2 Kings 17: The fall of Samaria, and the peoples settled in its cities
A free study, verse by verse. Text: World English Bible. Notes come from the Hebrew. How to read a study
What happens?
Hoshea reigns nine years over Israel in Samaria. When he sends messengers to So king of Egypt and stops paying tribute, the king of Assyria puts him in prison, besieges Samaria for three years, takes it in Hoshea's ninth year, and carries Israel away to Assyria. The narrator then gives the reasons: Israel sinned against Yahweh, served other gods and idols, and would not listen when Yahweh warned them through his prophets, so Yahweh removed them from his sight. The king of Assyria settles people from Babylon and other lands in the cities of Samaria; when lions kill some of them, one of the priests carried away from Samaria is sent back to teach them how to fear Yahweh, but each nation also goes on serving its own gods.
Who is speaking?
The narrator tells the whole chapter, and in verses 7 to 23 the narrator stops to give the reasons Israel was carried away. God's own words are in 7 of the 41 verses. In verse 12 the narrator gives what Yahweh had said to Israel, "You shall not do this thing." In verse 13 the narrator says Yahweh warned Israel and Judah through every prophet and every seer, and gives Yahweh's words: "Turn from your evil ways." In verses 35 to 39 the narrator gives the words of the covenant Yahweh made with the children of Jacob. People speak to the king of Assyria in verse 26, and the king gives his order in verse 27. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah, Hoshea the son of Elah began to reign in Samaria over Israel for nine years.
In plain English: In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah, Hoshea the son of Elah became king over Israel in Samaria, and he reigned nine years.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
2He did that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight, yet not as the kings of Israel who were before him.
In plain English: He did what was evil in Yahweh's eyes, but not like the kings of Israel who were before him.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
3Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against him; and Hoshea became his servant, and brought him tribute.
In plain English: Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against him. Hoshea became his servant (or: subject) and paid him tribute (literally: brought tribute back to him).
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
4The king of Assyria discovered a conspiracy in Hoshea; for he had sent messengers to So king of Egypt, and offered no tribute to the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year. Therefore the king of Assyria seized him, and bound him in prison.
In plain English: But the king of Assyria found a plot (this Bible: a conspiracy) in Hoshea: he had sent messengers to So king of Egypt, and he had not brought tribute to the king of Assyria as he had done year by year. So the king of Assyria seized him and bound him in prison.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
5Then the king of Assyria came up throughout all the land, went up to Samaria, and besieged it three years.
In plain English: Then the king of Assyria came up through all the land. He went up to Samaria and besieged it for three years.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
6In the ninth year of Hoshea the king of Assyria took Samaria and carried Israel away to Assyria, and placed them in Halah, and on the Habor, the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.
In plain English: In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria took Samaria and carried Israel away to Assyria. He settled them in Halah, on the Habor, the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
7It was so because the children of Israel had sinned against Yahweh their God, who brought them up out of the land of Egypt from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and had feared other gods,
In plain English: This happened because the children of Israel had sinned against Yahweh their God, who brought them up out of the land of Egypt, from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. They had feared other gods,
Good to know: From here to verse 23 the narrator stops the story to give, in the narrator's own words, the reasons Samaria fell and Israel was carried away.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
8and walked in the statutes of the nations whom Yahweh cast out from before the children of Israel, and of the kings of Israel, which they made.
In plain English: and walked in the customs (this Bible: statutes) of the nations whom Yahweh drove out before the children of Israel, and in those of the kings of Israel, which they had made.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
9The children of Israel secretly did things that were not right against Yahweh their God; and they built high places for themselves in all their cities, from the tower of the watchmen to the fortified city;
In plain English: The children of Israel secretly did (or: covered over; see the note) things that were not right against Yahweh their God. They built high places for themselves in all their towns, from the watchmen's tower to the fortified city.
The Hebrew word: "Secretly did" is chapha, which the dictionary gives as "properly, to cover, i.e. (in a sinister sense) to act covertly". This is the only verse in the Bible that uses it. "Things" is davar, which the dictionary gives as "a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing".
