2 Kings 17:18

18 So the LORD was very angry at Israel. He removed them from his presence. Only the tribe of Judah was spared.

2 Kings 17:18 Meaning and Commentary

2 Kings 17:18

Therefore the Lord was very angry with Israel
Nothing being more provoking to him than idolatry:

and removed them out of his sight;
not out of the reach of his all seeing eye, but from all tokens of his favour, from the good land he had given them, and all the benefits and privileges of it:

there was none left but the tribe of Judah only;
and part of Benjamin, which was annexed to it, and incorporated in it, and made one kingdom, and maintained the same worship; and there was the lot of Simeon, which was within the tribe of Judah; and the priests and the Levites, and various individuals of the several tribes, that came and settled among them for the sake of worship; but no perfect, distinct, tribe besides.

2 Kings 17:18 In-Context

16 They deserted all the commandments of the LORD their God. They made themselves two metal idols cast in the shape of calves and made a sacred pole. They bowed down to all the heavenly bodies. They served Baal.

17 They burned their sons and daughters alive. They practiced divination and sought omens. They gave themselves over to doing what was evil in the LORD's eyes and made him angry.

18 So the LORD was very angry at Israel. He removed them from his presence. Only the tribe of Judah was spared.

19 But Judah didn't keep the commands of the LORD their God either. They followed the practices of Israel.

20 So the LORD rejected all of Israel's descendants. He punished them, and he handed them over to enemies who plundered them until he finally threw them out of his sight.