2 Kings 17
Meaning of 2 Kings 17
2 Kings 17 is a chapter in the Old Testament of the Bible that describes the final fall and exile of the northern kingdom of Israel by the Assyrian Empire.
At the start, we’re introduced to Hoshea, the king of Israel, who is mentioned as doing evil in the sight of the Lord. The king of Assyria, Shalmaneser, invades Israel and imposes heavy tribute on Hoshea. Later, when Hoshea fails to pay the tribute and seeks help from Egypt, Shalmaneser imprisons Hoshea and leads a three-year siege of Samaria, the capital of Israel, resulting in its fall.
The chapter also explores why this fall happened. It attributes the disaster to the Israelites’ disobedience to the commands of God and their idolatry, meaning they worshipped other gods.
Furthermore, the chapter describes the deportation of Israelites to Assyria and the re-population of Samaria with foreign peoples by the Assyria King, who also brought their own gods.
Finally, the chapter illustrates how the new inhabitants of Samaria mixed their religious practices with those of the Israelites, creating a syncretic form of religion.
In a nutshell, 2 Kings 17 tells the story of the fall of the northern kingdom of Israel, its causes from a biblical perspective, and its aftermath.
2 Kings 17 kjv
2 Kings 17 of the King James Version is a chapter from the Old Testament of the Bible that concerns the history of Israel. The chapter recounts both political and religious developments in Israel, focusing on the conquest of the Kingdom of Israel (also known as the Northern Kingdom) by Assyria and the reasons behind it.
1. The chapter begins with Hoshea, the last king of Israel, who did evil in the sight of God but not like the previous kings of Israel. Hoshea conspired against the king of Assyria by not paying the tribute and seeking help from Egypt which led to his imprisonment by the Assyrian king (2 Kings 17:1-4).
2. Subsequently, the king of Assyria attacked and besieged Samaria (the capital city of Israel). After three years, Samaria fell, and the Israelites were taken captive and relocated by the Assyrians to other parts of their empire (2 Kings 17:5-6).
3. The chapter then explains why this calamity fell upon Israel. It was because the people of Israel sinned against their God, worshipped other gods, followed the practices of nations that the Lord had driven out before them, and ignored the warnings God sent through His prophets (2 Kings 17:7-23).
4. The king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, Ava, Hamath, and Sepharvaim to inhabit the cities of Samaria. These new settlers initially worshipped their own gods until the Lord sent lions among them. Believing it was a punishment for not worshipping the God of the land, they learned to fear the Lord, but they still served their own gods (2 Kings 17:24-41).
This chapter thus recounts the fall of the Northern Kingdom and the reasons, both political and spiritual, that led to its downfall.
2 Kings 17 nkjv
The NKJV (New King James Version) interpretation of 2 Kings 17 recounts the reign and the downfall of the Northern Kingdom of Israel.
The chapter begins with the commencement of the 12-year reign of Hoshea, the last king of Israel, in Samaria. He did evil in the sight of the Lord, but not as his predecessors did. The king of Assyria, Shalmaneser, came against him, and Hoshea became his vassal and paid him tribute money.
However, the king of Assyria discovered that Hoshea was conspiring with King So of Egypt and had stopped paying him the due tribute. This led to Shalmaneser imprisoning Hoshea and laying siege to the entire land. After a three-year siege, Samaria was captured.
The children of Israel were taken captive to Assyria because they had sinned against God by worshiping other Gods and neglected his commandments given to them through Moses. They had built high places in all their towns, set up sacred Pillars and wooden idols on every high hill and under every green tree.
There, in exile, the Israelites failed to follow their covenant with God and continued to follow their previous practices. This failure led God to remove them from His presence.
The King of Assyria then brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, Ava, Hamath, and from Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel. These newly settled people did not worship God, leading to them being attacked by lions. In response, the king of Assyria ordered a priest to teach them how to serve God.
