Berean Study Bible Hoshea the Last King of IsraelAhaz ruled Judah during a period of deep spiritual compromise and growing Assyrian influence. While Judah faced its own decline under his leadership, Israel was nearing its final years as an independent kingdom. 2Ki 16:1 In the seventeenth year of Pekah son of Remaliah,… Hoshea son of Elah became king of Israel, Hoshea came to power after Pekah was assassinated amid Israel’s political instability. He would become Israel’s last king, ruling under the shadow of Assyrian domination. 2Ki 15:30 Then Hoshea son of Elah led a conspiracy against Pekah… and he reigned in Samaria nine years. From Samaria, Israel’s capital, Hoshea attempted to preserve the kingdom through submission to Assyria and later rebellion. His reign ended with Samaria’s capture and the exile of the northern tribes, bringing God’s judgment on Israel’s persistent idolatry and covenant unfaithfulness. 2Ki 18:10 And at the end of three years, the Assyrians captured it.… And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, Hoshea continued Israel’s pattern of rebellion against God through idolatry and disobedience. Though he ruled during the kingdom’s final years, his conduct remained subject to the Lord’s righteous judgment. 2Ki 14:24 And he did evil in the sight of the LORD… but not like the kings of Israel who preceded him. His wickedness did not equal that of earlier rulers such as Ahab and others who aggressively promoted idolatry and led the nation further from the Lord. Even so, Hoshea did not turn Israel back to covenant faithfulness, and the nation remained under the consequences of its long-standing sin. 2Ki 15:28 And he did evil in the sight of the LORD and did not turn away… Shalmaneser king of Assyria attacked him, Shalmaneser V ruled Assyria from 727 to 722 BC, when Assyria was the dominant military power in the Near East. His campaign against Israel brought the northern kingdom under direct Assyrian pressure and set in motion the events that would end with Samaria’s fall. 2Ki 18:9-10 In the fourth year of Hezekiah’s reign, which was… and Hoshea became his vassal Hoshea, Israel’s last king, submitted to Assyrian authority to preserve his throne and kingdom. As a vassal, he retained limited rule but owed loyalty to Assyria and could not act independently in foreign affairs. 2Ki 16:7 So Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria,… and paid him tribute. Israel was required to provide regular payments of wealth and resources to Assyria. The tribute burden weakened the kingdom and showed that Israel had become dependent on a foreign power rather than remaining politically free. 2Ki 15:19-20 Then Pul king of Assyria invaded the land,… But the king of Assyria discovered that Hoshea had conspired Hoshea had become Assyria’s vassal after the defeat of Israel, but he sought to escape Assyrian control. Shalmaneser V learned of his rebellion, likely through officials and informants who monitored subject kingdoms. 2Ki 15:30 Then Hoshea son of Elah led a conspiracy against Pekah… to send envoys to King So of Egypt, Hoshea appealed to Egypt for support against Assyria. So was probably Osorkon IV, a ruler in the Egyptian Delta whose strength was insufficient to provide the help Israel expected. Ezk 17:15 But this king rebelled against Babylon by sending his envoys… and that he had not paid tribute to the king of Assyria as in previous years. By withholding the required annual tribute, Hoshea openly rejected his obligations to Assyria. His attempt to rely on Egypt rather than submit to the power God had allowed to rule over Israel brought swift consequences. 2Ki 15:19-20 Then Pul king of Assyria invaded the land,… Therefore the king of Assyria arrested Hoshea and put him in prison. Shalmaneser removed Hoshea from power and imprisoned him. Israel was left without its king as Assyria moved against Samaria, leading to the fall of the Northern Kingdom and the exile of its people. 2Ki 24:12 Jehoiachin king of Judah, his mother, his servants…
Israel Carried Captive to AssyriaShalmaneser V led Assyria’s campaign against the Northern Kingdom after Israel’s rebellion and failed appeal to Egypt. The invasion extended throughout Israel, bringing the nation under direct Assyrian military pressure. 2Ki 18:13 In the fourteenth year of Hezekiah’s reign… marched up to Samaria, Samaria, Israel’s capital, stood on a defensible hill and served as the center of royal power. Its capture would bring the Northern Kingdom to an end. 2Ki 18:9 In the fourth year of Hezekiah’s reign, which was… and besieged it for three years. From about 725 to 722 BC, Assyrian forces surrounded the city, cutting off provisions and weakening its defenses. Samaria’s fall fulfilled the judgment announced against Israel for persistent idolatry and covenant rebellion. 2Ki 18:10 And at the end of three years, the Assyrians captured it.… In the ninth year of Hoshea, Hoshea’s reign ended in 722 BC, bringing the Northern Kingdom of Israel to its final collapse. After generations of idolatry, political instability, and resistance to God’s commands, Israel faced the judgment long proclaimed by the prophets. 2Ki 18:10 And at the end of three years, the Assyrians captured it.… the king of Assyria captured Samaria Samaria, Israel’s capital, fell after a prolonged siege begun under Shalmaneser V and completed during the rise of Sargon II. Its capture ended the independent northern kingdom established after Solomon’s death. Isa 8:4 For before the boy knows how to cry ‘Father’ or ‘Mother,’… and carried away the Israelites to Assyria, Assyria deported much of Israel’s population to weaken resistance and secure its control over the land. The exile removed the northern tribes from their homeland and marked the fulfillment of God’s warnings concerning covenant unfaithfulness. 