II Kings 17: The Fall of Israel and its Lasting Lessons
In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah began Hoshea the son of Elah to reign in Samaria over Israel nine years.
And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, but not as the kings of Israel that were before him.
Against him came up Shalmaneser king of Assyria; and Hoshea became his servant, and gave him presents.
And the king of Assyria found conspiracy in Hoshea: for he had sent messengers to So king of Egypt, and brought no present to the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year: therefore the king of Assyria shut him up, and bound him in prison.
Then the king of Assyria came up throughout all the land, and went up to Samaria, and besieged it three years.
In the ninth year of Hoshea the king of Assyria took Samaria, and carried Israel away into Assyria, and placed them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.
For so it was, that the children of Israel had sinned against the Lord their God, which had brought them up out of the land of Egypt, from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and had feared other gods,
And walked in the statutes of the heathen, whom the Lord cast out from before the children of Israel, and of the kings of Israel, which they had made.
And the children of Israel did secretly those things that were not right against the Lord their God, and they built them high places in all their cities, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city.
And they set them up images and groves in every high hill, and under every green tree:
And there they burnt incense in all the high places, as did the heathen whom the Lord carried away before them; and wrought wicked things to provoke the Lord to anger:
For they served idols, whereof the Lord had said unto them, Ye shall not do this thing.
Yet the Lord testified against Israel, and against Judah, by all the prophets, and by all the seers, saying, Turn ye from your evil ways, and keep my commandments and my statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by my servants the prophets.
Notwithstanding they would not hear, but hardened their necks, like to the neck of their fathers, that did not believe in the Lord their God.
And they rejected his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their fathers, and his testimonies which he testified against them; and they followed vanity, and became vain, and went after the heathen that were round about them, concerning whom the Lord had charged them, that they should not do like them.
And they left all the commandments of the Lord their God, and made them molten images, even two calves, and made a grove, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served Baal.
And they caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire, and used divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger.
Therefore the Lord was very angry with Israel, and removed them out of his sight: there was none left but the tribe of Judah only.
Also Judah kept not the commandments of the Lord their God, but walked in the statutes of Israel which they made.
And the Lord rejected all the seed of Israel, and afflicted them, and delivered them into the hand of spoilers, until he had cast them out of his sight.
For he rent Israel from the house of David; and they made Jeroboam the son of Nebat king: and Jeroboam drave Israel from following the Lord, and made them sin a great sin.
For the children of Israel walked in all the sins of Jeroboam which he did; they departed not from them;
Until the Lord removed Israel out of his sight, as he had said by all his servants the prophets. So was Israel 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 Ava, and from Hamath, and from 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.
And so it was at the beginning of their dwelling there, that they feared not the Lord: therefore the Lord sent lions among them, which slew some of them.
Wherefore they spake to the king of Assyria, saying, The nations which thou hast removed, and placed in the cities of Samaria, know not the manner of the God of the land: therefore he hath sent lions among them, and, behold, they slay them, because they know not the manner of the God of the land.
Then the king of Assyria commanded, saying, Carry thither one of the priests whom ye brought from thence; and let them go and dwell there, and let him teach them the manner of the God of the land.
Then one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and dwelt in Beth–el, and taught them how they should fear the Lord.
Howbeit every nation made gods of their own, and put them in the houses of the high places which the Samaritans had made, every nation in their cities wherein they dwelt.
And the men of Babylon made Succoth–benoth, and the men of Cuth made Nergal, and the men of Hamath made Ashima,
And the Avites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burnt their children in fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim.
So they feared the Lord, and made unto themselves of the lowest of them priests of the high places, which sacrificed for them in the houses of the high places.
They feared the Lord, and served their own gods, after the manner of the nations whom they carried away from thence.
Unto this day they do after the former manners: they fear not the Lord, neither do they after their statutes, or after their ordinances, or after the law and commandment which the Lord commanded the children of Jacob, whom he named Israel;
With whom the Lord had made a covenant, and charged them, saying, Ye shall not fear other gods, nor bow yourselves to them, nor serve them, nor sacrifice to them:
But the Lord, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt with great power and a stretched out arm, him shall ye fear, and him shall ye worship, and to him shall ye do sacrifice.
And the statutes, and the ordinances, and the law, and the commandment, which he wrote for you, ye shall observe to do for evermore; and ye shall not fear other gods.