Despite learning how to worship God, these people also continued to worship their original gods and followed their own religious customs. This mix of worshipping God yet continuing idolatrous practices marked the beginning of the Samaritan people, known for their mixed religion.
In summary, 2 Kings 17 is about the fall of the Northern Kingdom of Israel due to their continual disobedience and idolatry, and the subsequent repopulation of the land with people who became the Samaritans.
2 Kings 17 niv
The 17th chapter of 2 Kings in the New International Version (NIV) of the Bible details the fall of the kingdom of Israel and its subsequent exile. The beginning of the chapter introduces Hoshea as the last king of Israel who did evil in the eyes of the Lord. Hoshea becomes a vassal of Shalmaneser, the king of Assyria but soon faces punishment for disloyalty.
Israel’s fall is explained in the chapter by its sins against the Lord: they worship other gods, create idols, reject God’s laws and the warnings of the prophets. Therefore, the Lord removes them from His sight, Israel is besieged, and the people are carried off to Assyria. These events mark the end of the kingdom of Israel.
The second half of 2 Kings 17 talks about the resettlement of Samaria, Israel’s capital, by the Assyrian king. The new settlers, who are foreigners, don’t know how to worship the God of the land. At God’s command, a priest is sent back to teach them how to serve the Lord. However, these people worship both God and their own gods.
In essence, this chapter emphasizes the dire consequences of Israel’s continuous disobedience and idolatry, resulting in its demise and exile. However, God’s faithfulness and mercy still offer a way of teaching the new residents of Samaria about Him.
What is 2 Kings 17 all about?
2 Kings 17 is a chapter in the Bible that primarily focuses on the downfall and exile of the northern kingdom of Israel.
At the start of the chapter, we’re introduced to Hoshea, who is the last king of Israel. He does evil in the eyes of the Lord, but compared to the previous kings of Israel, he is slightly less evil. However, he becomes a vassal to Shalmaneser, king of Assyria, and pays him tribute.
Later, Hoshea attempts to rebel against Assyria by seeking aid from So, the king of Egypt, and refusing to pay the tribute to the king of Assyria. This rebellion does not end well, with Assyria besieging the capital city, Samaria, for three years. Eventually, Samaria falls and the people of Israel are taken into exile in Assyria.
The latter part of 2 Kings 17 commences a theological reflection by the author on why this disaster befell the kingdom of Israel. The text suggests the Israelites have consistently disobeyed the covenant they had with God since the time they left Egypt, following other gods and worshipping idols. Therefore, this calamity is a result of their infidelity to God and His commandments.
The chapter closes with the king of Assyria settling foreigners from various places in Samaria instead of the Israelites. These foreigners initially do not worship the God of the land and face problems, leading the king of Assyria to send back one of the captured Israelite priests to instruct them in the worship of the Lord. Despite these instructions, these people continue to follow their old religious practices while also worshipping the Lord.
What does 2 Kings 17 teaches?
2 Kings 17 is a chapter in the Bible in the Old Testament. This chapter narrates the story of the fall of the northern kingdom of Israel to the Assyrians.
There are several key teachings we can extract from this chapter:
1. The Consequences of Disobedience: The fall of Israel did not happen overnight. For generations, many of the Israelite kings and their people disobeyed God’s laws, worshipped other gods, and rejected His commandments. Through their disobedience and idolatry, they incurred God’s wrath, ultimately leading to their downfall and exile. This serves as a strong warning about the perils of continual disobedience.
2. God’s Patience and Justice: Despite Israel’s repeated offences, God was patient. He sent prophets and seers to warn the people and their kings, to bring them back to the right path. This patience reveals a loving God who is slow to anger, further intensified by his eventual act of justice.
3. Preservation of a Remnant: When Assyria repopulated Samaria with foreign peoples, they initially worshipped their own gods. However, after being attacked by lions – a sign they interpreted as anger from the local deity (God) – they requested an Israelite priest to teach them how to worship God. This shows that, even in judgement, God allowed a remnant to continue the knowledge and worship of Him.
