Wherefore they spake to the king of Assyria,.... 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 1Ki 20:28 now they say they know not his "manner" or "judgment" , 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, they slay them; they perceived it was not a common case, nor could they impute it to any second cause, as want of food with the lions, &c.
but the hand of a superior Being was in it: and they could think of no other reason, butbecause they know not the manner of the God of the land; how he was to be worshipped; and because they did not worship him, and knew not how to do it, it was resented in this manner by him.