2Ki 15:29 In the days of Pekah king of Israel, Tiglath-pileser came… where he settled them in Halah, in Gozan by the Habor River, and in the cities of the Medes. The Israelites were scattered across regions of the Assyrian Empire in Mesopotamia and Media. By dispersing conquered peoples among distant provinces, Assyria reduced their ability to unite and rebel. 2Ki 18:11 The king of Assyria exiled the Israelites… All this happened because the people of Israel had sinned against the LORD their God, Israel’s fall to Assyria in 722 BC was the result of persistent covenant rebellion. Despite repeated warnings from God’s prophets, the northern kingdom continued in idolatry and rejected the commands God had given them. Deu 4:25-27 After you have children and grandchildren… who had brought them out of the land of Egypt The Exodus stood as the central reminder of God’s power, mercy, and faithfulness toward Israel. Their rebellion was especially grievous because they abandoned the God who had delivered them from slavery and made them His people. Exo 20:2 I am the LORD your God, who brought you out… from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. Pharaoh’s rule represented Israel’s former bondage and oppression. God’s rescue from Egypt demonstrated His authority over earthly kings and nations and established Israel’s obligation to worship Him alone. Deu 7:8 But because the LORD loved you and kept the oath… They had worshiped other gods Israel adopted the gods and religious practices of surrounding nations, including Baal worship. This idolatry violated their covenant with the LORD and brought the judgment He had warned would follow unfaithfulness. Exo 20:3-5 You shall have no other gods before Me.… and walked in the customs of the nations Israel adopted the idolatrous and immoral practices of the pagan peoples around them, including acts the LORD had forbidden because of their corruption. Lev 20:23 You must not follow the statutes of the nations.… that the LORD had driven out before the Israelites, The Canaanite nations had been removed under God’s judgment to give Israel the land. By embracing their ways, Israel repeated the sins for which those nations had been judged. Jos 23:9-13 The LORD has driven out great and powerful nations… as well as in the practices introduced by the kings of Israel. Israel’s kings led the nation into false worship, beginning with Jeroboam’s golden calves at Bethel and Dan. The people followed both pagan customs and the corrupt religious patterns established by their own rulers. 1Ki 12:28-33 After seeking advice, the king made two golden calves… The Israelites secretly did things against the LORD their God that were not right. Israel’s idolatry was deliberate, though often concealed. They abandoned the covenant loyalty required by the LORD and adopted practices they knew were forbidden. Their hidden rebellion revealed hearts turned from God and contributed to the judgment that ended in Assyrian exile. Psa 90:8 You have set our iniquities before You, our secret sins… From watchtower to fortified city, Idolatry reached every level of the kingdom, from small rural settlements and agricultural outposts to heavily defended cities. No region remained untouched by the nation’s departure from the LORD. 2Ch 26:9-10 Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate,… they built high places in all their cities. These unauthorized worship sites promoted pagan customs and mixed them with the worship owed to the LORD alone. By establishing high places throughout the land, Israel rejected God’s appointed worship and openly embraced the religious practices of the surrounding nations. 2Ch 28:25 In every city of Judah he built high places to offer incense… They set up for themselves sacred pillars Israel erected stone monuments associated with Canaanite worship, openly disregarding God’s commands. These objects marked a return to the idolatry God had driven out before them. Deu 16:22 do not set up for yourselves a sacred pillar… and Asherah poles Wooden symbols devoted to the Canaanite fertility goddess Asherah were placed beside their shrines, blending the worship of the LORD with pagan rites. Deu 16:21 Do not set up any wooden Asherah pole next to the altar… on every high hill Elevated locations throughout the land became centers of unauthorized sacrifice and idolatry. Deu 12:2 Destroy completely all the places where the nations… and under every green tree. Groves and leafy trees were also used for fertility worship, showing how widely Israel’s rebellion had spread before the northern kingdom was carried into exile. 1Ki 14:23 They also built for themselves high places, sacred pillars,… They burned incense on all the high places Israel adopted the worship patterns of the Canaanites, using elevated shrines throughout the land for sacrifices and incense. Rather than worshiping the LORD at the place He appointed, the people blended His name with pagan customs and local forms of idolatry. 2Ki 12:3 Nevertheless, the high places were not removed;… like the nations that the LORD had driven out before them. The Canaanite peoples had been judged for persistent idolatry and moral corruption. Israel was to remove their religious sites and remain separate from their practices, but instead imitated the nations whose sins had brought divine judgment. Deu 9:4-5 When the LORD your God has driven them out before you,… They did wicked things, Their rebellion included idolatry and the immoral practices connected with pagan worship. Such conduct rejected the covenant God had made with Israel and defiled the land He had given them. 2Ki 21:11 Since Manasseh king of Judah has committed… provoking the LORD to anger. The LORD’s anger was the righteous response to Israel’s continued covenant unfaithfulness. Their refusal to turn from these sins brought the judgment that culminated in the fall and exile of the northern kingdom. 