2 Kings 17 – Legacy Standard Bible (LSB)

Hoshea Reigns over Israel

1 In the twelfth ^H8147 H6240 year ^H8141 of Ahaz ^H271 king ^H4428 of Judah ^H3063, Hoshea ^H1954 the son ^H1121 of Elah ^H425 became ^H4427 king ^H4427 over ^H5921 Israel ^H3478 in Samaria ^H8111 and reigned nine ^H8672 years ^H8141.

2 And he did ^H6213 what ^H7451 was evil ^H7451 in the sight ^H5869 of Yahweh ^H3068, only ^H7534 not as the kings ^H4428 of Israel ^H3478 who ^H834 were before ^H6440 him. 3 Shalmaneser ^H8022 king ^H4428 of Assyria ^H804 went ^H5927 up ^H5927 against ^H5921 him, and Hoshea ^H1954 became ^H1961 his servant ^H5650 and paid ^H7725 him tribute ^H4503. 4 But the king ^H4428 of Assyria ^H804 found ^H4672 conspiracy ^H7195 in Hoshea ^H1954, who ^H834 had sent ^H7971 messengers ^H4397 to So ^H5471 king ^H4428 of Egypt ^H4714 and had offered ^H5927 no ^H3808 tribute ^H4503 to the king ^H4428 of Assyria ^H804, as he had done year ^H8141 by year ^H8141; therefore the king ^H4428 of Assyria ^H804 shut ^H6113 him up ^H6113 and bound ^H631 him in prison ^H1004 H3608.

5 Then the king ^H4428 of Assyria ^H804 went up ^H5927 against the whole ^H3605 land ^H776 and he went ^H5927 up ^H5927 to Samaria ^H8111 and besieged ^H6696 H5921 it three ^H7969 years ^H8141.

Israel Exiled to Assyria

6 In the ninth ^H8671 year ^H8141 of Hoshea ^H1954, the king ^H4428 of Assyria ^H804 captured ^H3920 Samaria ^H8111 and took ^H1540 Israel ^H3478 away ^H1540 into ^H1540 exile ^H1540 to Assyria ^H804, and settled ^H3427 them in Halah ^H2477 and Habor ^H2249, on the river ^H5104 of Gozan ^H1470, and in the cities ^H5892 of the Medes ^H4074.

Israel Rejects Yahweh

7 Now this happened ^H1961 because ^H3588 the sons ^H1121 of Israel ^H3478 had sinned ^H2398 against Yahweh ^H3068 their God ^H430—who had brought ^H5927 them up ^H5927 from the land ^H776 of Egypt ^H4714 from under ^H8478 the hand ^H3027 of Pharaoh ^H6547, king ^H4428 of Egypt ^H4714—and they had [fn]feared ^H3372 other ^H312 gods ^H430

8 and walked ^H1980 in the statutes ^H2708 of the nations ^H1471 whom ^H834 Yahweh ^H3068 had dispossessed ^H3423 from before ^H4480 H6440 the sons ^H1121 of Israel ^H3478, and in the statutes of the kings ^H4428 of Israel ^H3478 which ^H834 they had made ^H6213. 9 And the sons ^H1121 of Israel ^H3478 [fn]did ^H2644 things ^H1697 secretly ^H2644 which ^H834 were not right ^H3651 against ^H5921 Yahweh ^H3068 their God ^H430. Moreover, they built ^H1129 for themselves high ^H1116 places ^H1116 in all ^H3605 their cities ^H5892, from watchtower ^H4026 to fortified ^H4013 city ^H5892. 10 And they set ^H5324 for themselves sacred pillars ^H4676 and [fn]Asherim ^H842 on every ^H3605 high ^H1364 hill ^H1389 and under ^H8478 every ^H3605 green ^H7488 tree ^H6086, 11 and there ^H8033 they burned ^H6999 incense ^H6999 on all ^H3605 the high ^H1116 places ^H1116 as the nations ^H1471 did which ^H834 Yahweh ^H3068 had taken ^H1540 away ^H1540 into ^H1540 exile ^H1540 before ^H4480 H6440 them; and they did ^H6213 evil ^H7451 things ^H1697 provoking ^H3707 Yahweh ^H3068 to anger ^H3707. 12 And they served ^H5647 idols ^H1544, concerning which ^H834 Yahweh ^H3068 had said ^H559 to them, “You shall not do ^H6213 this ^H2088 thing ^H1697.” 13 Yet Yahweh ^H3068 warned ^H5749 Israel ^H3478 and Judah ^H3063 by the hand ^H3027 of all ^H3605 His prophets ^H5030 and every ^H3605 seer ^H2374, saying ^H559, “Turn ^H7725 from your evil ^H7451 ways ^H1870 and keep ^H8104 My commandments ^H4687, My statutes ^H2708 according to all ^H3605 the law ^H8451 which ^H834 I commanded ^H6680 your fathers ^H1, and which ^H834 I sent ^H7971 to you by the hand ^H3027 of My slaves ^H5650 the prophets ^H5030.” 14 However, they did not listen ^H8085, but stiffened ^H7185 their neck ^H6203 [fn]like their fathers ^H1, who ^H834 did not believe ^H539 in Yahweh ^H3068 their God ^H430. 15 They also rejected ^H3988 His statutes ^H2706 and His covenant ^H1285 which ^H834 He cut ^H3772 with their fathers ^H1 and His warnings ^H5715 with which ^H834 He warned ^H5749 them. And they followed ^H1980 H310 vanity ^H1892 and became ^H1891 vain ^H1891, and went after ^H310 the nations ^H1471 which ^H834 surrounded ^H5439 them, concerning which ^H834 Yahweh ^H3068 had commanded ^H6680 them not to do ^H6213 like them. 16 And they forsook ^H5800 all ^H3605 the commandments ^H4687 of Yahweh ^H3068 their God ^H430 and made ^H6213 for themselves molten ^H4541 images ^H4541, even two ^H8147 calves ^H5695, and made ^H6213 an [fn]Asherah ^H842 and worshiped ^H2331 all ^H3605 the host ^H6635 of heaven ^H8064 and served ^H5647 Baal ^H1168. 17 Then they made their sons ^H1121 and their daughters ^H1323 pass ^H5674 through the fire ^H784, and practiced ^H7080 divination ^H7081 and omens ^H5172, and sold ^H4376 themselves to do ^H6213 what ^H7451 is evil ^H7451 in the sight ^H5869 of Yahweh ^H3068, provoking ^H3707 Him to anger ^H3707. 18 So Yahweh ^H3068 was very ^H3966 angry ^H599 with Israel ^H3478 and caused ^H5493 them to depart ^H5493 from His [fn]presence ^H6440; none ^H3808 was left ^H7604 except ^H7534 the tribe ^H7626 of Judah ^H3063 alone ^H905.

