Charles Spurgeon Commentary 2 Kings 17:23-24

"until Jehovah removed Israel out of his sight, as he spake by all his servants the prophets. So Israel was carried away out of their own land to Assyria unto this day. And the king of Assyria brought men from Babylon, and from Cuthah, and from Avva, and from Hamath and Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel; and they possessed Samaria, and dwelt in the cities thereof." — 2 Kings 17:23-24 (ASV)

It was a part of the Assyrian empire's tactics to take people away from their original location and resettle them in other places—to shift them to another land. Consequently, while the Israelites were taken to Babylon, many of those who had lived around Babylon were brought to live in the Samaritan province. This was done so that nationalities might thus be broken down and patriotism expire, thus making it easier for the Assyrian tyrant to govern the land.