1Ki 16:33 Then he set up an Asherah pole. Thus Ahab did more… They served idols, Israel adopted the gods and religious practices of the surrounding nations, including the worship of Baal and Asherah. In doing so, they abandoned the exclusive devotion required by their covenant with the LORD. Psa 106:36 They worshiped their idols, which became a snare to them. although the LORD had told them, God had repeatedly forbidden Israel to follow other gods through the Law and the prophets. Their history was marked by persistent disobedience despite clear warnings of judgment. Deu 4:15-19 So since you saw no form of any kind on the day… “You shall not do this thing.” The command against idolatry was unmistakable. Israel’s refusal to obey brought the judgment Moses had warned of, culminating in the fall of the northern kingdom and exile. Deu 12:4 You shall not worship the LORD your God in this way. Yet through all His prophets and seers, God repeatedly sent appointed messengers to confront the nation with His word. Prophets and seers received divine revelation and called the people to account for their rebellion. 1Sa 9:9 Formerly in Israel, a man on his way to inquire of God… the LORD warned Israel and Judah, Though divided into northern Israel and southern Judah after Solomon’s reign, both kingdoms remained accountable to the covenant God had made with their fathers. 2Ch 30:6-9 At the command of the king, the couriers went… saying, “Turn from your wicked ways God identified their idolatry, injustice, and disobedience as wickedness and called them to abandon it through genuine repentance. Isa 55:7 Let the wicked man forsake his way; let him return… and keep My commandments and statutes, Covenant faithfulness required obedience to the commands God had given through Moses, setting His people apart from the nations around them. Deu 11:1 You shall therefore love the LORD your God… according to the entire Law that I commanded your fathers The generation living in the divided kingdoms was bound by the same Law given to Israel at Sinai. Their history did not excuse their disobedience but confirmed their responsibility. Deu 4:44-45 This is the law that Moses set before the Israelites.… and delivered to you through My servants the prophets.” The prophets faithfully carried God’s warnings to both kingdoms, reminding them of His covenant and the consequences of refusing His commands. Neh 9:30 You were patient with them for many years… But they would not listen, Israel rejected the warnings God sent through His servants and continued in the sins that had brought the nation under judgment. Jer 7:24 Yet they did not listen or incline their ear… and they stiffened their necks They deliberately resisted God’s rule, refusing correction as their leaders and people persisted in idolatry and disobedience. Neh 9:17 They refused to listen and failed to remember… like their fathers, Their conduct repeated the rebellion of earlier generations, beginning with Israel’s unbelief in the wilderness and continuing through the nation’s history. Psa 78:57 They turned back and were faithless like their fathers,… who did not believe the LORD their God. Their rebellion arose from refusing to trust the God who had delivered them, provided for them, and established them in the land. Deu 1:32 But in spite of all this, you did not trust the LORD… They rejected His statutes and the covenant He had made with their fathers, Israel set aside the statutes God had given at Sinai through Moses and abandoned the covenant relationship established with their ancestors. Their disobedience was not occasional failure but a persistent refusal to live as the holy people God had set apart for Himself. Jer 11:10 They have returned to the sins of their forefathers… as well as the decrees He had given them. God’s commands governed Israel’s worship, justice, family life, and national conduct. Rejecting them brought disorder within the nation and placed Israel under the judgment God had warned would follow covenant unfaithfulness. Neh 9:13-14 You came down on Mount Sinai and spoke with them… They pursued worthless idols and became worthless themselves, Rather than worshiping the living God, Israel devoted itself to images and false gods that could neither save nor guide them. Their idolatry corrupted their character and stripped them of the purpose for which God had called them. Jer 2:5 This is what the LORD says: “What fault did your fathers… going after the surrounding nations that the LORD had commanded them not to imitate. Israel adopted the religious practices and moral corruption of the peoples around them instead of remaining distinct. This rebellion led to the fall of the northern kingdom and its conquest by Assyria. Deu 12:30-31 be careful not to be ensnared by their ways… They abandoned all the commandments of the LORD their God Israel rejected the covenant laws God had given through Moses, abandoning the foundation of its national calling and worship. Dan 9:5 we have sinned and done wrong. We have acted wickedly.… and made for themselves two cast idols of calves Jeroboam had established calf worship at Bethel and Dan after the division of the kingdom, leading the northern tribes away from worship at Jerusalem. What began as a political expedient became a lasting pattern of idolatry. 1Ki 12:28-30 After seeking advice, the king made two golden calves… and an Asherah pole. Israel also adopted Canaanite fertility worship, setting up symbols connected with Asherah alongside practices claimed to honor the LORD. 1Ki 16:33 Then he set up an Asherah pole. Thus Ahab did more… They bowed down to all the host of heaven The people turned to the worship of the sun, moon, and stars, following the religious customs of surrounding nations rather than worshiping the Creator. 2Ki 21:3-5 For he rebuilt the high places that his father… and served Baal. Baal worship drew Israel into the corrupt rites of Canaanite religion. Despite repeated warnings from prophets such as Elijah and Elisha, the northern kingdom persisted in this covenant unfaithfulness until its fall to Assyria. 