4. Reminder of Covenant Relationship: The chapter underscores the serious consequences of breaking a covenant with God. The Israelites were not just a set of individuals, they were a covenant community who were given laws to live by, blessings for obedience, and curses for disobedience. The exile was a fulfillment of the curses set out for covenant disobedience.
So, in essence, 2 Kings 17 teaches about God’s righteousness, the consequences of disobedience, the importance of upholding our covenant relationship with God, and God’s mercy and patience, even when His justice must be served.
Please note that this interpretation can slightly vary depending on an individual’s religious background and the specific translation of the Bible they are using.
A Sermon on 2 Kings 17
2 Kings Chapter 17 is a chapter that deals with the reign of King Hoshea, the last king of Israel, and the Assyrian captivity of Israel. This chapter is a crucial part in the Biblical history as it explains how disobedience to God’s commands can lead to dire consequences.
The sermon on this chapter might be broken down into the sections:
1. The Rule of King Hoshea (2 Kings 17:1-2)
This part talks about King Hoshea who did evil in the eyes of the Lord, although not as much as the previous kings. Despite God’s repeated warnings and patient waiting, Israel’s kings continued to ignore his directives, leading the nation down a path of moral and spiritual corruption.
2. The Assyrian Captivity (2 Kings 17:3-6)
King Shalmaneser of Assyria attacks Israel and they become his vassals. But when Hoshea rebels, the king of Assyria imprisons him and lays siege to the whole land, ultimately capturing the people and relocating them to Assyria. This represents the prophesied judgement of God on the nation for their disobedience.
3. The Reasons for Israel’s Exile (2 Kings 17:7-23)
This section reflects on the failure of the Israelites to obey God’s laws. They had worshiped other gods, followed the practices of the nations God had driven out before them, and done wicked things that had provoked the Lord. Despite repeated warnings through his prophets, the Israelites did not listen, leading to their ultimate exile.
4. Samaritans Replace Israelites (2 Kings 17:24-41)
After the Israelites were exiled, the king of Assyria brought people from other nations to live in Israel’s cities. These new inhabitants, the Samaritans, mixed their practices of worshipping other gods with the worship of the Lord. This highlights the theme of spiritual compromise, a danger that is pertinent even today.
The sermon might conclude by applying these events to our lives. We can learn from Israel’s mistakes, remembering the importance of obeying God’s commandments, the danger of idolatry and sinful customs, and the dire consequences of continual disobedience. As adherents of God’s word, we should strive to understand his teachings, obey them, and repent when we fail, knowing that his mercy can grant us forgiveness.
Key people in 2 Kings 17
2 Kings 17 is a pivotal chapter in the Old Testament record of the history of the kings of Israel and Judah, and it describes the final fall of the northern kingdom of Israel to the Assyrians. Here are key people involved in 2 Kings 17:
1. Hoshea- He was the king of Israel and the son of Elah. Hoshea is noted in the chapter as doing evil, but not to the extent of previous kings. He is essentially the last king of Israel before the Assyrians conquered the kingdom. He was imprisoned by Shalmaneser V for not paying the tribute.
2. Shalmaneser V – He was the king of Assyria to whom Hoshea became a vassal. When Hoshea stopped paying tribute and sought help from Egypt instead, it led to Shalmaneser besieging Samaria, the capital of Israel, for three years.
3. King of Assyria – While initially, it’s Shalmaneser V, Sargon II is mostly considered the new king who later completed the conquest. He is crucial in the exile as he repopulated Samaria with people from other conquered locations, leading to a mixture of cultures and religions.
4. Various people of Israel – These individuals aren’t named but are described collectively. Years of disobedience to God’s commands, idol worship, and following pagan practices led to their downfall.
5. The foreign peoples brought by the Assyrians to inhabit the land of Israel – They carried their own gods and practiced their pagan cultures in the new land. When they faced problems (like lion attacks), they learned to worship the God of the land (while also worshipping their gods) to seek His favor, which led to a syncretistic religion.
