Kings II 17:26

26 And all Israel and Abessalom encamped in the land of Galaad.

Kings II 17:26 Meaning and Commentary

2 Kings 17:26

Wherefore they spake to the king of Assyria
In letters, or by messengers they sent unto him:

saying, the nations which thou hast removed;
from different places before mentioned:

and placed in the cities of Samaria, know not the manner of the God of
the land;
taking Jehovah the God of Israel to be a topical deity, limited peculiarly to the land of Israel, whereas he was the God of the whole earth; a like notion obtained among the Syrians, see ( 1 Kings 20:28 ) now they say they know not his "manner" or "judgment" ^F14, the laws, statutes, ordinances, and judgments, according to which he was worshipped by the people of Israel:

therefore he hath sent lions among them, and, behold, they slay them;
they perceived it was not a common case, nor could they impute it to any second cause, as want of food with the lions but the hand of a superior Being was in it: and they could think of no other reason, but

because they know not the manner of the God of the land;
how he was to be worshipped; and because they did not worship him, and knew not how to do it, it was resented in this manner by him.

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FOOTNOTES:

F14 (jpvm) "judicium", Pagninus, Montanus

Kings II 17:26 In-Context

24 And David passed over to Manaim: and Abessalom crossed over Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him.

25 And Abessalom appointed Amessai in the room of Joab over the host. And Amessai was the son of a man whose name was Jether of Jezrael: he went in to Abigaia the daughter of Naas, the sister of Saruia the mother of Joab.

26 And all Israel and Abessalom encamped in the land of Galaad.

27 And it came to pass when David came to Manaim, that Uesbi the son of Naas of Rabbath of the sons of Ammon, and Machir son of Amiel of Lodabar, and Berzelli the Galaadite of Rogellim,

28 brought ten embroidered beds, (with double coverings,) and ten caldrons, and earthenware, and wheat, and barley, and flour, and meal, and beans, and pulse,