2 Kings 17:21

21 For when the LORD tore Israel away from the kingdom of David, they chose Jeroboam son of Nebat as their king. But Jeroboam drew Israel away from following the LORD and made them commit 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 But even the people of Judah refused to obey the commands of the LORD their God, for they followed the evil practices that Israel had introduced.

20 The LORD rejected all the descendants of Israel. He punished them by handing them over to their attackers until he had banished Israel from his presence.

21 For when the LORD tore Israel away from the kingdom of David, they chose Jeroboam son of Nebat as their king. But Jeroboam drew Israel away from following the LORD and made them commit a great sin.

22 And the people of Israel persisted in all the evil ways of Jeroboam. They did not turn from these sins

23 until the LORD finally swept them away from his presence, just as all his prophets had warned. So Israel was exiled from their land to Assyria, where they remain to this day.

Footnotes

• [a]. Hebrew he; compare 1 Kgs 11:31-32 .