מלכים ב, פרק י״ז, פסוק ל״ב

A complex spiritual reality took root among the new inhabitants brought to the land of Samaria. Driven by a desperate need to survive deadly lion attacks, these settlers developed a blended religion that combined reverence for the God of the land with the pagan traditions of their homelands.

At first glance, fearing God while worshipping idols seems entirely contradictory. However, the Israelite priest who was sent to instruct them taught them that God is the ultimate Supreme Being, possessing unlimited power and exercising direct oversight over the Land of Israel. Accepting this, the settlers recognized God as the highest authority. Yet, instead of abandoning their past, they repurposed their traditional idols to serve as intermediaries between themselves and God [אברבנאל]. They adopted the laws of the God of the land while carefully preserving their native pagan practices [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. In adopting this mixed form of worship, the new inhabitants were actually following a local precedent. They closely imitated the behavior of the exiled Ten Tribes of Israel, who had previously lived in the area and also combined the worship of God with idolatry [מלבי״ם, אברבנאל].

To organize and formalize this blended religion, the settlers appointed their own priests. These individuals were selected from a specific portion of the population [מצודת דוד], likely drawing from prominent figures across the edges of their society [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. While the original Israelite priest remained their overarching spiritual guide, these newly appointed local priests were tasked specifically with managing the daily rituals at the high places [ביאור שטיינזלץ, מלבי״ם]. They took on the active duties, performing the ceremonies and offering sacrifices on behalf of the community inside the houses of the high places [רד״ק].