2 Kings 17:35-41

35 with whom the LORD made a covenant and commanded them, saying, "¹You shall not fear other gods, nor ²bow down yourselves to them nor ³serve them nor sacrifice to them.

36 "But the LORD, ⁴who brought you up from the land of Egypt with great power and with ⁵an outstretched arm, ⁶Him you shall fear, and to Him you shall bow yourselves down, and to Him you shall sacrifice.

37 "The statutes and the ordinances and the law and the commandment which He wrote for you, ⁷you shall observe to do forever *; and you shall not fear other gods.

38 "The covenant that I have made with you, ⁸you shall not forget, nor shall you fear other gods.

39 "But the LORD your God you shall fear; and He will deliver you from the hand of all your enemies."

40 However, they did not listen, but they did according to their earlier custom.

41 ⁹So while these nations feared the LORD, they also served their idols; their children likewise and their grandchildren, as their fathers did, so they do to this day.

2 Kings 17:35-41 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 2 KINGS 17

This chapter relates the captivity of the ten tribes of Israel, and how it came about, 2Ki 17:1-6, the cause of it, their idolatry, which they persisted in, notwithstanding the remonstrances made against it, 2Ki 17:7-23, in whose stead were placed people from different parts, who exercised a mixed religion, partly Heathenish, and partly Israelitish, 2Ki 17:24.

Cross References

• 1. Judges 6:10
• 2. Exodus 20:5
• 3. Deuteronomy 5:9
• 4. Exodus 14:15-30
• 5. Exodus 6:6; Exodus 9:15
• 6. Leviticus 19:32; Deuteronomy 6:13
• 7. Deuteronomy 5:32
• 8. Deuteronomy 4:23; Deuteronomy 6:12
• 9. Zephaniah 1:5; Matthew 6:24

Footnotes

• [a] Or "graven images"