2 Kings 17:21

21 For Israel had rent [the kingdom] from the house of David; and they had made Jeroboam the son of Nebat king; and Jeroboam violently turned Israel from following Jehovah, and made them sin a great sin.

2 Kings 17:21 Meaning and Commentary

2 Kings 17:21

For he rent Israel from the house of David
In the times of Rehoboam the son of Solomon, when ten tribes revolted from him, signified by the rending of a garment in twelve pieces, ten of which were given to Jeroboam; and it is here ascribed to the Lord, being according to his purpose and decree, and which was brought about by his providence, agreeably to a prophecy of his, see ( 1 Kings 11:30 1 Kings 11:31 )

and they made Jeroboam the son of Nebat king;
of themselves, without consulting the Lord and his prophets; and which was resented by him, though it was his will, and he had foretold it, that Jeroboam should be king, see ( Hosea 8:4 )

and Jeroboam drave Israel from following the Lord;
forbidding them to go up to Jerusalem to worship; the Targum is,

``made them to err:''

and made them sin a great sin;
obliging them to worship the calves he set up.

2 Kings 17:21 In-Context

19 Also Judah kept not the commandments of Jehovah their God, but walked in the statutes of Israel which they had made.
20 And Jehovah 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.
21 For Israel had rent [the kingdom] from the house of David; and they had made Jeroboam the son of Nebat king; and Jeroboam violently turned Israel from following Jehovah, and made them sin a great sin.
22 And the children of Israel walked in all the sins of Jeroboam which he did; they did not depart from them:
23 until Jehovah had removed Israel out of his sight, as he had said through all his servants the prophets; and Israel was carried away out of their own land to Assyria, unto this day.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Or 'He (Jehovah) rent Israel from.'
The Darby Translation is in the public domain.