What changes: Read as this Bible has it, Israel did things in secret that were not right against Yahweh. Read as "cover", it can say they covered over, or hid, words (or: things) that were not right against Yahweh. Either way, the verse says what they did was not right.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
10and they set up for themselves pillars and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every green tree;
In plain English: They set up for themselves sacred pillars and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every green (or: leafy) tree.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
11and there they burned incense in all the high places, as the nations whom Yahweh carried away before them did; and they did wicked things to provoke Yahweh to anger;
In plain English: There they burned incense (literally: made smoke) on all the high places, as the nations did whom Yahweh carried away before them. They did evil things to provoke Yahweh to anger.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
12and they served idols, of which Yahweh had said to them, “You shall not do this thing.”God speaks
In plain English: They served idols, though Yahweh had said to them, "You must not do this thing."
Good to know: Here the narrator gives what Yahweh had said to Israel, so these words are in gold.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
13Yet Yahweh testified to Israel and to Judah, by every prophet and every seer, saying, “Turn from your evil ways, and keep my commandments and my statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by my servants the prophets.”God speaks
In plain English: Yet Yahweh warned (this Bible: testified to) Israel and Judah through (literally: by the hand of) every prophet and every seer, saying, "Turn back from your evil ways, and keep my commandments and my statutes, by all the law that I commanded your fathers (or: ancestors), and that I sent to you through my servants the prophets."
The Hebrew words: "Testified" is ud, which the dictionary gives as "to duplicate or repeat; by implication, to protest, testify (as by reiteration)". "Seer" is chozeh, which the dictionary gives as "a beholder in vision".
Good to know: The narrator says Yahweh spoke through every prophet and every seer, and gives his words: "keep my commandments ... which I sent to you by my servants the prophets". The text gives these as Yahweh's own words, so they are in gold. The text does not name the prophets here.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
14Notwithstanding, they would not listen, but hardened their neck like the neck of their fathers who didn’t believe in Yahweh their God.
In plain English: But they would not listen. They made their necks stiff (this Bible: hardened their neck), like the neck of their fathers, who did not trust (or: believe) in Yahweh their God.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
15They rejected his statutes and his covenant that he made with their fathers, and his testimonies which he testified to them; and they followed vanity, and became vain, and followed the nations that were around them, concerning whom Yahweh had commanded them that they should not do like them.
In plain English: They rejected his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their fathers, and the warnings (this Bible: testimonies) he gave them. They went after empty things (this Bible: vanity) and became empty (this Bible: vain) themselves, and they went after the nations around them, though Yahweh had commanded them not to do as those nations did.
The Hebrew words: "Vanity" is hevel, the word explained in the note on . "Became vain" is haval, which the dictionary gives as "to be vain in act, word, or expectation". The two words sound alike: they went after emptiness and became empty.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
16They abandoned all the commandments of Yahweh their God, and made molten images for themselves, even two calves, and made an Asherah, and worshiped all the army of the sky, and served Baal.
In plain English: They left all the commandments of Yahweh their God and made for themselves cast metal images (this Bible: molten images), two calves. They made an Asherah, bowed down to all the army (or: host) of the sky, and served Baal.
Good to know: and tell of the two calves of gold that King Jeroboam made and set in Bethel and Dan. This verse says only "two calves". On the Asherah, see the note on , and on Baal, the note on . speaks of "the sun and the moon and the stars, even all the army of the sky" and warns Israel not to worship them.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
17They caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire, used divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to do that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight, to provoke him to anger.
In plain English: They made their sons and their daughters pass through the fire. They practiced divination and enchantments (or: read omens), and they sold themselves to do what was evil in Yahweh's eyes, to provoke him to anger.
Good to know: On making children "pass through the fire", see the notes on and , which forbids it in the same list as divination and enchantments. "Divination" is qesem, the word in the note on . "Enchantments" is from nachash, which the dictionary gives as "properly, to hiss, i.e. whisper a (magic) spell; generally, to prognosticate" (to foretell). says King Ahaz of Judah "even made his son to pass through the fire".
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
18Therefore Yahweh was very angry with Israel, and removed them out of his sight. There was none left but the tribe of Judah only.
In plain English: So Yahweh was very angry with Israel and removed them from his sight (literally: from before his face). No one was left but the tribe of Judah alone.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
19Also Judah didn’t keep the commandments of Yahweh their God, but walked in the statutes of Israel which they made.