And the covenant that I have made with you ye shall not forget; neither shall ye fear other gods.
But the Lord your God ye shall fear; and he shall deliver you out of the hand of all your enemies.
Howbeit they did not hearken, but they did after their former manner.
So these nations feared the Lord, and served their graven images, both their children, and their children’s children: as did their fathers, so do they unto this day.
II Kings 17 serves as a somber and critical turning point in the narrative of the Old Testament, detailing the reasons behind the downfall of the northern kingdom of Israel. It's a chapter filled with warnings, reflecting on the consequences of disobedience and the enduring faithfulness of God even in the face of profound human failure. This chapter is not just a historical account; it's a timeless lesson for all believers.
Hoshea's Reign and Assyrian Conquest (II Kings 17:1-6)
The chapter opens with Hoshea, who ascended to the throne of Israel through conspiracy, assassinating King Pekah (see II Kings 15:29-30). Though not as overtly wicked as some of his predecessors, Hoshea "did what was evil in the sight of the LORD" (II Kings 17:2), continuing the pattern of spiritual decline. His reign marked the tragic end of the northern kingdom. Initially, Hoshea became a vassal of Assyrian King Shalmaneser, paying tribute to maintain a fragile peace (II Kings 17:3). However, Hoshea's ambition and lack of faith led him to seek an alliance with Egypt, hoping to break free from Assyrian dominance. Instead of seeking the Lord's guidance, he engaged in political scheming. Confident in his plan, he ceased paying tribute to Shalmaneser (II Kings 17:4). This act of defiance proved disastrous. Egypt's help was ineffective, Hoshea's plot was discovered, and he was imprisoned. Shalmaneser, enraged by Hoshea's treachery, invaded the entire land and laid siege to Samaria for three long years (II Kings 17:5). Finally, in 722 BC, Samaria fell, and the Israelites were deported to Assyria (II Kings 17:6), marking the end of the northern kingdom after more than two centuries and twenty kings, all judged as evil in God’s sight.
The Reasons Behind Israel's Downfall (II Kings 17:7-18)
The writer of II Kings doesn't leave the reader wondering why such a calamity befell Israel. The core reason is explicitly stated: "This occurred because the people of Israel had sinned against the LORD their God, who had brought them up out of the land of Egypt...and because they worshiped other gods" (II Kings 17:7). This verse encapsulates the essence of Israel's failure: a rejection of the God who redeemed them from slavery in favor of lifeless idols. The indictment continues, detailing how the Israelites imitated the customs of the nations God had driven out of the Promised Land, customs God had explicitly forbidden through Moses (II Kings 17:8, Deuteronomy 18:9). Instead of leading the people in holiness and faithfulness, Israel's own kings adopted these rebellious ways, and the people followed their lead. They secretly practiced idolatry while pretending to worship God, as if they could deceive the all-knowing and ever-present God (II Kings 17:9-10). The Israelites angered the Lord (II Kings 17:11). God, like a loving father, repeatedly warned them against their wicked ways, commanding, "You must not do this." But they served idols that could not save them (II Kings 17:12). It's a poignant reminder that we become like what we worship. The people of Israel followed worthless idols and became worthless themselves (II Kings 17:15). Despite God’s repeated warnings (II Kings 17:13), they would not listen (II Kings 17:14).
One particularly horrific custom that Israel adopted was the sacrifice of their sons and daughters in the fire (II Kings 17:17). This act of unspeakable cruelty against the most vulnerable members of society highlights the depths of their depravity. Tragically, this resonates with contemporary issues such as abortion, reminding us that God will not ignore the destruction of his image-bearers (Genesis 1:26).
While condemning Israel, the author doesn't let Judah off the hook. Although Judah had some godly kings, they too succumbed to depravity and fell short of God's standards. The author interjects, "Even Judah did not keep the commands of the LORD their God, but lived according to the customs Israel had practiced" (II Kings 17:19). Though Judah's judgment was yet to come, they would not escape God's righteous wrath.
Jeroboam's Sin and God's Judgment (II Kings 17:20-23)
The chapter revisits the foundational sin of Jeroboam, who, after the kingdom was torn from the house of David, led Israel into idolatry (II Kings 17:21). Jeroboam's actions set a precedent that subsequent kings followed, leading to the nation's spiritual demise. After years of disobedience, God finally removed Israel from his presence—a consequence foretold by the prophets. The author emphasizes that the people were still in Assyria at the time of writing, underscoring the permanence of their exile (II Kings 17:23).
