2 Kings 17:29-39

29 However every nation made gods of their own and put them in the houses of the high places which the Samaritans had made, every nation in their cities wherein they dwelt.

30 And the men of Babylon made Succothbenoth, and the men of Cuth made Nergal, and the men of Hamath made Ashima,

31 and the Avites made Nibhaz and Tartak; and the Sepharvites burned their children in fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim.

32 So they feared the LORD, and made unto themselves from the lowest of them priests of the high places, who sacrificed for them in the houses of the high places.

33 They feared the LORD, but served their own gods, after the manner of the nations who carried them away from thence.

34 Unto this day they do according to the former manner. They fear not the LORD, neither do they according to their statutes or according to their ordinances or the law and commandment which the LORD commanded the children of Jacob, whom He named Israel,

35 with whom the LORD had made a covenant and charged them, saying, "Ye shall not fear other gods, nor bow yourselves to them, nor serve them, nor sacrifice to them;

36 but the LORD, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt with great power and a stretched out arm, Him shall ye fear and Him shall ye worship, and to Him shall ye do sacrifice.

37 And the statutes and the ordinances and the law and the commandment which He wrote for you, ye shall observe to do for evermore; and ye shall not fear other gods.

38 And the covenant that I have made with you ye shall not forget, neither shall ye fear other gods.

39 But the LORD your God ye shall fear, and He shall deliver you out of the hand of all your enemies."

2 Kings 17:29-39 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.