In plain English: Judah too did not keep the commandments of Yahweh their God, but walked in the customs (this Bible: statutes) of Israel, which they had made.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
20Yahweh rejected all the offspring of Israel, afflicted them, and delivered them into the hands of raiders, until he had cast them out of his sight.
In plain English: Yahweh rejected all the offspring (literally: seed) of Israel. He afflicted them and gave them into the hands of plunderers (this Bible: raiders), until he had thrown them out of his sight.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
21For he tore Israel from David’s house; and they made Jeroboam the son of Nebat king; and Jeroboam drove Israel from following Yahweh, and made them sin a great sin.
In plain English: For he tore Israel away from David's house (or: When Israel tore away from David's house; see the note), and they made Jeroboam the son of Nebat king. Jeroboam drove Israel away from following Yahweh and made them commit a great sin.
The Hebrew words: "Tore" is qara, which the dictionary gives as "to rend", to tear. The Hebrew words can be read "he tore Israel from David's house" or "Israel tore away from David's house": the verse does not name who tore.
What changes: Read the first way, Yahweh, named in verse 20, tore Israel away from David's house, as he had said through the prophet Ahijah: "I will tear the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon" (). Read the other way, Israel broke away, as says: "Israel rebelled against David's house". Either way, the verse goes on: they made Jeroboam king.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
22The children of Israel walked in all the sins of Jeroboam which he did; they didn’t depart from them
In plain English: The children of Israel walked in all the sins Jeroboam did. They did not turn away from them
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
23until Yahweh removed Israel out of his sight, as he said by all his servants the prophets. So Israel was carried away out of their own land to Assyria to this day.
In plain English: until Yahweh removed Israel from his sight, as he had said through (literally: by the hand of) all his servants the prophets. So Israel was carried away out of their own land to Assyria, to this day.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
24The king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, from Cuthah, from Avva, and from Hamath and Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel; and they possessed Samaria and lived in its cities.
In plain English: The king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath and Sepharvaim, and settled them in the cities of Samaria in place of the children of Israel. They took over Samaria and lived in its cities.
Good to know: The dictionary gives Avva as "Ivvah or Avva, a region of Assyria". This Bible writes it "Avva" here and "Ivvah" in the other 3 verses that use the name (, and ). Hamath, Sepharvaim and Ivvah are named again by the Rabshakeh in .
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
25So it was, at the beginning of their dwelling there, that they didn’t fear Yahweh. Therefore Yahweh sent lions among them, which killed some of them.
In plain English: When they first began to live there, they did not fear Yahweh. So Yahweh sent lions among them, and the lions killed some of them.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
26Therefore they spoke to the king of Assyria, saying, “The nations which you have carried away and placed in the cities of Samaria don’t know the law of the god of the land. Therefore he has sent lions among them; and behold, they kill them, because they don’t know the law of the god of the land.”
In plain English: So people said to the king of Assyria, "The nations you carried away and settled in the cities of Samaria do not know the law (or: the custom) of the god of the land. So he has sent lions among them, and look, they are killing them, because they do not know the law of the god of the land."
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
27Then the king of Assyria commanded, saying, “Carry there one of the priests whom you brought from there; and let him go and dwell there, and let him teach them the law of the god of the land.”
In plain English: Then the king of Assyria gave this order: "Take there one of the priests you carried away from there. Let him (literally: them) go and live there, and let him teach them the law (or: the custom) of the god of the land."
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
28So one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and lived in Bethel, and taught them how they should fear Yahweh.
In plain English: So one of the priests they had carried away from Samaria came and lived in Bethel, and taught them how they should fear Yahweh.
Good to know: Bethel is where Jeroboam set up one of the two gold calves (). The text does not name this priest or say more about him.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
29However 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 in which they lived.
In plain English: But each nation made gods of its own, and put them in the houses (literally: the house) of the high places that the Samaritans had made, each nation in the towns where they lived.
