וַיְהִ֗י בִּתְחִלַּת֙ שִׁבְתָּ֣ם שָׁ֔ם לֹ֥א יָרְא֖וּ אֶת־יְהוָ֑ה וַיְשַׁלַּ֨ח יְהוָ֤ה בָּהֶם֙ אֶת־הָ֣אֲרָי֔וֹת וַיִּֽהְי֥וּ הֹרְגִ֖ים בָּהֶֽם׃
Nangyari na sa simula ng kanilang paninirahan doon, hindi sila natakot sa Walang-Hanggan; kaya nagpadala ang Walang-Hanggan ng mga leon sa kanila, at pinapatay ng mga ito ang ilan sa kanila.
Bartenura
על הכותית – This Tanna/teacher holds that Kutim are “lion-proselytes,” (i.e., proselytes from mere fear, with reference to II Kings 17:25) and are considered as heathens.
Rashi
They are lion-proselytes - it is explained in the book of Kings: "GOD sent lions against them" [II Kings 17:25] and that there was written regarding Samaritans: "The king of Assyria brought [people] from ... Cuthah" [II Kings 17:24]. Other locations are [also] indicated [there].