2 Kings 17 – New American Standard Bible 2020 (NASB20)

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 for nine ^H8672 years ^H8141.

2 He did ^H6213 evil ^H7451 in the sight ^H5869 of the LORD ^H3068, only ^H7534 not as the kings ^H4428 of Israel ^H3478 who ^H834 preceded ^H1961 H6440 him. 3 Shalmaneser ^H8022 the king ^H4428 of Assyria ^H804 marched ^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 uncovered ^H4672 a conspiracy ^H7195 by Hoshea ^H1954, who ^H834 had sent ^H7971 messengers ^H4397 to So ^H5471, king ^H4428 of Egypt ^H4714, and had then brought ^H5927 no ^H3808 tribute ^H4503 to the king ^H4428 of Assyria ^H804, as he had done year ^H8141 by year ^H8141; so the king ^H4428 of Assyria ^H804 arrested ^H6113 him and confined ^H631 him in prison ^H1004 H3608.

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

Israel Captive

6 In the ninth ^H8671 year ^H8141 of Hoshea ^H1954, the king ^H4428 of Assyria ^H804 captured ^H3920 Samaria ^H8111 and led ^H1540 the people of Israel ^H3478 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.

Why Israel Fell

7 Now this came ^H1961 about ^H1961 because ^H3588 the sons ^H1121 of Israel ^H3478 had sinned ^H2398 against the LORD ^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 They also [fn]followed ^H1980 the [fn]customs ^H2708 of the nations ^H1471 whom ^H834 the LORD ^H3068 had driven ^H3423 out ^H3423 from the sons ^H1121 of Israel ^H3478, and in the customs of the kings ^H4428 of Israel ^H3478 which ^H834 they had [fn]introduced ^H6213. 9 And the sons ^H1121 of Israel ^H3478 [fn]did ^H2644 things ^H1697 secretly ^H2644 against ^H5921 the LORD ^H3068 their God ^H430 which ^H834 were not right ^H3651. Moreover, they built ^H1129 for themselves high ^H1116 places ^H1116 in all ^H3605 their towns ^H5892, from watchtower ^H4026 to fortified ^H4013 city ^H5892. 10 And they set ^H5324 up ^H5324 for themselves memorial ^H4676 stones ^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 that the LORD ^H3068 had taken ^H1540 into ^H1540 exile ^H1540 before ^H4480 H6440 them; and they did ^H6213 evil ^H7451 things ^H1697, provoking ^H3707 the LORD ^H3068. 12 They served ^H5647 idols ^H1544, concerning which ^H834 the LORD ^H3068 had said ^H559 to them, “You shall not do ^H6213 this ^H2088 thing ^H1697.” 13 Yet the LORD ^H3068 warned ^H5749 Israel ^H3478 and Judah ^H3063 [fn]through ^H3027 all ^H3605 His prophets ^H5030 and every ^H3605 seer ^H2374, saying ^H559, “Turn ^H7725 back ^H7725 from your evil ^H7451 ways ^H1870 and keep ^H8104 My commandments ^H4687 and My statutes ^H2708 in accordance with all ^H3605 the Law ^H8451 which ^H834 I commanded ^H6680 your fathers ^H1, and which ^H834 I sent ^H7971 to you [fn]through ^H3027 My servants ^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 the LORD ^H3068 their God ^H430. 15 They rejected ^H3988 His statutes ^H2706 and His covenant ^H1285 which ^H834 He made ^H3772 with their fathers ^H1, and His warnings ^H5715 which ^H834 He [fn]gave ^H5749 them. And they followed ^H1980 H310 [fn]idols ^H1892 and became ^H1891 empty ^H1891, and followed ^H310 the nations ^H1471 that surrounded ^H5439 them, about which ^H834 the LORD ^H3068 had commanded ^H6680 them not to do ^H6213 as they did. 16 And they abandoned ^H5800 all ^H3605 the commandments ^H4687 of the LORD ^H3068 their God ^H430 and made ^H6213 for themselves cast ^H4541 metal ^H4541 images ^H4541: two ^H8147 calves ^H5695. And they made ^H6213 an [fn]Asherah ^H842, and worshiped ^H2331 all ^H3605 the heavenly ^H8064 [fn]lights ^H6635, and served ^H5647 Baal ^H1168. 17 Then they made their sons ^H1121 and their daughters ^H1323 pass ^H5674 through the fire ^H784, and they practiced ^H7080 divination ^H7081 and interpreting ^H5172 omens ^H5172, and gave ^H4376 themselves over ^H4376 to do ^H6213 evil ^H7451 in the sight ^H5869 of the LORD ^H3068, provoking ^H3707 Him. 18 So the LORD ^H3068 was very ^H3966 angry ^H599 with Israel ^H3478, and He removed ^H5493 them from His [fn]sight ^H6440; no ^H3808 one was left ^H7604 except ^H7534 H905 the tribe ^H7626 of Judah ^H3063.