The Repopulation of Samaria and Syncretistic Religion (II Kings 17:24-41)
Following the Assyrian conquest, foreigners from other conquered nations were settled in the cities of Samaria (II Kings 17:24). This was a common practice in the ancient Near East, designed to prevent nationalistic sentiment and rebellion. However, these new inhabitants brought their own religions and gods with them, leading to a clash of cultures and beliefs. When lions attacked and killed some of the settlers, they interpreted it as a sign of the local god's displeasure (II Kings 17:25-26). Seeking to appease this perceived deity, they requested an Israelite priest to teach them about the God of the land (II Kings 17:27-28). The priest, likely one who had contributed to Israel's idolatry, taught them about the Lord but did not necessarily live by those standards. The new inhabitants blended the worship of the Lord with that of their own idols, creating a syncretistic religion (II Kings 17:33). This is the origin of the Samaritan people encountered in the New Testament (John 4). The distinctiveness of Israel's religion was dismantled and replaced by a mix of beliefs, where the Lord was just one deity among many. Despite knowing what happened to the former inhabitants, they continued their former practices, teaching their offspring to mix the worship of the Lord with the worship of their idols (II Kings 17:40-41). This tragic outcome effectively undid everything God had done to set his people apart from the nations.
Lessons for Today
II Kings 17 is more than just a historical account; it's a powerful reminder of the consequences of disobedience and the importance of remaining faithful to God. It teaches us:
- The danger of idolatry: Idolatry isn't just about bowing down to physical statues; it's about placing anything above God in our hearts.
- The importance of obedience: God's commands are not arbitrary; they are given for our good and protection.
- The consequences of compromise: Mixing the worship of God with other beliefs leads to spiritual decay and ultimately, judgment.
- God's faithfulness: Even in the face of Israel's complete disobedience, God remained faithful to his covenant promises, offering a flicker of hope.
This chapter serves as a warning to us today, urging us to examine our own hearts and ensure that we are truly worshiping God alone. May we learn from the mistakes of the past and strive to live lives of obedience and faithfulness, honoring God in all that we do.
In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah began Hoshea the son of Elah to reign in Samaria over Israel nine years.
And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, but not as the kings of Israel that were before him.
Against him came up Shalmaneser king of Assyria; and Hoshea became his servant, and gave him presents.
And the king of Assyria found conspiracy in Hoshea: for he had sent messengers to So king of Egypt, and brought no present to the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year: therefore the king of Assyria shut him up, and bound him in prison.
Then the king of Assyria came up throughout all the land, and went up to Samaria, and besieged it three years.
In the ninth year of Hoshea the king of Assyria took Samaria, and carried Israel away into Assyria, and placed them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.
For so it was, that the children of Israel had sinned against the Lord their God, which had brought them up out of the land of Egypt, from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and had feared other gods,
And walked in the statutes of the heathen, whom the Lord cast out from before the children of Israel, and of the kings of Israel, which they had made.
And the children of Israel did secretly those things that were not right against the Lord their God, and they built them high places in all their cities, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city.
And they set them up images and groves in every high hill, and under every green tree:
And there they burnt incense in all the high places, as did the heathen whom the Lord carried away before them; and wrought wicked things to provoke the Lord to anger:
For they served idols, whereof the Lord had said unto them, Ye shall not do this thing.
Yet the Lord testified against Israel, and against Judah, by all the prophets, and by all the seers, saying, Turn ye from your evil ways, and keep my commandments and my statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by my servants the prophets.
Notwithstanding they would not hear, but hardened their necks, like to the neck of their fathers, that did not believe in the Lord their God.
And they rejected his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their fathers, and his testimonies which he testified against them; and they followed vanity, and became vain, and went after the heathen that were round about them, concerning whom the Lord had charged them, that they should not do like them.
And they left all the commandments of the Lord their God, and made them molten images, even two calves, and made a grove, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served Baal.
And they caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire, and used divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger.
Therefore the Lord was very angry with Israel, and removed them out of his sight: there was none left but the tribe of Judah only.
Also Judah kept not the commandments of the Lord their God, but walked in the statutes of Israel which they made.
And the Lord rejected all the seed of Israel, and afflicted them, and delivered them into the hand of spoilers, until he had cast them out of his sight.
