2 Kings 17:12

12 They worshiped idols, though the LORD had said, “You shall not do this.”^[a]

2 Kings 17:12 in Other Translations

12 For they served idols, whereof the LORD had said unto them, Ye shall not do this thing.

12 and they served idols, of which the LORD had said to them, "You shall not do this."

12 Yes, they worshiped idols, despite the LORD ’s specific and repeated warnings.

12 fed up with their persistent worship of gods carved out of deadwood or shaped out of clay, even though God had plainly said, "Don't do this - ever!"

12 They served idols, although the Lord had told them, "You must not do this."

2 Kings 17:12 Meaning and Commentary

2 Kings 17:12

For they served idols
Baalim, as the Targum; dunghill gods, as the word signifies, as they are often called in Scripture; and Sterculius was one of the names of Saturn, an Heathen deity, which he had, as is supposed, by his finding out the method of making land fruitful with dung ^F9:

whereof the Lord said unto them, ye shall not do this thing;
see ( Exodus 20:3-5 Exodus 20:23 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F9 Vid. Macrob. l. 1. c. 7. Lactant. de fals. Relig. l. 1. c. 20.

2 Kings 17:12 In-Context

10 They set up sacred stones and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every spreading tree.

11 At every high place they burned incense, as the nations whom the LORD had driven out before them had done. They did wicked things that aroused the LORD’s anger.

12 They worshiped idols, though the LORD had said, “You shall not do this.”

13 The LORD warned Israel and Judah through all his prophets and seers: “Turn from your evil ways. Observe my commands and decrees, in accordance with the entire Law that I commanded your ancestors to obey and that I delivered to you through my servants the prophets.”

14 But they would not listen and were as stiff-necked as their ancestors, who did not trust in the LORD their God.

Cross References

• 1. S Exodus 20:4

Footnotes

• [a]. Exodus 20:4,5