2 Kings 17

2 Kings 17:1

IN the twelfth yeer] Eight yeers before this did Hoshea slay Pekah, and reigned in his steed, chap. 15. 30. but as a tributary to the king of Assyria, vers. 3. Now in the twelfth yeer of Ahaz, Hoshea rebelled against the king of Assyria, and took upon him an absolute government: and in that respect is said then to reign.

2 Kings 17:2

not as] It is probable that he gave not himself over to so many severall sorts of idolatry, as other kings had done. See chap. 3. 2. nor that he invented any new idolatry.

2 Kings 17:3

Shalmaneser] This may be the Tiglath-PilesEr (chap. 15. 29.) For he continued a long while in Ahaz time, 2 Chro. 28. 20. Or, he may be another.

became his servant] Yeelded subjection to him.

gave] Heb. rendred.

presents] Or, tribute. Yeerly tribute, v. 4.

2 Kings 17:4

found conspiracy] Breach of covenant, as chap. 24. 20. Ezek. 17. 13, 14, 15.

he had sent, &c.] To desire ayd against the king of Assyria.

no present] Hereby he manifested his breach of covenant.

shut him up] After he had besieged him three yeers, and taken him in the last yeer of his reign.

prison] Heb. an house o shutting up.

2 Kings 17:5

throughout all the land] Having conquered it.

2 Kings 17:6

In the ninth yeer of Hshea] Chap. 18. 10.

Halah, Habor] Cities in Assyria: whereunto Haza is added, 1 Chronicles 5:26.

river of Gozan] Or, Nehar-Gozan: so as both words joyned together, make the name of one city.

cities of the Medes] Others then those before mentioned to be in Assyria: For Media was then under the king of Assyria.

2 Kings 17:7

For when] In this and the verses following, is shewed how long Israel had continued to provoke the LORD, and how much, before he executed the foresaid judgement on them.

2 Kings 17:8

statutes of the heathen] Their inventions, customes, orders, and ordinances. God long before this threatned, that their land should spue them out for such abominations, Levit. 18. 26, 28.

which they had made] Of their own inventions against the law of God.

2 Kings 17:9

secretly] Heb. they hid: They covertly, and deceitfully, did that which was not right, upon pretence of serving God, yea, and beside their open idolatry, they did many secret abominations, Ezekiel 8:12.

from the tower, &c.] Watch towers used to be up and down in the countrey, to descry danger afarre off: great and populous cities were wont to be fenced. This then is a proverbiall speech, whereby the extent of their idolatry is set out, to be every where in countrey and city, in meaner and greater places.

2 Kings 17:10

images] Heb. statues.

groves] See the notes on 1 Kings 3:4. and on 16. 33.

2 Kings 17:11

incense] There was a peculiar altar (Exod. 30. 1, &c.) appointed for incense in Gods house: so as it was not lawfull to burn it in high places.

2 Kings 17:12

idols] According to the notation of the Hebrew word some translate them, dungy gods: so stiled in contempt, Ezekiel 20:39.

Ye shall not do this thing] Deuteronomy 4:19.

2 Kings 17:13

by all the] Heb. by the hand of all.

seers] Seers were properly such as by visions had Gods minde made known to them. See 1 Samuel 9:9.

Turn ye from your evil wayes, &c.] Jerem. 18. 11. and 25. 5. and 35. 15.

2 Kings 17:14

hardened their necks] Deuteronomy 31:27. This metaphor importeth a stubborn disposition, which will not bow, nor submit to Gods will, 2 Chron. 29. 6. 36. 13. Proverbs 29:1. Isaiah 48:4. Jere. 7. 26. It is a metaphor taken from beasts which will not bear the yoke.

2 Kings 17:15

statutes, &c.] See the notes on 1 Kings 2:3.

vanity] Idolatry. See the notes on 1 Kings 16:13.

vain] Foolish, without understanding, Romans 1:21. Psalms 115:8.

not do like them] Deuteronomy 12:31-32. Joshua 23:7.

