24 Subsequently the king of As·syrʹi·a brought people from Babylon*+ and Cuʹthah and Avʹva+ and Haʹmath+ and Seph·ar·vaʹim+ and had them dwell in the cities of Sa·marʹi·a+ instead of the sons of Israel; and they began to take possession of Sa·marʹi·a and to dwell in its cities.

3 However, Ze·rubʹba·bel and Jeshʹu·a+ and the rest of the heads+ of the paternal houses of Israel said to them: “YOU have nothing to do with us* in building a house to our God,+ for we ourselves shall together build to Jehovah the God of Israel, just as King Cyrus+ the king of Persia has commanded us.”

52 So he sent forth messengers in advance of him. And they went their way and entered into a village of Sa·marʹi·tans,+ to make preparation for him;

28 and he said to them: “YOU well know how unlawful it is for a Jew to join himself to or approach a man of another race;+ and yet God has shown me I should call no man defiled or unclean.+