And so it was at the beginning of their dwelling there, that they feared not the LORD: therefore the LORD sent lions among them, which slew some of them.
Read it in contextSamaria Resettled
Start reading at 2 Kings 17:24 (2 Kings 17:24 to 2 Kings 17:41).
An editorial reading unit, not a claim that the surrounding context stops here. Book background below applies to the shared passage; individual verses may need more specific explanation.
This unit closes the chapter’s selected reading divisions. The accounts of the kings culminate in Assyria's conquest of Israel and an extended explanation of the disaster.
17:24And the king of Assyria brought men from Babylon, and from Cuthah, and from Ava, and from Hamath, and from Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel: and they possessed Samaria, and dwelt in the cities thereof.
17:25And so it was at the beginning of their dwelling there, that they feared not the LORD: therefore the LORD sent lions among them, which slew some of them.
17:26Wherefore they spake to the king of Assyria, saying, The nations which thou hast removed, and placed in the cities of Samaria, know not the manner of the God of the land: therefore he hath sent lions among them, and, behold, they slay them, because they know not the manner of the God of the land.
17:27Then the king of Assyria commanded, saying, Carry thither one of the priests whom ye brought from thence; and let them go and dwell there, and let him teach them the manner of the God of the land.
17:28Then one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and dwelt in Bethel, and taught them how they should fear the LORD.
17:29Howbeit 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.
17:30And the men of Babylon made Succothbenoth, and the men of Cuth made Nergal, and the men of Hamath made Ashima,
17:31And the Avites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burnt their children in fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim.
17:32So they feared the LORD, and made unto themselves of the lowest of them priests of the high places, which sacrificed for them in the houses of the high places.
17:33They feared the LORD, and served their own gods, after the manner of the nations whom they carried away from thence.
17:34Unto this day they do after the former manners: they fear not the LORD, neither do they after their statutes, or after their ordinances, or after the law and commandment which the LORD commanded the children of Jacob, whom he named Israel;
17:35With 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:
17:36But 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.
17:37And 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.
17:38And the covenant that I have made with you ye shall not forget; neither shall ye fear other gods.
17:39But the LORD your God ye shall fear; and he shall deliver you out of the hand of all your enemies.
17:40Howbeit they did not hearken, but they did after their former manner.
17:41So these nations feared the LORD, and served their graven images, both their children, and their children's children: as did their fathers, so do they unto this day.
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Who
Who wrote the book? Jeremiah is the traditional Jewish attribution to Kings. The completed work incorporates records of Israel and Judah and events during exile; its final compiler is uncertain. Biblical references: 2 Kings 15:11; 2 Kings 25:27. Historical source: Babylonian Talmud, Bava Batra 14b–15a (record of Jewish attribution, not contemporary proof). traditionally held
Who was present or being addressed in this passage? In the surrounding chapter context (2 Kings 17:1–17:41): The northern kingdom of Israel, its kings and people, and Assyrian rulers are involved in the fall of Samaria. The account also describes the populations settled in its place. stated in the text
Who was the book written to? The Israelite and Judean community in and after the exile, reflecting on why both kingdoms fell and what remained of the Davidic line. Biblical references: 2 Kings 17:7; 2 Kings 23:27; 2 Kings 25:27. book background
What
What is the topic of this reading unit? Samaria Resettled. Read 2 Kings 17:24 through 2 Kings 17:41 as a connected unit. interpretation
How does it contribute to the book? This unit closes the chapter’s selected reading divisions. The accounts of the kings culminate in Assyria's conquest of Israel and an extended explanation of the disaster. interpretation
When
When are the events or message set? The book continues the divided-kingdom histories through Assyria's conquest of Israel and Babylon's conquest of Judah, ending with a notice concerning Jehoiachin. book background
Where
What is the book’s geographic setting? The narrative ranges through Israel and Judah, including Samaria and Jerusalem, and ends with exile in Babylon. book background
Where does the context start?
This passage sits in Samaria Resettled (2 Kings 17:24 to 2 Kings 17:41).
Start reading at 2 Kings 17:24. An editorial reading unit, not a claim that the surrounding context stops here. Book background below applies to the shared passage; individual verses may need more specific explanation.
How
How does this book connect with Jesus Christ? Jesus cites the cleansing of Naaman in His discourse at Nazareth. This supplies a specific connection to the book's prophetic narratives and challenges assumptions about privilege. See 2 Kings 5:14, Luke 4:27. interpretation
How should this book guide our response? Hear warnings before repeated refusal hardens into habit. Reform, repentance, and faithfulness should be assessed from the narrated response to God's word, not merely a ruler's reputation. interpretation
Cross references from CrossReferences-org (CC BY 4.0).
Macro-Structure
See how this passage fits the chapter and the book.
Macro-Structure of 2 Kings 17
Prefilled outline, not yet reviewed.
Second Kings continues the histories of Israel and Judah through conquest and exile. Its account connects the kingdoms' destruction with persistent covenant unfaithfulness, while ending with a limited sign of favor toward Jehoiachin. Local headings and stanza divisions are editorial reading aids adapted from public-domain BSB headings; verse boundaries and Scripture links use the KJV. Connections describe the surrounding book movement.
Connection to the wholeThis opening unit introduces the chapter’s movement. The accounts of the kings culminate in Assyria's conquest of Israel and an extended explanation of the disaster.
Connection to the wholeThis unit closes the chapter’s selected reading divisions. The accounts of the kings culminate in Assyria's conquest of Israel and an extended explanation of the disaster.
interpretation
Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.
Macro-Structure of 2 Kings
Prefilled outline, not yet reviewed.
Second Kings continues the histories of Israel and Judah through conquest and exile. Its account connects the kingdoms' destruction with persistent covenant unfaithfulness, while ending with a limited sign of favor toward Jehoiachin.
Connection to the wholeBabylon's conquest ends the kingdom's rule in Jerusalem; the closing notice concerning Jehoiachin leaves the reader beyond the destruction itself.
interpretation
Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.