1Ki 16:31-33 And as if it were not enough for him to walk… They sacrificed their sons and daughters in the fire Israel adopted the abhorrent rites of the surrounding nations, including child sacrifice associated with Molech worship. God had expressly forbidden such practices because they desecrated human life and represented total allegiance to false gods. Their actions showed how far the northern kingdom had abandoned its covenant with the LORD. Deu 12:31 You must not worship the LORD your God in this way,… and practiced divination and soothsaying. Rather than seeking the LORD’s direction, they turned to divination and soothsaying, occult practices used by pagan peoples to predict the future and obtain guidance through supernatural means. Such practices placed them under the influence of spiritual powers opposed to God and further displayed their rejection of His rule. Deu 18:10-12 Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son… They devoted themselves to doing evil in the sight of the LORD, Their sin was deliberate and persistent. Israel willingly pursued idolatry, forbidden rituals, and rebellion despite the LORD’s repeated warnings through His prophets. Nothing they did was concealed from the God who had redeemed and sustained them. 2Ch 33:2 And he did evil in the sight of the LORD… provoking Him to anger. God’s anger was His righteous response to their covenant unfaithfulness. Israel’s continued rebellion brought the judgment that culminated in the fall of Samaria and the exile of the northern kingdom. Deu 32:21 They have provoked My jealousy by that which is not God;… So the LORD was very angry with Israel, Israel had persistently rejected the covenant, embraced idolatry, and ignored God’s warnings through His prophets. Their worship of Baal and other false gods brought judgment upon the northern kingdom. 2Ki 13:3 So the anger of the LORD burned against Israel,… and He removed them from His presence. In 722 BC, Assyria captured Samaria and deported many Israelites from the land God had given them. Their exile marked the loss of national protection and covenant blessing after generations of rebellion. 2Ki 24:20 For because of the anger of the LORD, all this… Only the tribe of Judah remained, Judah, the southern kingdom centered in Jerusalem and ruled by David’s descendants, remained intact. God preserved Judah in keeping with His promise to David, through whose line the Messiah would come. 1Ki 12:20 When all Israel heard that Jeroboam had returned… and even Judah did not keep the commandments of the LORD their God, Judah possessed the temple in Jerusalem, the Davidic monarchy, and the ordained priesthood, yet these privileges did not produce lasting obedience. Though reforms occurred under faithful kings such as Hezekiah and Josiah, Judah repeatedly returned to rebellion and eventually followed the same course that had brought Israel to ruin. 2Ch 28:19 For the LORD humbled Judah because Ahaz king of Israel… but lived according to the customs Israel had introduced. Judah adopted the idolatry and unauthorized worship that had marked the northern kingdom, including high places and pagan practices. Rather than remaining distinct as the people of God, Judah allowed Israel’s sins to shape its worship and public life, setting the nation on the path toward its own judgment and exile. 2Ch 28:2 Instead, he walked in the ways of the kings… So the LORD rejected all the descendants of Israel. Israel’s long pattern of idolatry, covenant rebellion, and refusal to heed God’s warnings brought His judgment upon the Northern Kingdom. Their rejection marked the end of the kingdom’s privileged standing and led to its collapse before Assyria. Psa 78:59 On hearing it, God was furious and rejected Israel… He afflicted them God allowed military losses, instability, and hardship to expose Israel’s rebellion and to carry out the consequences He had warned of under the covenant. Jdg 2:15 Wherever Israel marched out, the hand of the LORD… and delivered them into the hands of plunderers, Foreign armies repeatedly invaded Israel, taking its wealth, land, and people. Assyria became the chief instrument of judgment, defeating Samaria and deporting much of the population in 722 BC. Jdg 2:14 Then the anger of the LORD burned against Israel,… until He had banished them from His presence. Israel’s exile removed them from the land God had given them and from the protection they had forfeited through persistent sin. Their removal stood as a lasting judgment on the Northern Kingdom and warned Judah of the same danger. 2Ki 23:27 For the LORD had said, “I will remove Judah from My sight… When the LORD had torn Israel away from the house of David, God divided the united kingdom after Solomon’s reign because of Solomon’s idolatry and Israel’s unfaithfulness. The northern tribes separated from the Davidic dynasty, while Judah remained under David’s house. 1Ki 11:31-33 and said to Jeroboam, “Take ten pieces for yourself,… they made Jeroboam son of Nebat king, The northern tribes chose Jeroboam after rejecting Rehoboam’s harsh rule. Jeroboam became king of Israel, establishing a separate northern kingdom from Judah. 1Ki 12:20 When all Israel heard that Jeroboam had returned… and Jeroboam led Israel away from following the LORD Jeroboam feared that worship in Jerusalem would draw the people back to Rehoboam. He set up golden calves at Bethel and Dan and directed Israel to worship there instead of at the temple the LORD had chosen. 1Ki 12:28-30 After seeking advice, the king made two golden calves… and caused them to commit a great sin. By making idolatry part of Israel’s national life, Jeroboam led the nation into persistent rebellion against God. Later kings continued in his pattern, and Israel’s refusal to turn from it contributed to the kingdom’s eventual exile. 