2 Kings 17:21

21 1When he had torn Israel from the house of David, 2they made Jeroboam the son of Nebat king. And Jeroboam drove Israel from following the LORD 3and made them commit 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 Judah also did not keep the commandments of the LORD their God, but walked in the customs that Israel had introduced.
20 And the LORD rejected all the descendants of Israel and afflicted them and gave them into the hand of plunderers, until he had cast them out of his sight.
21 When he had torn Israel from the house of David, they made Jeroboam the son of Nebat king. And Jeroboam drove Israel from following the LORD and made them commit great sin.
22 The people of Israel walked in all the sins that Jeroboam did. They did not depart from them,
23 until the LORD removed Israel out of his sight, as he had spoken by all his servants the prophets. So Israel was exiled from their own land to Assyria until this day.

Cross References 3

  • 1. 1 Kings 11:11, 31
  • 2. 1 Kings 12:20
  • 3. See 1 Kings 14:16
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.