For he rent Israel from the house of David; and they made Jeroboam the son of Nebat king: and Jeroboam drave Israel from following the Lord, and made them sin a great sin.
For the children of Israel walked in all the sins of Jeroboam which he did; they departed not from them;
Until the Lord removed Israel out of his sight, as he had said by all his servants the prophets. So was Israel 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 Ava, and from Hamath, and from 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.
And so it was at the beginning of their dwelling there, that they feared not the Lord: therefore the Lord sent lions among them, which slew some of them.
Wherefore they spake to the king of Assyria, saying, The nations which thou hast removed, and placed in the cities of Samaria, know not the manner of the God of the land: therefore he hath sent lions among them, and, behold, they slay them, because they know not the manner of the God of the land.
Then the king of Assyria commanded, saying, Carry thither one of the priests whom ye brought from thence; and let them go and dwell there, and let him teach them the manner of the God of the land.
Then one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and dwelt in Beth–el, and taught them how they should fear the Lord.
Howbeit every nation made gods of their own, and put them in the houses of the high places which the Samaritans had made, every nation in their cities wherein they dwelt.
And the men of Babylon made Succoth–benoth, and the men of Cuth made Nergal, and the men of Hamath made Ashima,
And the Avites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burnt their children in fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim.
So they feared the Lord, and made unto themselves of the lowest of them priests of the high places, which sacrificed for them in the houses of the high places.
They feared the Lord, and served their own gods, after the manner of the nations whom they carried away from thence.
Unto this day they do after the former manners: they fear not the Lord, neither do they after their statutes, or after their ordinances, or after the law and commandment which the Lord commanded the children of Jacob, whom he named Israel;
With whom the Lord had made a covenant, and charged them, saying, Ye shall not fear other gods, nor bow yourselves to them, nor serve them, nor sacrifice to them:
But the Lord, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt with great power and a stretched out arm, him shall ye fear, and him shall ye worship, and to him shall ye do sacrifice.
And the statutes, and the ordinances, and the law, and the commandment, which he wrote for you, ye shall observe to do for evermore; and ye shall not fear other gods.
And the covenant that I have made with you ye shall not forget; neither shall ye fear other gods.
But the Lord your God ye shall fear; and he shall deliver you out of the hand of all your enemies.
Howbeit they did not hearken, but they did after their former manner.
So these nations feared the Lord, and served their graven images, both their children, and their children’s children: as did their fathers, so do they unto this day.
II Kings 17 serves as a somber and critical turning point in the narrative of the Old Testament, detailing the reasons behind the downfall of the northern kingdom of Israel. It's a chapter filled with warnings, reflecting on the consequences of disobedience and the enduring faithfulness of God even in the face of profound human failure. This chapter is not just a historical account; it's a timeless lesson for all believers.
Hoshea's Reign and Assyrian Conquest (II Kings 17:1-6)
The chapter opens with Hoshea, who ascended to the throne of Israel through conspiracy, assassinating King Pekah (see II Kings 15:29-30). Though not as overtly wicked as some of his predecessors, Hoshea "did what was evil in the sight of the LORD" (II Kings 17:2), continuing the pattern of spiritual decline. His reign marked the tragic end of the northern kingdom. Initially, Hoshea became a vassal of Assyrian King Shalmaneser, paying tribute to maintain a fragile peace (II Kings 17:3). However, Hoshea's ambition and lack of faith led him to seek an alliance with Egypt, hoping to break free from Assyrian dominance. Instead of seeking the Lord's guidance, he engaged in political scheming. Confident in his plan, he ceased paying tribute to Shalmaneser (II Kings 17:4). This act of defiance proved disastrous. Egypt's help was ineffective, Hoshea's plot was discovered, and he was imprisoned. Shalmaneser, enraged by Hoshea's treachery, invaded the entire land and laid siege to Samaria for three long years (II Kings 17:5). Finally, in 722 BC, Samaria fell, and the Israelites were deported to Assyria (II Kings 17:6), marking the end of the northern kingdom after more than two centuries and twenty kings, all judged as evil in God’s sight.