1Ki 14:16 So He will give Israel over on account of the sins… The Israelites persisted in all the sins that Jeroboam had committed Jeroboam had led the northern kingdom into idolatry by establishing calf worship at Bethel and Dan, replacing the worship God had appointed in Jerusalem. Rather than rejecting this corruption, Israel’s later generations preserved it. Their continued idolatry revealed a settled rejection of the Lord and contributed to the nation’s long spiritual decline. 1Ki 12:28-30 After seeking advice, the king made two golden calves… and did not turn away from them. Despite God’s repeated warnings through His prophets, Israel refused to repent. Their stubborn persistence in sin brought the judgment announced against them, culminating in the Assyrian conquest and exile of the northern kingdom. 2Ki 15:18 And he did evil in the sight of the LORD,… Finally, the LORD removed Israel from His presence, After generations of idolatry, injustice, and rejection of God’s commands, the northern kingdom came under His judgment. The loss of His presence meant the loss of the protection and blessing Israel had enjoyed in the land He gave them. 1Ki 14:15 For the LORD will strike Israel as a reed is shaken… as He had declared through all His servants the prophets. God had repeatedly sent prophets, including Amos and Hosea, to warn Israel that continued rebellion would bring destruction and exile. Their words were fulfilled because Israel refused to repent. Jer 25:4 And the LORD has sent all His servants the prophets to you… So Israel was exiled from their homeland into Assyria, In 722 BC, Assyria conquered Samaria and deported many Israelites, ending the northern kingdom. The exile carried out the covenant judgment God had warned of for persistent disobedience. 2Ki 18:11 The king of Assyria exiled the Israelites… where they are to this day. From the standpoint of the writer, the deported Israelites remained dispersed in Assyrian territory, and the northern tribes did not return as a restored kingdom. Hos 8:8 Israel is swallowed up! Now they are among the nations…
Samaria ResettledAfter Israel’s fall, Assyria followed its established policy of relocating conquered peoples to weaken national loyalties and reduce the likelihood of rebellion. The settlers came from several regions under Assyrian control, bringing varied languages, customs, and worship practices. 2Ki 18:34 Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad?… and settled them in the towns of Samaria to replace the Israelites. Much of Israel’s population had been deported after the fall of Samaria in 722 BC. Their removal fulfilled the judgment announced because of Israel’s persistent idolatry and covenant rebellion. The Assyrian resettlement permanently altered the population of the former Northern Kingdom. Ezr 4:2 they approached Zerubbabel and the heads of the families… They took possession of Samaria and lived in its towns. The newcomers occupied Israelite cities, farmland, and homes while retaining their own religious traditions. Over time, intermarriage and mixed worship contributed to the Samaritan community known in later biblical history, creating enduring division between Samaritans and the Jews. Ezr 4:10 and the rest of the peoples whom Ashurbanipal deported… Now when the settlers first lived there, When the settlers first lived in Samaria, they did not understand the land’s history or its covenant relationship with the LORD. The Assyrians had repopulated the region with people from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sepharvaim after deporting the Israelites. Ezr 4:2 they approached Zerubbabel and the heads of the families… they did not worship the LORD, They did not worship the LORD because they did not know the commands he had given Israel. Their ignorance reflected the spiritual ruin caused by Israel’s long rebellion and exile. Jdg 2:11-13 And the Israelites did evil in the sight of the LORD… so He sent lions among them, God showed that He remained Lord over the land and was not merely a local deity to be ignored. The attacks confronted the settlers with the reality that they were living in the territory formerly given to His people. Lev 26:22 I will send wild animals against you… which killed some of them. The deaths led the settlers to seek instruction concerning the worship of the God of the land, though their later response became a mixture of fear of the LORD and continued idolatry. Jer 5:6 Therefore a lion from the forest will strike them down,… So they spoke to the king of Assyria, saying, The settlers appealed to the Assyrian ruler after suffering repeated lion attacks. Assyria commonly deported conquered peoples and resettled them in other territories to weaken resistance and secure its provinces. 2Ki 16:7 So Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria,… “The peoples that you have removed and placed in the cities of Samaria These were foreign populations brought into Samaria after Israel’s fall. Their presence replaced much of the deported northern population and contributed to the mixed community later known as the Samaritans. Ezr 4:2 they approached Zerubbabel and the heads of the families… do not know the requirements of the God of the land. The settlers understood the danger in terms familiar to their pagan worldview, believing each land had its own deity. Yet the God they had offended was Yahweh, the true Lord of Samaria and of every nation. They had no knowledge of His law or the worship He required. 