6. The priest – This character, sent by the King of Assyria, taught the newcomers on how to worship the God of Israel. This led to a mixed, syncretic religious culture in the region.
7. The unnamed prophet – As the author or chronicler of the book, this prophet repeats the sins of Israel and reasserts their cause-effect relationship with the fall of Israel.
Note that some characters are not personally named but play key roles in the narrative and its spiritual and theological significance. This list focuses on characters in the text who had a significant impact on the actions presented.
Real world examples on 2 Kings 17
2 Kings 17 is part of the Bible, in the Old Testament. It narrates the story of the final fall of the northern Kingdom of Israel to the Assyrian empire, and it also speaks of the fate of an assortment of peoples the Assyrians deported to the land of Israel.
Here are real world examples that parallels this biblical story:
1. Cultural Assimilation: The chapter mentions how the Assyrians resettled Samaria with people from different lands, each bringing their own gods and practices. This form of forced cultural assimilation/integration is common in modern-day colonization. For instance, when European powers colonized different parts of the world, they often imposed their culture, religion, and language onto the native peoples.
2. Fragmentation and Capture of Nations: The biblical narrative aligns with instances in recent world history where nations are captured, and their population dispersed. For instance, the World War II era saw Nazi Germany annex and control numerous countries in Europe, leading to the separation and displacement of many people.
3. Consequences of Disobedience: The chapter also describes how the Israelites suffered due to their disobedience to God’s commands. This can be compared to instances where people or societies experience consequences due to disregard for law and order or ethical norms. Whether it’s political, environmental, or social, there are numerous examples where disobedience leads to adverse effects.
Remember, these examples draw parallels and propose applications and should not be regarded as direct or equivalent comparisons.
Brief Explanation of 2 Kings 17
2 Kings 17 primarily focuses on the time when the Northern Kingdom of Israel was conquered by the Assyrian empire, led by King Shalmaneser V and later Sargon II, marking the end of the Northern Kingdom. This occurred because the Israelites turned away from God, obeyed other gods, and lived in sin according to the Bible.
The chapter begins with the reiteration of the reign of Hoshea over Israel, who did evil in the eyes of the Lord. Then Assyria invaded Israel and besieged the capital city of Samaria. After a three-year siege, Samaria fell and the people of Israel were carried off to Assyria.
This chapter also recounts the sin of the Israelites. Despite God’s constant reminders through prophets and seers, the people of Israel did not heed His warnings. They worshipped idols and followed the practices of the nations that the Lord had driven out before them.
Finally, the chapter ends with the Assyrians occupying Samaria and its surrounding regions. However, because these new inhabitants did not worship the Lord, they were plagued by lions. Recognizing this as punishment for not fearing the Lord, the Assyrian king sent one of the exiled priests back to teach the people how to worship the Lord.
In retrospect, 2 Kings 17 is about how disobedience to God leads to downfall and destruction.
Frequently asked questions for 2 Kings 17
1. Why was Israel taken captive?
Israel was taken captive by the Assyrians because they sinned against the Lord their God, not following the Lord’s commandments and statutes.
2. Who took the Israelites into captivity?
The Israelites were taken into captivity by the King of Assyria, who relocated them to Assyria and settled them in Halah, in Gozan on the Habor River and in towns of the Medes.
3. What wrongdoings did the Israelites commit?
The Israelites committed many sins including worshipping other gods, building high places, setting up pillars and Asherim (statues/idols for pagan worship), and following idolatrous practices of the nations whom the Lord had driven out. They did things secretly against the Lord their God that were not right.
4. What was God’s reaction to Israel’s sins?
God continually sent prophets and seers to warn Israel to turn from their evil ways and keep his commandments and statutes. However, the Israelites didn’t listen. Seeing their stiff resistance, God was angered to the point that He removed them from His sight.