2 Kings 17:16

made them molten images] Exodus 32:8. 1 Kings 12:28.

host of heaven] The stars, which as an host are many, set in good order, keep their rank, are ready to do what their LORD will, Judges 5:20. see Deuteronomy 4:19. Jeremiah 8:2.

served Baal] See the notes on 1 Kings 16:31.

2 Kings 17:17

to passe, &c.] See the notes on chap. 16. 3.

used divination] Heb. divined divinations. Intercourse with the divell. See the notes on Deuteronomy 18:10. Jeremiah 14:14. Ezekiel 21:21.

enchantments] Heb. they enchanted. To enchant, or use enchantment, is by words or signs to make pretence of doing some rare thing. Of charming serpents. See Psalms 58:5. Ecclesiastes 10:11. Jeremiah 8:17. The Hebrew word doth also signifie, to discern, or, know what is done in secret, to divine, Genesis 44:5; Genesis 44:15.

sold themselves] See the notes on 1 Kings 16:33. and 1 Kings 3:20.

2 Kings 17:18

out of his sight] Out of that land whereupon the eyes of the LORD were continually after an especiall manner, Deuteronomy 11:12. where the evidences of his gracious presence were: where his church was.

Judah] See the notes on 1 Kings 11:13.

2 Kings 17:19

Also Judah] This is added as another cause of Israels ruine, that they were an ill example to Judah, and infected that nation, and as an aggravation of Judahs sins that would not be warned by Israels fall, Jere. 3. 8.

which they made] Vers. 8.

2 Kings 17:20

all the seed of Israel] All the ten tribes: or, it may be extended to the twelve tribes.

spoilers] Kings of Syria (chap. 13. v. 3, 7.) and kings of Assyria, chapter 15. 19, 29. chapter 18. 9. and afterwards Judah was destroyed by the Caldeans, chapter 25.

out of his sight] Vers. 18.

2 Kings 17:21

he rent Israel] The LORD (1 King. 11. 11, 31. and 12. 24.) or, Israel rent it self, 1 Kings 12:16.

from the house of David] 1 King. 12. 16, 20, 28.

drave Israel] By not suffering them to go to the house of the LORD, 1 Kings 12:28.

a great sin] Which was to worship calves. See the notes on chap. 12. v. 30.

2 Kings 17:22

walked] From the time of Jeroboam, till the captivity. There were twenty kings, and ten severall stocks (see the Argument on both Books of Kings) yet all agreed in the sin of Jeroboam. See the reason, 1 Kings 12:26.

2 Kings 17:23

all] All that he had stirred up in those dayes to foretell this judgement, as 1 Kings 13:32. and 1 Kings 3:16. 2 Kings 8:12. Hos. 1. 4, 6, 9. Amos 5:27. Mic. 1. 6.

unto this day] See the notes on chap. 9. 13.

2 Kings 17:24

the king of Assyria] Shalmaneser first, vers. 3. afterwards Esar-Haddon (Ezra 4:2.) who was Sennacheribs son.

Babylon] Heb. Babel. The chiefest city in Assyria.

Cuthah] No mention is elsewhere made of this city. It is supposed to be in the consines of Syria.

Ava] Or, Iva. This, and Hamath and Sepharvaim were cities which the king of Assyria had conquered, chap. 18. 34.

cities of Samaria] Appertaining to the kingdom of Israel, which was called Samaria, from the chiefest city in that kingdom. See the notes on 1 Kings 16:24.

in stead, &c.] Having removed the Israelites to other cities (v. 6.) he placed strangers in the cities of Israel, that in all places they might hold what they had, not as inheritours of their own, but as his vassals. Joseph used the like policy, Genesis 47:21.

2 Kings 17:25

they feared not] Nor inwardly did they know, or beleeve in Jehovah the true God: nor outwardly did they yeeld any worship or service to him.