2Ch 15:3 For many years Israel has been without the true God… Because of this, He has sent lions among them, The lion attacks were a real judgment from God, demonstrating that the land had not been abandoned by its rightful God. Their safety could not be secured merely by Assyrian power or religious custom. Lev 26:22 I will send wild animals against you… which are indeed killing them off.” The attacks were severe enough to alarm the settlers and reach the king’s court. Their report led to the return of an Israelite priest, though the instruction that followed produced a corrupt mixture of worship rather than wholehearted devotion to the Lord. 1Ki 13:24-26 As he went on his way, a lion met him on the road… Then the king of Assyria commanded: Likely Sargon II ordered this response after foreign settlers reported attacks by lions in the former territory of Israel. Assyria commonly relocated conquered peoples to weaken national identity and prevent rebellion, but it also sought stability in newly occupied lands. Ezr 1:1-4 In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia,… “Send back one of the priests you carried off from Samaria, Israelite priests had been deported along with much of the population of the Northern Kingdom. Sending one back acknowledged the settlers’ belief that they had offended the God worshiped in the land. 2Ki 18:11 The king of Assyria exiled the Israelites… and have him go back to live there The priest was to reside among the new population and restore knowledge of the religious customs associated with Samaria. The Assyrians viewed local worship as a practical means of securing peace and prosperity. Ezr 2:70 So the priests, the Levites, the singers, the gatekeepers… and teach the requirements of the God of the land.” The God of the land was the Lord, yet the instruction given would reflect the compromised worship that had long marked the Northern Kingdom. Israel’s exile resulted from persistent covenant unfaithfulness, and the settlers’ later worship combined fear of the Lord with service to their own gods. 2Ch 17:7-9 In the third year of his reign, Jehoshaphat sent… Thus one of the priests they had carried away The Assyrians returned an Israelite priest from exile after lions afflicted the settlers in Samaria. Their purpose was not to restore covenant faithfulness but to appease the God of the land. 2Ki 15:29 In the days of Pekah king of Israel, Tiglath-pileser came… came and lived in Bethel, Bethel had been a leading center of calf worship in the Northern Kingdom. The priest served where Jeroboam’s corrupt religious system had long displaced worship centered on the Lord’s law. 1Ki 12:28-33 After seeking advice, the king made two golden calves… and he began to teach them He instructed the imported peoples in the religious practices associated with the Lord, yet the result was mixed worship rather than true obedience. 2Ch 17:7-9 In the third year of his reign, Jehoshaphat sent… how they should worship the LORD. The settlers learned to fear the Lord alongside their own gods, producing the syncretism described in the following verses. Deu 12:5-14 Instead, you must seek the place the LORD your God… Nevertheless, the people of each nation continued to make their own gods The foreign populations brought into Samaria retained the worship of the gods from their homelands rather than turning fully to the LORD. Isa 37:19 They have cast their gods into the fire… in the cities where they had settled, Assyria resettled conquered peoples throughout the former Northern Kingdom, weakening national identity and reducing the likelihood of rebellion. Each group established its religious customs in the towns assigned to them. Jer 11:13 Your gods are indeed as numerous as your cities… and they set them up in the shrines These local sanctuaries became places where foreign worship was added to the existing religious system, producing a mixture of pagan practices and outward acknowledgment of the LORD. 1Ki 12:31-33 Jeroboam also built shrines on the high places… that the people of Samaria had made on the high places. The Israelites had already built unauthorized worship sites throughout Samaria before the conquest. The new settlers used this established network of high places for their own gods, continuing the idolatry that had contributed to Israel’s judgment. 1Ki 13:32-33 he cried out by the word of the LORD against the altar… The men of Babylon made Succoth-benoth, The Babylonian settlers brought their own gods into Samaria. Succoth-benoth, possibly meaning “booths of daughters,” was likely connected with Babylonian worship, though little is known with certainty about its rites. Its presence marked the replacement of faithful worship with the religious practices of the nations Assyria had relocated. Jer 50:2 Announce and declare to the nations; lift up a banner… the men of Cuth made Nergal, The people from Cuthah worshiped Nergal, a Mesopotamian god associated with war, pestilence, and the realm of the dead. By establishing his worship in Israel, they added another foreign cult to the land God had given His people. Jer 39:3 Then all the officials of the king of Babylon… the men of Hamath made Ashima, The settlers from Hamath served Ashima, a deity whose identity is not fully known. Their worship continued the pattern of idolatry introduced by the resettled peoples, openly disregarding the covenant requirement that Israel worship the Lord alone. 2Ki 18:34 Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad?… the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak, The Avvites were among the foreign peoples whom Assyria resettled in Samaria after conquering the Northern Kingdom. They continued to worship Nibhaz and Tartak, adding their gods to the religious mixture that spread throughout the land. Their presence shows that the new population did not abandon its native worship but brought its idolatry into Israel. Psa 115:4-8 Their idols are silver and gold, made by the hands of men.