Try as He might, God could not convince the Northern Kingdom, also known as Samaria, to be faithful. As the years passed …
… the Israelites sinned against the LORD, … They immolated their sons and daughters by fire, practiced fortune-telling and divination, 2 Kings 17:17
So finally …
Shalmaneser, … the king of Assyria, took Samaria and deported the Israelites to Assyria, 2 Kings 17:3-6
[Shalmaneser] brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sepharvaim, and settled them in the cities of Samaria in place of the Israelites. They took possession of Samaria and dwelt in its cities. 2 Kings 17:24
… while venerating the LORD, they served their own gods, following the worship of the nations from among whom they had been deported. 2 Kings 17:33
That is why later on Jesus said to [the Samaritan woman],
“You people worship what you do not understand … John 4:22