Then one of the priests whom, they had carried away from Samaria came and dwelt in Bethel,.... According to an Arabic writer , his name was Uzziah; but Epiphanius says his name was Esdras; but he wrongly makes him to be sent by Nebuchadnezzar, thirty years after the captivity of the Jews in Babylon: this priest was, doubtless, one of the priests of the calves; for there were none else in the kingdom of Israel carried captive, and as seems also by his choosing to dwell in Bethel, where probably he formerly dwelt, and officiated in the service of the calf there, and by teaching to make priests of the lowest order of the people, as Jeroboam's priests were, 2Ki 17:32and taught them how they should fear the Lord; serve and worship him; he might not teach them the worship of the calves, that being a political business, and now no end to be answered by it; and besides, they were now carried out of the land.
This priest taught, no doubt, according to the law of Moses, but was not the author of the Pentateuch; which ridiculous conceit of Le Clerc is sufficiently exposed by Witsius . Abulpharag. Hist. Dynast.
Dyn. 3. p. 65. Contr. Haeres. l. 1. Haer. 8. Miscellan. tom. 1. l. 1. c. 14. sect. 7.