The Assyrian Exile of the Ten Tribes

The end came in stages. Tiglath-Pileser first deported Reuben, Gad and half of Manasseh from the east bank, then the Galilee and Naphtali. Israel's last king, Hoshea son of Elah, leaned on Egypt and stopped paying tribute — so Shalmaneser marched on Samaria. The city held three years. In the sixth year of Hezekiah of Judah it fell, and its people were carried off "to Halah and Habor, the river of Gozan, and the cities of Media."

The book of Kings stops mid-narrative to explain why: chapter 17 is a full indictment. They built high places in every town, served the calves, passed their sons through fire, practiced divination — "and the Lord warned Israel through every prophet and seer: turn back from your evil ways" — and they stiffened their necks.

Assyria settled newcomers from Babylon and Cuthah in the empty land. Lions came. A deported priest was sent back to teach them "the law of the God of the land," and so arose the Samaritans, who "feared the Lord and served their own gods" — later the neighbors and opponents of the returnees from Babylon. The ten tribes vanished from history, but not from expectation.