5. Who was Hoshea? Why was he significant?
Hoshea was the last king of Israel. He became king after assassinating Pekah, his predecessor. Despite his many acts of evil, he was less wicked than the kings who had ruled before him. His significant contribution to Israel’s history was his rebellion against the king of Assyria, which ultimately resulted in the fall of Israel.
6. Did the resettled peoples in Samaria adopt the God of Israel as their own?
Initially, the resettled peoples didn’t fear the Lord, continued to follow their own gods, and practiced their own customs. However, after the Lord sent lions among them, killing some of them, they sought to learn the customs of the God of the land. An Israelite priest was therefore sent back to teach them. Despite this, they still mixed their own customs and gods with the worship of the Lord.
7. What does the chapter say about the fear of the Lord?
The chapter emphasizes that the fear of the Lord is not simply about following religious customs but about following the commandments of the Lord by heart. The new inhabitants of Samaria claimed to fear the Lord yet served their own gods. The chapter implies genuine fear of God requires complete devotion to Him, not only in rituals but also in heart and actions.
Possible References for 2 Kings 17
2 Kings 17 is a chapter from the Old Testament of the Bible, specifically from the book of 2 Kings. This chapter discusses a significant point in Israel’s history; commonly, the events and people mentioned are analyzed or studied under religious, historical, and cultural perspectives. Here is a brief summary of some possible references:
1. Assyrian Conquest of Israel: The chapter starts with the reign of Hoshea, the last king of Israel, and describes how the king of Assyria conquers Israel and makes it a vassal state. This is a key historical event, marking the end of the independent kingdom of Israel around 722 BC.
2. Hoshea’s rebellion: When Hoshea fails to pay tributes and seeks Egyptian aid, Assyria responds by besieging the capital, Samaria, leading to Hoshea’s imprisonment and the complete downfall of the Israelite kingdom.
3. Israelite Exile: The Assyrians then deport the Israelites to various parts of the Assyrian Empire, a practice of that era to prevent rebellion. This mass exile, often referred to as the Assyrian captivity or displacement, is a significant event in Jewish history.
4. Sin and punishment: The author of Kings presents this tragedy as a divine punishment for Israel’s persistent idolatry and failure to obey God’s commandments, despite repeated warnings through prophets.
5. Resettlement and Syncretism: Assyria repopulates Samaria with people from other captured lands, who soon adopt the worship of Yahweh, but mix it with their own religious practices. This syncretism—mixing different beliefs and practices—is said to be the origin of the Samaritans.
6. Continued Idolatry: Despite God’s warnings through prophets, the new inhabitants continue their mixed worship, preserving their old gods along with the God of the land, Yahweh.
These pivotal events discussed in 2 Kings 17 serve as significant teachings in religious and biblical studies, demonstrating the dire consequences of disobedience and idolatry according to the biblical narrative.
Conclusion on 2 Kings 17
2 Kings 17 marks a turning point in the history of Israel through the ending of the northern kingdom of Israel. The chapter recounts the Assyrians capturing Samaria after a three-year siege and taking the Israelites to Assyria as captives. This completes the exile of the ten northern tribes of Israel.
The conclusion in 2 Kings 17 provides a detailed explanation of why this disaster befell Israel. The author attributes the fall of the kingdom to the idolatry and sinfulness of the Israelites. They had violated their covenant with God by worshiping other gods, ignoring the commands delivered by God’s prophets, and practicing various forms of paganism that offended God. As a result, God punished them with this exile, leaving only the kingdom of Judah untouched.
The Israelites failed to heed to numerous warnings from God sent through his prophets, choosing to continue their sinful ways. The Assyrians brought people from other conquered nations to inhabit Israel, leading to a mix of populations adopting each other’s religious practices, and creating a syncretic form of worship.
In summary, the conclusion laid out in 2 Kings 17 is a reflection on the events, explaining that the fall of the Israelite kingdom was due to their defiance against God’s laws and warnings, thus it was a divine judgment rather than simply a political or military event.