The Reasons Behind Israel's Downfall (II Kings 17:7-18)
The writer of II Kings doesn't leave the reader wondering why such a calamity befell Israel. The core reason is explicitly stated: "This occurred because the people of Israel had sinned against the LORD their God, who had brought them up out of the land of Egypt...and because they worshiped other gods" (II Kings 17:7). This verse encapsulates the essence of Israel's failure: a rejection of the God who redeemed them from slavery in favor of lifeless idols. The indictment continues, detailing how the Israelites imitated the customs of the nations God had driven out of the Promised Land, customs God had explicitly forbidden through Moses (II Kings 17:8, Deuteronomy 18:9). Instead of leading the people in holiness and faithfulness, Israel's own kings adopted these rebellious ways, and the people followed their lead. They secretly practiced idolatry while pretending to worship God, as if they could deceive the all-knowing and ever-present God (II Kings 17:9-10). The Israelites angered the Lord (II Kings 17:11). God, like a loving father, repeatedly warned them against their wicked ways, commanding, "You must not do this." But they served idols that could not save them (II Kings 17:12). It's a poignant reminder that we become like what we worship. The people of Israel followed worthless idols and became worthless themselves (II Kings 17:15). Despite God’s repeated warnings (II Kings 17:13), they would not listen (II Kings 17:14).
One particularly horrific custom that Israel adopted was the sacrifice of their sons and daughters in the fire (II Kings 17:17). This act of unspeakable cruelty against the most vulnerable members of society highlights the depths of their depravity. Tragically, this resonates with contemporary issues such as abortion, reminding us that God will not ignore the destruction of his image-bearers (Genesis 1:26).
While condemning Israel, the author doesn't let Judah off the hook. Although Judah had some godly kings, they too succumbed to depravity and fell short of God's standards. The author interjects, "Even Judah did not keep the commands of the LORD their God, but lived according to the customs Israel had practiced" (II Kings 17:19). Though Judah's judgment was yet to come, they would not escape God's righteous wrath.
Jeroboam's Sin and God's Judgment (II Kings 17:20-23)
The chapter revisits the foundational sin of Jeroboam, who, after the kingdom was torn from the house of David, led Israel into idolatry (II Kings 17:21). Jeroboam's actions set a precedent that subsequent kings followed, leading to the nation's spiritual demise. After years of disobedience, God finally removed Israel from his presence—a consequence foretold by the prophets. The author emphasizes that the people were still in Assyria at the time of writing, underscoring the permanence of their exile (II Kings 17:23).
The Repopulation of Samaria and Syncretistic Religion (II Kings 17:24-41)
Following the Assyrian conquest, foreigners from other conquered nations were settled in the cities of Samaria (II Kings 17:24). This was a common practice in the ancient Near East, designed to prevent nationalistic sentiment and rebellion. However, these new inhabitants brought their own religions and gods with them, leading to a clash of cultures and beliefs. When lions attacked and killed some of the settlers, they interpreted it as a sign of the local god's displeasure (II Kings 17:25-26). Seeking to appease this perceived deity, they requested an Israelite priest to teach them about the God of the land (II Kings 17:27-28). The priest, likely one who had contributed to Israel's idolatry, taught them about the Lord but did not necessarily live by those standards. The new inhabitants blended the worship of the Lord with that of their own idols, creating a syncretistic religion (II Kings 17:33). This is the origin of the Samaritan people encountered in the New Testament (John 4). The distinctiveness of Israel's religion was dismantled and replaced by a mix of beliefs, where the Lord was just one deity among many. Despite knowing what happened to the former inhabitants, they continued their former practices, teaching their offspring to mix the worship of the Lord with the worship of their idols (II Kings 17:40-41). This tragic outcome effectively undid everything God had done to set his people apart from the nations.
Lessons for Today
II Kings 17 is more than just a historical account; it's a powerful reminder of the consequences of disobedience and the importance of remaining faithful to God. It teaches us:
- The danger of idolatry: Idolatry isn't just about bowing down to physical statues; it's about placing anything above God in our hearts.
- The importance of obedience: God's commands are not arbitrary; they are given for our good and protection.
- The consequences of compromise: Mixing the worship of God with other beliefs leads to spiritual decay and ultimately, judgment.
- God's faithfulness: Even in the face of Israel's complete disobedience, God remained faithful to his covenant promises, offering a flicker of hope.
This chapter serves as a warning to us today, urging us to examine our own hearts and ensure that we are truly worshiping God alone. May we learn from the mistakes of the past and strive to live lives of obedience and faithfulness, honoring God in all that we do.