2 Kings 17

Hoshea the Last King of Israel

1In the twelfthH8147H6240 yearH8141 of the reignH4428 of AhazH271 over JudahH3063, HosheaH1954 sonH1121 of ElahH425 became kingH4427 ofH5921 IsraelH3478, and he reigned in SamariaH8111 nineH8672 yearsH8141. 2And he didH6213 evilH7451 in the sightH5869 of the LORDH3068, butH7535 notH3808 like the kingsH4428 of IsraelH3478 whoH834 precededH1961 himH6440.

3ShalmaneserH8022 kingH4428 of AssyriaH804 attackedH5921 himH5927, and HosheaH1954 becameH1961 his vassalH5650 and paidH7725 him tributeH4503. 4But the kingH4428 of AssyriaH804 discoveredH4672 that HosheaH1954 had conspiredH7195 to sendH7971 envoysH4397 toH413 KingH4428 SoH54711 of EgyptH4714, and that he had notH3808 paidH5927 tributeH4503 to the kingH4428 of AssyriaH804 as in previous yearsH8141. Therefore the kingH4428 of AssyriaH804 arrestedH6113 Hoshea and put himH631H1004 in prisonH3608.

Israel Carried Captive to Assyria

5Then the kingH4428 of AssyriaH804 invadedH5927 the wholeH3605 landH776, marched upH5927 to SamariaH8111, and besiegedH6696 itH5921 for threeH7969 yearsH8141.

6In the ninthH8671 yearH8141 of HosheaH1954, the kingH4428 of AssyriaH804 capturedH3920 SamariaH8111 and carried awayH1540 the IsraelitesH3478 to AssyriaH804, where he settledH3427 themH853 in HalahH2477, in GozanH1470 by the HaborH2249 RiverH5104, and in the citiesH5892 of the MedesH4074.

7All this happenedH1961 becauseH3588 the peopleH1121 of IsraelH3478 had sinnedH2398 against the LORDH3068 their GodH430, who had broughtH5927 themH853 out of the landH776 of EgyptH4714 from underH8478 the handH3027 of PharaohH6547 kingH4428 of EgyptH4714. They had worshipedH3372 otherH312 godsH430 8and walkedH1980 in the customsH2708 of the nationsH1471 thatH834 the LORDH3068 had driven outH3423 beforeH6440 the IsraelitesH1121H3478, as well as in the practicesH834 introducedH6213 by the kingsH4428 of IsraelH3478.

9The IsraelitesH1121H3478H1697 secretly didH2644 things againstH5921 the LORDH3068 their GodH430 thatH834 were notH3808 rightH3651. From watchtowerH4026H5341 toH5704 fortifiedH4013 cityH5892, they builtH1129 high placesH1116 in allH3605 their citiesH5892. 10They set upH5324 for themselves sacred pillarsH4676 and Asherah polesH842 onH5921 everyH3605 highH1364 hillH1389 and underH8478 everyH3605 greenH7488 treeH6086. 11They burned incenseH6999H8033 on allH3605 the high placesH1116 like the nationsH1471 thatH834 the LORDH3068 had driven outH1540 before themH6440. They didH6213 wickedH7451 thingsH1697, provokingH3707 the LORD to angerH3068. 12They servedH5647 idolsH1544, although the LORDH3068 had toldH559 them, “You shall notH3808 doH6213 thisH2088 thingH1697.”2

13Yet throughH3027 allH3605 His prophetsH5030 and seersH2374, the LORDH3068 warnedH5749 IsraelH3478 and JudahH3063, sayingH559, “TurnH7725 from your wickedH7451 waysH1870 and keepH8104 My commandmentsH4687 and statutesH2708, according to the entireH3605 LawH8451 thatH834 I commandedH6680 your fathersH1 and deliveredH7971 to youH413 throughH3027 My servantsH5650 the prophetsH5030.”

14But they would notH3808 listenH8085, and they stiffenedH7185 their necksH6203 like their fathersH1, whoH834 did notH3808 believeH539 the LORDH3068 their GodH430. 15They rejectedH3988 His statutesH2706 and the covenantH1285 He had madeH3772 withH854 their fathersH1, as well as the decreesH5715 He had givenH5749 them. They pursuedH1980H310 worthless idolsH1892 and became worthless themselvesH1891, going afterH310 the surroundingH5439 nationsH1471 thatH834 the LORDH3068 had commanded themH6680 notH1115 to imitateH6213.

16They abandonedH5800 allH3605 the commandmentsH4687 of the LORDH3068 their GodH430 and madeH6213 for themselves twoH8147 cast idolsH4541 of calvesH5695H6213 and an Asherah poleH842. They bowed down toH7812 allH3605 the hostH6635 of heavenH8064 and servedH5647 BaalH1168. 17They sacrificedH5674 their sonsH1121 and daughtersH1323 in the fireH7843 and practicedH7080 divinationH7081 and soothsayingH5172. They devoted themselvesH4376 to doingH6213 evilH7451 in the sightH5869 of the LORDH3068, provoking Him to angerH3707.

18So the LORDH3068 was veryH3966 angryH599 with IsraelH3478, and He removed themH5493 fromH5921 His presenceH6440H3808. OnlyH7535 the tribeH7626 of JudahH3063H905 remainedH7604, 19and evenH1571 JudahH3063 did notH3808 keepH8104 the commandmentsH4687 of the LORDH3068 their GodH430, but livedH1980 according to the customsH2708 IsraelH3478 had introducedH6213. 20So the LORDH3068 rejectedH3988 allH3605 the descendantsH2233 of IsraelH3478. He afflicted themH6031 and delivered themH5414 into the handsH3027 of plunderersH8154, untilH5704 He had banished themH7993 from His presenceH6440.