2 Kings 17:26

they spake] By letters, or messengers, they made known to him.

the manner of the God] His minde, how he will be worshipped.

2 Kings 17:27

one of the priests] Who may be a chief instructer, and directer about the worship of the LORD.

let them] Him and his company: wherein other priests may be included.

2 Kings 17:28

how they should] In generall what kinde of sacraments, sacrifices, feasts, meats, and other like rtes were formerly used in that countrey.

2 Kings 17:29

every nation] Heb. nation, nation.

gods of their own] Idols of their own native countrey, stiled gods, in relation to their esteem of them.

Samaritanes] The Israelites which before dwelt in the cities of Samaria.

2 Kings 17:30

Succoth-benoth] This, and the other titles following, were proper names which the heathen gave to their severall idols.

Cuth] The same that was called Cuthah, v. 24.

2 Kings 17:31

burnt their children] See the notes on chap. 16. v. 3.

Adrammelech and Anammelech] The same that Molech: whereof see the notes on 1 Kings 11:5. Adrammelech, according to the Hebrew notation signifieth a glorious king. Anammelech, an afflicting king: both which may not unfitly be applied to Saturn, the idol to whom they burnt their children. In their esteem he was glorious, which brought upon them that affliction of sacrificing their children to him. The former name was also given to one of the sons of Sennacherib, chap. 19. 37.

2 Kings 17:32

of the lowest] As Jeroboam had done before, 1 Kings 12:31.

2 Kings 17:33

They feared the Lord] Zeph. 1. 5.

whom they carried away from thence] Or, who carried them away from thence. Idolatrous Israelites: or as those heathenish nations whom the Assyrians brought thither, did in their severall countries.

2 Kings 17:34

they do, &c] The Israelites which were carried captive into Assyria. From this verse to the last, the obstinate disposition of the Israelites in their captivity is set down.

former manners] Before they were carried away captives.

they fear not] They testifie no respect to God, nor inwardly, nor outwardly.

their statutes] Which the LORD ordained as proper to them.

whom he named] By this he puts them in minde of the great mercy which God shewed to their ancestor, from whom they sprouted, when he first gave him that name Israel (Genesis 32:28.) and of the gracious promises made to him and his posterity, when that name was again confirmed to him. Genesis 35:10, &c. This is here mentioned as an aggravation of their obstinacy. See the like 1 Kings 18:31.

2 Kings 17:35

a covenant] To be their God (Genesis 17:7.) and to cast out nations before them.

Ye shall not fear other gods] Judges 6:10.

nor bowe your selves to them] Exodus 23:24.

nor sacrifice to them] Exodus 34:15.

2 Kings 17:36

with great power] Deuteronomy 5:15.

stretched-out arm] So extraordinary was the power manifested in rescuing Israel out of Egypt, as God by way of resemblance to man, is said to stretch out his arm: that is, to extend his strength: or it was such as it plainly appeared to be the arm of the LORD, or a divine power. See Exodus 6:6. Deuteronomy 5:15. Jeremiah 32:21. Ezekiel 20:33-34.

him shall ye fear] Deuteronomy 6:13.

to him shall ye do sacrifice] Exodus 8:27.

2 Kings 17:37

the statutes] Deuteronomy 6:1. See the notes on 1 Kings 3:3.

2 Kings 17:40

former manner] Expressed before, v. 8, 9, &c.

2 Kings 17:41

these nations] Which the king of Assyria placed in the cities of Samaria; of whom see v. 29, &c. Of these came the Samaritans, with whom the Jews would have nothing to do, John 4:9.

feared the Lord] Acknowledged Jehovah to be a God, and did some services to him. This is here noted, in opposition to the obstinacy of the Israelites. For those heathen in Samaria, were somewhat moved with Gods judgement, v. 25. But the Israelites nothing at all, though the judgement on them, being cast out of their land, was more sevete.

and served] This shews that their fear of the LORD was unsound and servile. See Zephaniah 1:5.