2 Kings 17:1-22 ▼

1 In the twelfth year of the reign of Ahaz (he has grasped) over Judah (praised), Hoshea (salvation) son of Elah (An oak) became king of Israel (he wrestles with God), and he reigned in Samaria (watch mountain) nine years.

2 And he did evil in the sight of the LORD {YHWH}, but not like the kings of Israel (he wrestles with God) who preceded him.

3 Shalmaneser (fire-worshipper) king of Assyria (a step) attacked him, and Hoshea (salvation) became his vassal and paid him tribute.

4 But the king of Assyria (a step) discovered that Hoshea (salvation) had conspired to send envoys to King So (Osorkon) of Egypt (land of bondage), and that he had not paid tribute to the king of Assyria as in previous years. Therefore the king of Assyria arrested Hoshea and put him in prison.

5 Then the king of Assyria (a step) invaded the whole land, marched up to Samaria (watch mountain), and besieged it for three years.

6 In the ninth year of Hoshea (salvation), the king of Assyria (a step) captured Samaria (watch mountain) and carried away the Israelites (God prevails) to Assyria, where he settled them in Halah (painful), in Gozan (a cutting off) by the Habor (joining) River, and in the cities of the Medes (middle land).

7 All this happened because the people of Israel (he wrestles with God) had sinned against the LORD their God {YHWH Elohehem}, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt (land of bondage) from under the hand of Pharaoh (great house) king of Egypt. They had worshiped other gods

8 and walked in the customs of the nations that the LORD {YHWH} had driven out before the Israelites (God prevails), as well as in the practices introduced by the kings of Israel.

9 The Israelites (God prevails) secretly did things against the LORD their God {YHWH Elohehem} that were not right. From watchtower to fortified city, they built high places in all their cities.

10 They set up for themselves sacred pillars and Asherah poles (goddess) on every high hill and under every green tree.

11 They burned incense on all the high places like the nations that the LORD {YHWH} had driven out before them. They did wicked things, provoking the LORD to anger.

12 They served idols, although the LORD {YHWH} had told them, “You⁺ shall not do this thing .”

13 Yet through all His prophets and seers, the LORD {YHWH} warned Israel (he wrestles with God) and Judah (praised), saying, “Turn from your⁺ wicked ways and keep My commandments and statutes, according to the entire Law that I commanded your⁺ fathers and delivered to you⁺ through My servants the prophets.”

14 But they would not listen, and they stiffened their necks like their fathers, who did not believe the LORD their God {YHWH Elohehem}.

15 They rejected His statutes and the covenant He had made with their fathers, as well as the decrees He had given them. They pursued worthless idols and became worthless themselves, going after the surrounding nations that the LORD {YHWH} had commanded them not to imitate.

16 They abandoned all the commandments of the LORD their God {YHWH Elohehem} and made for themselves two cast idols of calves and an Asherah pole (goddess). They bowed down to all the host of heaven and served Baal (lord).

17 They sacrificed their sons and daughters in the fire \made their sons and their daughters pass through the fire/ and practiced divination and soothsaying. They devoted themselves to doing evil in the sight of the LORD {YHWH}, provoking Him to anger.

18 So the LORD {YHWH} was very angry with Israel (he wrestles with God), and He removed them from His presence. Only the tribe of Judah (praised) remained,

19 and even Judah (praised) did not keep the commandments of the LORD their God {YHWH Elohehem}, but lived according to the customs Israel (he wrestles with God) had introduced.

20 So the LORD {YHWH} rejected all the descendants of Israel (he wrestles with God). He afflicted them and delivered them into the hands of plunderers, until He had banished them from His presence.

21 When the LORD had torn Israel (he wrestles with God) away from the house of David (beloved), they made Jeroboam (the people will contend) son of Nebat (aspect) king, and Jeroboam led Israel away from following the LORD {YHWH} and caused them to commit a great sin.

22 The Israelites (God prevails) persisted in all the sins that Jeroboam (the people will contend) had committed and did not turn away from them.