However: The common Hebrew conjunction here should be understood as marking contrast, as the renderings of Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation indicate. Most modern versions do something similar.

It is not altogether clear to whom the pronoun they refers. For those interpreters who understand verses 34-40 as referring to the Israelites, this pronoun may be rendered “the Israelites” (New Century Version). For those who understand these verses as referring to the people from other nations who were resettled in Samaria, this pronoun may be translated “those nations” (Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, La Biblia: Traducción en Lenguaje Actual).

Would not listen: See verse 14, where the same expression is used.

According to their former manner: The repetition of this phrase (see verse 34) is seen by some commentators as setting off the intervening passage as a distinct literary unit. This analysis is also confirmed by the distinctive content of verses 34b-39.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Kings, Volume 2. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2008. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .