2 Kings 17:7-13

Why Israel Fell

7 Now ¹this came about because the sons of Israel had sinned against the LORD their God, ²who had brought them up from the land of Egypt from under the hand of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, ³and they had feared other gods

8 and ⁴walked in the customs of the nations whom the LORD had driven out before * the sons of Israel, and in the customs ⁵of the kings of Israel which they had introduced.

9 The sons of Israel did things secretly which were not right against the LORD their God. Moreover, they built for themselves high places in all their towns, from ⁶watchtower to fortified city.

10 ⁷They set for themselves sacred pillars and ⁸Asherim on every high hill and under every green tree,

11 and there they burned incense on all the high places as the nations did which the LORD had carried away to exile before * them; and they did evil things provoking the LORD.

12 They served idols, ⁹concerning which the LORD had said to them, "You shall not do this thing."

13 Yet the ¹⁰LORD warned Israel and Judah ¹¹through all His prophets and ¹²every seer, saying, "¹³Turn from your evil ways and keep My commandments, My statutes according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you through My servants the prophets."

2 Kings 17:7-13 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. Joshua 23:16
• 2. Exodus 14:15-30
• 3. Judges 6:10
• 4. Leviticus 18:3; Deuteronomy 18:9
• 5. 2 Kings 16:3; 2 Kings 17:19
• 6. 2 Kings 18:8
• 7. Exodus 34:12-14
• 8. 1 Kings 14:23; Micah 5:14
• 9. Exodus 20:4
• 10. Nehemiah 9:29, 30
• 11. 2 Kings 17:23
• 12. 1 Samuel 9:9
• 13. Jeremiah 7:3-7; Jeremiah 18:11; Ezekiel 18:31

Footnotes

• [a] Lit "revered," and so throughout the ch
• [b] Lit "statutes"
• [c] Lit "made"
• [d] Or "uttered words which"
• [e] I.e. wooden symbols of a female deity