… and the Sepharvites burned their children in the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech The Sepharvites came from Sepharvaim and served Adrammelech and Anammelech through child sacrifice. Such worship was wholly opposed to God’s law and revealed the depth of the pagan practices introduced into Samaria. The Assyrian resettlement brought together peoples whose religions included ceremonies Israel had been commanded never to adopt. Jer 7:31 They have built the high places of Topheth… the gods of Sepharvaim. These deities were carried from Sepharvaim into Israel’s former territory along with their worshipers. Assyria’s policy of relocating conquered peoples weakened national loyalties, but it also filled Samaria with foreign religions. The result was a divided worship in which the fear of the Lord was mixed with devotion to false gods. 2Ki 18:34 Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad?… So the new residents worshiped the LORD, The peoples relocated to Samaria by the Assyrian king acknowledged the God of Israel after lions afflicted them. Yet their worship arose from fear and did not lead them to abandon their former gods. Zep 1:5 those who bow on the rooftops to worship the host of heaven… but they also appointed for themselves priests of all sorts Rather than following the priesthood God had established, they chose their own priests from among the population. Their worship lacked obedience to God’s order and preserved the corrupt practices already associated with the northern kingdom. 1Ki 13:33 Even after these events, Jeroboam did not repent… to serve in the shrines of the high places. The high places became centers of mixed worship, where the LORD was honored alongside pagan deities. Samaria’s new inhabitants adopted elements of Israel’s religion without turning wholly to the LORD. 2Ki 23:19 Just as Josiah had done at Bethel, so also in the cities of Samaria… They worshiped the LORD, The settlers in Samaria recognized the LORD after He sent lions among them, but their acknowledgment of Him did not produce exclusive devotion. Psa 95:6 O come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel… but they also served their own gods They retained the idols and religious practices brought from their former homelands, combining the worship of the LORD with pagan worship. Jdg 2:12 Thus they forsook the LORD, the God of their fathers,… according to the customs of the nations Rather than following the worship God had commanded for Israel, they continued the religious patterns of the peoples Assyria had relocated into the land. Deu 12:30-31 be careful not to be ensnared by their ways… from which they had been carried away. These populations had been deported by Assyria and resettled in the former territory of the Northern Kingdom, creating the mixed religious culture later associated with the Samaritans. Deu 28:64 Then the LORD will scatter you among all the nations,… To this day they are still practicing their former customs. The people settled in Samaria continued the mixed religious practices that developed after the fall of the northern kingdom. They retained pagan worship while giving limited acknowledgment to the LORD, refusing to abandon the gods and customs of the nations among whom they lived. Ezk 20:18 In the wilderness I said to their children: ‘Do not walk… None of them worship the LORD Their religion lacked the reverent obedience required by the covenant. Though the LORD had revealed Himself to Israel and commanded His people to serve Him alone, they continued in divided loyalty. Deu 6:13 Fear the LORD your God, serve Him only, and take your oaths… or observe the statutes, ordinances, laws, and commandments They rejected the covenant instructions God had given for Israel’s worship, conduct, justice, and national life. Their disobedience was not limited to isolated failures but showed a settled refusal to live under God’s rule. Deu 6:1-2 These are the commandments and statutes and ordinances… that the LORD gave the descendants of Jacob, These commands belonged to the nation God had chosen and preserved through the patriarchs. Israel’s history, land, and covenant privileges made their rebellion especially serious. Psa 147:19-20 He declares His word to Jacob, His statutes… whom He named Israel. God gave Jacob the name Israel, meaning “he struggles with God,” and established his descendants as a distinct people for His purposes. Their continued unfaithfulness contradicted the identity and calling God had given them. Gen 35:10 And God said to him, “Though your name is Jacob.… For the LORD had made a covenant with the Israelites At Mount Sinai, God bound Israel to Himself as His chosen people and gave them His Law. Their covenant relationship required exclusive loyalty to the LORD, who had delivered them from Egypt and promised His blessing for obedience. Deu 5:2 The LORD our God made a covenant with us at Horeb. and commanded them, The Lord’s instructions carried His full authority and set Israel apart from the nations around them. Deu 6:1 These are the commandments and statutes and ordinances… “Do not worship other gods Israel was to recognize no deity beside the LORD. The gods of the surrounding peoples were false, and turning to them violated Israel’s covenant with God. Exo 34:14 For you must not worship any other god, for the LORD,… or bow down to them; Acts of reverence belonged to the LORD alone. Bowing before an idol openly expressed submission to a rival god. Jos 23:7 So you are not to associate with these nations that remain… do not serve them Israel was not to give its allegiance, labor, or devotion to any god other than the One who had redeemed them. Deu 7:16 You must destroy all the peoples the LORD your God… or sacrifice to them. Sacrifices were to be offered only to the LORD at the place He appointed. Sacrificing to idols rejected His covenant and adopted the corrupt worship practices that had led the nations of Canaan into judgment. Exo 22:20 If anyone sacrifices to any god other than the LORD alone,… Instead, worship the LORD, Israel was called to give exclusive allegiance to Yahweh rather than adopting the gods and practices of surrounding nations. Their downfall came through persistent idolatry