19 Judah ^H3063 did not keep ^H8104 the commandments ^H4687 of the LORD ^H3068 their God ^H430 either ^H1571, but they [fn]followed ^H1980 the [fn]customs ^H2708 [fn]which ^H834 Israel ^H3478 had [fn]introduced ^H6213. 20 So the LORD ^H3068 rejected ^H3988 all ^H3605 the [fn]descendants ^H2233 of Israel ^H3478 and afflicted ^H6031 them and handed ^H5414 H3027 them over ^H5414 to plunderers ^H8154, until ^H5704 H834 He had cast ^H7993 them [fn]out ^H7993 of His sight ^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 the LORD ^H3068 and misled ^H2398 them into 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 committed ^H6213; they did not desist ^H5493 from them 23 until ^H5704 H834 the LORD ^H3068 removed ^H5493 Israel ^H3478 from His sight ^H6440, just ^H834 as ^H834 He had spoken ^H1696 through ^H3027 all ^H3605 His servants ^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.

Cities of Israel Filled with Strangers

24 Then the king ^H4428 of Assyria ^H804 brought ^H935 people from Babylon ^H894, Cuthah ^H3575, [fn]Avva ^H5755, 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 took ^H3423 possession ^H3423 of Samaria ^H8111 and lived ^H3427 in its cities ^H5892.

25 And at the beginning ^H8462 of their living ^H3427 there ^H8033, they did not fear ^H3372 the LORD ^H3068; therefore the LORD ^H3068 sent ^H7971 lions ^H738 among them that were killing ^H2026 some of them. 26 So they spoke ^H559 to the king ^H4428 of Assyria ^H804, saying ^H559, “The nations ^H1471 whom ^H834 you have taken ^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 killing ^H4191 them 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 issued ^H6680 commands ^H6680, saying ^H559, “Take ^H1980 one ^H259 of the priests ^H3548 there ^H8033 whom ^H834 you led ^H1540 into ^H1540 [fn]exile ^H1540, and have [fn]him go ^H1980 and live ^H3427 there ^H8033; and have him teach ^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 led ^H1540 into ^H1540 exile ^H1540 from Samaria ^H8111 came ^H935 and lived ^H3427 in Bethel ^H1008, and taught ^H3384 them how ^H349 they were to fear ^H3372 the LORD ^H3068.

29 But every ^H1471 nation ^H1471 was still making ^H6213 gods ^H430 of its own, and they 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, every ^H1471 nation ^H1471 in their cities ^H5892 in which ^H834 they lived ^H3427. 30 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 were burning ^H8313 their children ^H1121 in the fire ^H784 to Adrammelech ^H152 and Anammelech ^H6048, the gods ^H430 of Sepharvaim ^H5617. 32 They also feared ^H3372 the LORD ^H3068 and [fn]appointed ^H6213 from their entire ^H7098 population ^H7098 priests ^H3548 of the high ^H1116 places ^H1116, who acted ^H6213 for them in the houses ^H1004 of the high ^H1116 places ^H1116. 33 They feared ^H3372 the LORD ^H3068, yet they were serving ^H5647 their own gods ^H430 in accordance with the custom ^H4941 of the nations ^H1471 from among whom ^H834 they had been taken ^H1540 into ^H1540 exile ^H1540.

34 To this ^H2088 day ^H3117 they act ^H6213 in accordance with the earlier ^H7223 customs ^H4941: they do not fear ^H3372 the LORD ^H3068, nor ^H369 do they [fn]follow ^H6213 their statutes ^H2708, their ordinances ^H4941, the Law ^H8451, or the commandments ^H4687 which ^H834 the LORD ^H3068 commanded ^H6680 the sons ^H1121 of Jacob ^H3290, whom ^H834 He named ^H7760 H8034 Israel ^H3478. 35 The LORD ^H3068 made ^H3772 a covenant ^H1285 with them and commanded ^H6680 them, saying ^H559, “You shall not fear ^H3372 other ^H312 gods ^H430, nor ^H3808 bow ^H2331 down ^H2331 to them, nor ^H3808 serve ^H5647 them, nor ^H3808 sacrifice ^H2076 to them. 36 But the LORD ^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 bow ^H2331 down ^H2331, and to Him you shall sacrifice ^H2076. 37 And the statutes ^H2706, the ordinances ^H4941, the Law ^H8451, and the commandment ^H4687 which ^H834 He wrote ^H3789 for you, you shall take ^H8104 care ^H8104 to do ^H6213 always ^H3605 H3117; and you shall not fear ^H3372 other ^H312 gods ^H430. 38 The covenant ^H1285 that I have made ^H3772 with you, you shall not forget ^H7911, nor ^H3808 shall you fear ^H3372 other ^H312 gods ^H430. 39 But you shall fear ^H3372 the LORD ^H3068 your God ^H430; and He will save ^H5337 you from the hand ^H3027 of all ^H3605 your enemies ^H340.” 40 However, they did not listen ^H8085, but they kept acting ^H6213 in accordance with their earlier ^H7223 custom ^H4941. 41 So while these ^H428 nations ^H1471 feared ^H3372 the LORD ^H3068, they also served ^H5647 their [fn]idols ^H6456; their children ^H1121 likewise ^H1571 and their grandchildren ^H1121, just ^H834 as ^H834 their fathers ^H1 did ^H6213, they do ^H6213 to this ^H2088 day ^H3117.