19 Also ^H1571 Judah ^H3063 did not keep ^H8104 the commandments ^H4687 of Yahweh ^H3068 their God ^H430, but walked ^H1980 in the statutes ^H2708 [fn]which ^H834 Israel ^H3478 had made ^H6213. 20 So Yahweh ^H3068 rejected ^H3988 all ^H3605 the seed ^H2233 of Israel ^H3478 and afflicted ^H6031 them and gave ^H5414 them into the hand ^H3027 of plunderers ^H8154, until ^H5704 H834 He had cast ^H7993 them [fn]from His presence ^H6440.

21 When ^H3588 He had torn ^H7167 Israel ^H3478 from the house ^H1004 of David ^H1732, they made ^H4427 Jeroboam ^H3379 the son ^H1121 of Nebat ^H5028 king ^H4427. Then Jeroboam ^H3379 drove ^H5077 Israel ^H3478 away ^H5077 from following ^H310 Yahweh ^H3068 and made them sin ^H2398 a great ^H1419 sin ^H2401. 22 And the sons ^H1121 of Israel ^H3478 walked ^H1980 in all ^H3605 the sins ^H2403 of Jeroboam ^H3379 which ^H834 he did ^H6213; they did not depart ^H5493 from them 23 until ^H5704 H834 Yahweh ^H3068 caused Israel ^H3478 to depart ^H5493 from His presence ^H6440, as He spoke ^H1696 through ^H3027 all ^H3605 His slaves ^H5650 the prophets ^H5030. So Israel ^H3478 went ^H1540 into ^H1540 exile ^H1540 from their own land ^H127 to Assyria ^H804 until ^H5704 this ^H2088 day ^H3117.

Exiled Men in the Cities of Samaria

24 And the king ^H4428 of Assyria ^H804 brought ^H935 men from Babylon ^H894 and from Cuthah ^H3575 and from [fn]Avva ^H5755 and from Hamath ^H2574 and Sepharvaim ^H5617, and settled ^H3427 them in the cities ^H5892 of Samaria ^H8111 in ^H8478 place ^H8478 of ^H8478 the sons ^H1121 of Israel ^H3478. So they possessed ^H3423 Samaria ^H8111 and lived ^H3427 in its cities ^H5892.

25 Now it happened at the beginning ^H8462 of their settlement ^H3427 there ^H8033, that they did not fear ^H3372 Yahweh ^H3068; therefore Yahweh ^H3068 sent ^H7971 lions ^H738 among them which were killing ^H2026 them. 26 So they spoke ^H559 to the king ^H4428 of Assyria ^H804, saying ^H559, “The nations ^H1471 whom ^H834 you have taken ^H1540 away ^H1540 into ^H1540 exile ^H1540 and settled ^H3427 in the cities ^H5892 of Samaria ^H8111 do not know ^H3045 the custom ^H4941 of the god ^H430 of the land ^H776; so he has sent ^H7971 lions ^H738 among them, and behold ^H2009, they are putting ^H4191 them to ^H4191 death ^H4191 because ^H834 they do not know ^H3045 the custom ^H4941 of the god ^H430 of the land ^H776.”