21WhenH3588 the LORD had tornH7167 IsraelH3478 away fromH5921 the houseH1004 of DavidH1732, they made JeroboamH3379 sonH1121 of NebatH5028H5077 kingH4427, and JeroboamH3379 led IsraelH3478 away from followingH310 the LORDH3068 and caused them to commitH2398 a greatH1419 sinH2401. 22The IsraelitesH1121H3478 persistedH1980 in allH3605 the sinsH2403 thatH834 JeroboamH3379 had committedH6213 and did notH3808 turn awayH5493 from themH4480. 23FinallyH5704, the LORDH3068 removedH5493 IsraelH3478 fromH5921 His presenceH6440, asH834 He had declaredH1696 throughH3027 allH3605 His servantsH5650 the prophetsH5030. So IsraelH3478 was exiledH1540 fromH5921 their homelandH127 into AssyriaH804, where they are toH5704 thisH2088 dayH3117.

Samaria Resettled

24Then the kingH4428 of AssyriaH804 broughtH935 people from BabylonH894, CuthahH3575, AvvaH5755, HamathH2574, and SepharvaimH5617 and settled themH3427 in the townsH5892 of SamariaH8111 to replaceH8478 the IsraelitesH1121H3478. They took possession ofH3423 SamariaH8111 and livedH3427 in its townsH5892.

25NowH1961 when the settlers firstH8462 livedH3427 thereH8033, they did notH3808 worshipH3372 the LORDH3068, so HeH3068 sentH7971 lionsH738 among them, whichH1961 killedH2026 some of them. 26So they spokeH559 to the kingH4428 of AssyriaH804, sayingH559, “The peoplesH1471 thatH834 you have removedH1540 and placedH3427 in the citiesH5892 of SamariaH8111 do notH3808 knowH3045 the requirementsH4941 of the GodH430 of the landH776. Because of thisH834H369H3045, He has sentH7971 lionsH738 among them, which are indeedH2009 killing them offH4191.”

27Then the kingH4428 of AssyriaH804H559 commandedH6680: “Send backH1980 oneH259 of the priestsH3548 you carried offH1540 fromH8033 Samaria, and have him go backH1980 to liveH3427 thereH8033 and teachH3384 the requirementsH4941 of the GodH430 of the landH776.”

28Thus oneH259 of the priestsH3548 they had carried awayH1540H8111 cameH935 and livedH3427 in BethelH1008H1961, and he began to teachH3384 themH853 howH349 they should worshipH3372 the LORDH3068.

29NeverthelessH1961, the people of each nationH1471 continued to makeH6213 their own godsH430 in the citiesH5892 whereH834 theyH1992 had settledH3427, and they set them upH5117 in the shrinesH1004 thatH834 the peopleH1471 of SamariaH8118 had madeH6213 on the high placesH1116. 30The menH582 of BabylonH894 madeH6213 Succoth-benothH5524, the menH582 of CuthH3575 madeH6213 NergalH5370, the menH582 of HamathH2574 madeH6213 AshimaH807, 31the AvvitesH5761 madeH6213 NibhazH5026 and TartakH8662, and the SepharvitesH5616 burnedH8313 their childrenH1121 in the fireH784 to AdrammelechH152 and AnammelechH6048 the godsH433 of SepharvaimH5617.

32SoH1961 the new residents worshipedH3373 the LORDH3068, but they also appointedH6213 for themselves priestsH3548 of all sortsH7098 to serveH6213 in the shrinesH1004H1116 of the high placesH1116H1961. 33They worshipedH3373 the LORDH3068, but they also servedH5647 their own godsH430H1961 according to the customsH4941 of the nationsH1471 from whichH834 they had been carried awayH1540.

34ToH5704 thisH2088 dayH3117 theyH1992 are still practicingH6213 their formerH7223 customsH4941. NoneH369 of them worshipH3373 the LORDH3068H369 or observeH6213 the statutesH2708, ordinancesH4941, lawsH8451, and commandmentsH4687 thatH834 the LORDH3068 gaveH6680 the descendantsH1121 of JacobH3290, whom He namedH7760H8034 IsraelH3478.

35For the LORDH3068 had madeH3772 a covenantH1285 withH854 the Israelites and commanded themH6680H559, “Do notH3808 worshipH3372 otherH312 godsH430 or bow downH7812 to them; do notH3808 serve themH5647 or sacrificeH2076 to them. 36InsteadH3588H518, worshipH3372 the LORDH3068, whoH834 broughtH5927 youH853 out of the landH776 of EgyptH4714 with greatH1419 powerH3581 and an outstretchedH5186 armH2220. You are to bow downH7812 to Him and offer sacrifices to HimH2076. 37AndH853 you must alwaysH3605 be carefulH8104H3117 to observeH6213 the statutesH2706, ordinancesH4941, lawsH8451, and commandmentsH4687 He wroteH3789 for you. Do notH3808 worshipH3372 otherH312 godsH430. 38Do notH3808 forgetH7911 the covenantH1285 I have madeH3772 with youH854. Do notH3808 worshipH3372 otherH312 godsH430, 39butH3588H518 worshipH3372 the LORDH3068 your GodH430, and HeH1931 will deliverH5337 youH853 from the handsH3027 of allH3605 your enemiesH341.”

40But they would notH3808 listenH8085, andH3588H518 they persisted inH6213 their formerH7223H1992 customsH4941. 41SoH1961 theseH428 nationsH1471 worshipedH3373 the LORDH3068 but also servedH5647H1571 their idolsH6456, andH1961 toH5704 thisH2088 dayH3117 their childrenH1121 and grandchildrenH1121 continue to doH6213 asH834 their fathersH1H1992 didH6213.