and divided worship. Psa 29:2 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name; worship the LORD… who brought you out of the land of Egypt The Exodus established Israel’s identity as a people redeemed by God and bound to Him by covenant. Their deliverance from slavery demonstrated that the LORD, not the gods of Egypt or Canaan, had authority over them. Exo 20:2 I am the LORD your God, who brought you out… with great power and an outstretched arm. God’s rescue of Israel involved decisive acts of judgment against Egypt and protection for His people. His power in the Exodus remained the central reminder of His faithfulness and His right to Israel’s worship. Deu 4:34 Or has any god tried to take as his own a nation…… You are to bow down to Him Worship required humble submission to the LORD alone. Israel’s bowing before images and foreign gods directly rejected the allegiance they owed to their Deliverer. Psa 95:6 O come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel… and offer sacrifices to Him. Sacrifices belonged to the worship God had appointed for His covenant people, expressing atonement, thanksgiving, and devotion. Israel’s offerings were to be directed only to the LORD, not shared with false gods. Exo 20:24 You are to make for Me an altar of earth… And you must always be careful to observe the statutes, ordinances, laws, and commandments He wrote for you. Israel’s covenant with the Lord required faithful obedience to all He had given through Moses—the statutes, ordinances, laws, and commandments of the Torah given at Mount Sinai. His commands governed worship, justice, family life, and national conduct, setting Israel apart from the surrounding peoples. Their obedience was to be deliberate and continual, flowing from wholehearted loyalty to the God who had redeemed them. Deu 5:32-33 So be careful to do as the LORD your God has commanded you;… Do not worship other gods. Israel’s downfall came through abandoning exclusive worship of the Lord and adopting the idols and religious practices of neighboring nations. The Assyrian exile of the Northern Kingdom demonstrated the seriousness of covenant unfaithfulness. The Lord alone was to be worshiped, and devotion to other gods was a betrayal of the covenant He had established with Israel. Exo 20:3-5 You shall have no other gods before Me.… Do not forget the covenant I have made with you. God’s covenant with Israel, given through Moses at Sinai, bound the nation to worship Him alone and obey His commands. Their identity, security, and blessing were tied to faithful obedience, while rebellion brought judgment. Israel’s repeated failure to remember this covenant led to idolatry, national decline, and ultimately exile. Deu 4:23 Be careful that you do not forget the covenant of the LORD… Do not worship other gods, Israel was surrounded by nations devoted to idols such as Baal and Asherah, whose worship repeatedly drew the people away from the LORD. Serving other gods violated the covenant and rejected the God who had delivered them from Egypt and given them the land. Their history showed that divided loyalty to God and idols could not stand. Deu 11:16 But be careful that you are not enticed to turn aside… but worship the LORD your God, Israel’s covenant required undivided allegiance to Yahweh. Yet the northern kingdom repeatedly combined His worship with pagan practices, disregarding the commands given through Moses and the warnings of the prophets. Their idolatry helped bring about the Assyrian conquest and exile. Deu 10:20 You are to fear the LORD your God and serve Him.… and He will deliver you God had repeatedly shown Himself able to rescue His people when they turned to Him, from the Exodus onward. Deliverance depended not on Israel’s military strength or alliances but on faithful obedience to the Lord. Psa 50:15 “Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you”… from the hands of all your enemies.” Surrounded by hostile nations and threatened by Assyria, Israel needed the protection only God could provide. Their refusal to remain faithful forfeited the security promised under the covenant and led to their defeat. Luk 1:71 salvation from our enemies and from the hand… But they would not listen, Israel continued to reject the warnings God had given through His servants. Their refusal revealed hearts hardened against His commands and unwilling to turn from sin. Jer 7:13 And now, because you have done all these things,… and they persisted in their former customs. They retained the idolatrous practices that had long corrupted the nation, mixing the worship of the Lord with devotion to false gods. This continued rebellion brought the judgment that ended in the fall of the Northern Kingdom and its exile by Assyria. Ezk 20:18 In the wilderness I said to their children: ‘Do not walk… So these nations worshiped the LORD The peoples resettled in Samaria after the Assyrian conquest added worship of the LORD after God sent lions among them. Their response was shaped by fear and by instruction from an Israelite priest, not by wholehearted submission to God. Jos 24:14-15 Now, therefore, fear the LORD and serve Him… but also served their idols, They retained the gods and religious practices of their former lands. Their worship was divided, combining acknowledgment of the LORD with continued idolatry. Deu 32:16-17 They provoked His jealousy with foreign gods;… and to this day their children and grandchildren continue to do as their fathers did. The mixed worship became an established tradition passed through successive generations. Their lasting idolatry showed the consequences of refusing to worship the LORD alone. Jer 9:14 Instead, they have followed the stubbornness of their hearts… This is a draft of the Berean Study Bible. Please send all comments and recommendations to bereanstudybible@aol.com. Bible Hub |
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