27 Then the king ^H4428 of Assyria ^H804 commanded ^H6680, saying ^H559, “Take ^H1980 there ^H8033 one ^H259 of the priests ^H3548 whom ^H834 you took ^H1540 away ^H1540 into [fn]exile ^H1540 and let [fn]him go ^H1980 and live ^H3427 there ^H8033; and let him instruct ^H3384 them the custom ^H4941 of the god ^H430 of the land ^H776.” 28 So one ^H259 of the priests ^H3548 whom ^H834 they had taken ^H1540 away ^H1540 into ^H1540 exile ^H1540 from Samaria ^H8111 came ^H935 and settled ^H3427 at Bethel ^H1008, and instructed ^H3384 them how ^H349 they should fear ^H3372 Yahweh ^H3068.

29 But each ^H1471 nation ^H1471 was still making ^H6213 gods ^H430 of its own and put ^H5117 them in the houses ^H1004 of the high ^H1116 places ^H1116 which ^H834 the people ^H8118 of ^H8118 Samaria ^H8118 had made ^H6213, each ^H1471 nation ^H1471 in their cities ^H5892 in which ^H834 they lived ^H3427. 30 And the men ^H376 of Babylon ^H894 made ^H6213 Succoth-benoth ^H5524, the men ^H376 of Cuth ^H3575 made ^H6213 Nergal ^H5370, the men ^H376 of Hamath ^H2574 made ^H6213 Ashima ^H807, 31 and the Avvites ^H5757 made ^H6213 Nibhaz ^H5026 and Tartak ^H8662; and the Sepharvites ^H5616 burned ^H8313 their children ^H1121 in the fire ^H784 to Adrammelech ^H152 and Anammelech ^H6048, the gods ^H430 of the Sepharvaim ^H5617. 32 They were also fearing ^H3372 Yahweh ^H3068 and [fn]appointed ^H6213 from among all ^H7098 of themselves priests ^H3548 of the high ^H1116 places ^H1116, and they were acting ^H6213 for them in the houses ^H1004 of the high ^H1116 places ^H1116. 33 They were fearing ^H3372 Yahweh ^H3068 and serving ^H5647 their own gods ^H430 according to the custom ^H4941 of the nations ^H1471 from among whom ^H834 they had been taken ^H1540 away ^H1540 into ^H1540 exile ^H1540.

34 To this ^H2088 day ^H3117 they are acting ^H6213 according to the earlier ^H7223 customs ^H4941: they are not ^H369 fearing ^H3372 Yahweh ^H3068; they are not ^H369 acting ^H6213 according to their statutes ^H2708 or their judgments ^H4941 or the law ^H8451, or the commandment ^H4687 which ^H834 Yahweh ^H3068 commanded ^H6680 the sons ^H1121 of Jacob ^H3290, whom ^H834 He named ^H7760 H8034 Israel ^H3478; 35 with whom Yahweh ^H3068 cut ^H3772 a covenant ^H1285 and commanded ^H6680 them, saying ^H559, “You shall not fear ^H3372 other ^H312 gods ^H430, nor ^H3808 worship ^H2331 them nor ^H3808 serve ^H5647 them nor ^H3808 sacrifice ^H2076 to them. 36 But Yahweh ^H3068, who ^H834 brought ^H5927 you up ^H5927 from the land ^H776 of Egypt ^H4714 with great ^H1419 power ^H3581 and with an outstretched ^H5186 arm ^H2220, Him you shall fear ^H3372, and to Him you shall worship ^H2331, and to Him you shall sacrifice ^H2076. 37 And the statutes ^H2706 and the judgments ^H4941 and the law ^H8451 and the commandment ^H4687 which ^H834 He wrote ^H3789 for you, you shall be ^H8104 careful ^H8104 to do ^H6213 forever ^H3605 H3117; and you shall not fear ^H3372 other ^H312 gods ^H430. 38 And the covenant ^H1285 that I have cut ^H3772 with you, you shall not forget ^H7911, nor ^H3808 shall you fear ^H3372 other ^H312 gods ^H430. 39 But Yahweh ^H3068 your God ^H430 you shall fear ^H3372; and He will deliver ^H5337 you from the hand ^H3027 of all ^H3605 your enemies ^H340.” 40 However, they did not listen ^H8085, but they were acting ^H6213 according to their earlier ^H7223 custom ^H4941. 41 So while these ^H428 nations ^H1471 were fearing ^H3372 Yahweh ^H3068, they also were serving ^H5647 their graven ^H6456 images ^H6456; their children ^H1121 likewise ^H1571 and their grandchildren ^H1121, as their fathers ^H1 acted ^H6213, so they are acting ^H6213 this way to this ^H2088 day ^H3117.