The Hebrew word: "Samaritans" is Shomroni, which the dictionary gives as "inhabitants of Shomeron", the people of Samaria (on the name, see the note on ). This is the only verse of the Old Testament that uses the word. Here it is the people of Samaria who had made the houses of the high places. The New Testament also speaks of Samaritans, as in , in Greek. This verse does not say more about who they were.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
30The men of Babylon made Succoth Benoth, and the men of Cuth made Nergal, and the men of Hamath made Ashima,
In plain English: The men of Babylon made Succoth Benoth, the men of Cuth made Nergal, the men of Hamath made Ashima,
Good to know: The names of the gods are given as the text has them. The dictionary gives Succoth Benoth as "booths of (the) daughters", Nergal as "a Cuthite deity" and Ashima as "a deity of Hamath". The text does not describe them.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
31and the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak; and the Sepharvites burned their children in the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim.
In plain English: and the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak. The Sepharvites burned their children in the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim.
Good to know: The dictionary gives Nibhaz as "a deity of the Avites", Tartak as "a deity of the Avvites", Anammelech as "an Assyrian deity", and Adrammelech as "the name of an Assyrian idol, also of a son of Sennacherib". A son of Sennacherib named Adrammelech is in . The text says plainly that the Sepharvites burned their children in the fire to these gods.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
32So they feared Yahweh, and also made from among themselves priests of the high places for themselves, who sacrificed for them in the houses of the high places.
In plain English: So they feared Yahweh, and they also made priests of the high places for themselves from among themselves (literally: from their ends), who offered sacrifices for them in the houses (literally: the house) of the high places.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
33They feared Yahweh, and also served their own gods, after the ways of the nations from among whom they had been carried away.
In plain English: They feared Yahweh, and they also served their own gods, by the custom of the nations they had been carried away from.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
34To this day they do what they did before. They don’t fear Yahweh, and they do not follow the statutes, or the ordinances, or the law, or the commandment which Yahweh commanded the children of Jacob, whom he named Israel;
In plain English: To this day they do as they did before (literally: by the former customs). They do not fear Yahweh, and they do not keep the statutes (literally: their statutes), the ordinances, the law or the commandment that Yahweh commanded the children of Jacob, whom he named Israel.
Good to know: The text says both things: in verses 32, 33 and 41 they "feared Yahweh" and also served their own gods, and here "they don't fear Yahweh" or keep the law he gave to the children of Jacob. The text does not explain more. On the name Israel, given to Jacob, see the note on .
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
35with whom Yahweh had made a covenant and commanded them, saying, “You shall not fear other gods, nor bow yourselves to them, nor serve them, nor sacrifice to them;God speaks
In plain English: Yahweh had made a covenant with them and commanded them, "You must not fear other gods, or bow down to them, or serve them, or sacrifice to them.
Good to know: Here the narrator gives the words of Yahweh's covenant, so verses 35 to 39 are in gold. The words speak of Yahweh as "he" in verses 36, 37 and 39, and as "I" in verse 38: the text gives them all as what Yahweh commanded. They are close to the law: "you shall not bow yourself down to them, nor serve them" () and "You shall fear Yahweh your God" ().
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
36but you shall fear Yahweh, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt with great power and with an outstretched arm, and you shall bow yourselves to him, and you shall sacrifice to him.God speaks
In plain English: But you must fear Yahweh, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt with great power and with an outstretched arm. You must bow down to him, and you must sacrifice to him.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
37The statutes and the ordinances, and the law and the commandment which he wrote for you, you shall observe to do forever more. You shall not fear other gods.God speaks
In plain English: The statutes, the ordinances, the law and the commandment that he wrote for you, you must be careful to do forever (literally: all the days). You must not fear other gods.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
38You shall not forget the covenant that I have made with you. You shall not fear other gods.God speaks
In plain English: You must not forget the covenant I have made with you. You must not fear other gods.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
39But you shall fear Yahweh your God, and he will deliver you out of the hand of all your enemies.”God speaks
In plain English: But you must fear Yahweh your God, and he will rescue (this Bible: deliver) you from the hand of all your enemies."
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
40However they didn’t listen, but they did what they did before.
In plain English: But they did not listen. They did as they had done before (literally: by their former custom).
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
41So these nations feared Yahweh, and also served their engraved images. Their children did likewise, and so did their children’s children. They do as their fathers did to this day.
In plain English: So these nations feared Yahweh and also served their carved images. Their children did the same, and their children's children. They do as their fathers did, to this day.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.