and God’s promise. They forgot God’s big help. They ran after fake gods that are nothing, and became like nothing. ♂️➡️❌ 16 They left God’s rules. They made two calf statues and a tall wood pole. They bowed to the stars and served a fake god named Baal. ✨ 17 They burned their boys and girls in fire. They used magic. They chose very bad things. 18 God was very angry. He sent the people away. Only Judah stayed. ⚖️➡️ 19 But Judah did not obey God too. They did the same bad ways as Israel. 20 God said no to Israel. He let enemies hurt them and take their things. He sent them out. ️⚔️➡️ 21 Long ago, Israel split from King David’s house. They made Jeroboam king. He led them away from God. He made them do big sins. 22 The people kept doing the bad things Jeroboam did. They would not stop. 23 So God sent Israel away, just like His messengers said. Israel was taken to Assyria and stayed there. ➡️ 24 The Assyria king brought new people from far lands to live in Samaria. They lived in the towns. ♀️♂️ 25 At first, they did not obey God. God sent lions. The lions hurt some people. ⚠️ 26 They told the king, “The new people do not know the God of this land. Lions came.” ️ 27 The king said, “Send a God helper man back to teach them how to obey the God of the land.” 28 A God helper came back and lived in Bethel. He taught the people to obey God. 29 But each group still made its own fake gods and put them on high places. ⬆️ 30 People from Babylon made a fake god. People from Cuthah made Nergal. People from Hamath made Ashima. 31 People from Avva made Nibhaz and Tartak. People from Sepharvaim even burned their kids for fake gods named Adrammelech and Anammelech. ❌ 32 They tried to obey God too, but they picked their own god men for the high places, and they made fires there. 33 They obeyed God and also served their own fake gods. They did both. ➕➖ 34 For a long time, they kept old ways. They did not fully obey God. They did not keep the rules God gave to Jacob, who is also called Israel. ⏳ 35 God made a promise with them. He said, “Do not fear other gods. Do not bow down. Do not serve them. Do not make fires for them.” ❌ 36 God saved you from Egypt with His strong hand. Obey only God. Bow to Him and bring gifts to Him. 37 Keep God’s rules every day. Do not fear other gods. ✅ 38 Do not forget God’s promise with you. Do not fear other gods. 39 Obey only God, and He will save you from all your enemies. ️ 40 But they did not listen. They kept the old bad ways. 41 So the new people obeyed God a little, and also kept fake gods. Their kids did the same.