2 Kings 17

• Hoshea began to rule over Israel in 732 BC.

• Hosea's reign is noted as starting in the twentieth year of Jotham (2 Kings 15:30) and during the twelfth year of King Ahaz's rule in Judah. Ahaz likely co-ruled with Jotham from around 743 BC, when he was twelve, but his official reign started in 731 BC (2 Kings 16:2). Therefore, the references to Ahaz's reign align.

The report of the northern kingdom's fall has two main parts:

1. Events during the reign of Israel's last king, Hoshea, including the capture of Samaria and the deportation of Israel's people (2 Kings 17:1–6);

2. The reasons for Israel's fall and Assyria's conquest:

   • Israel's many sins (2 Kings 17:7–17) that led to God's judgment (2 Kings 17:18–20), and

   • the major sin of Jeroboam I, who started Israel's widespread disobedience to God (2 Kings 17:21–23).

Hoshea did evil things, but not as much as those before him. The details are unclear.

• King Shalmaneser V took over from his father Tiglath-pileser III in 726 BC. Hoshea might have thought this change in leadership would let Israel break free from Assyrian control. However, by not paying the yearly tribute, he provoked Shalmaneser's retaliation.

• send envoys to King So of Egypt: Some scholars think the name So is short for Pharaoh Osorkon IV, who ruled from 730 to 715 BC. Others believe So refers to Pharaoh Piankhy, who ruled from 747 to 716 BC. They see the biblical name So as a Hebrew version of one of Piankhy's titles. Some suggest So is the city of Sais, the capital of Pharaoh Tefnakht, who ruled from 727 to 720 BC. Regardless of who this king was, it is clear Hoshea's hope for Egyptian support was a mistake.

• the king of Assyria: Historical records say Shalmaneser V of Assyria, the ruler from 726 to 722 BC, conquered Samaria, but Sargon II (who ruled Assyria from 721 to 705 BC) claimed he captured the city. Sargon might have been the commander when Samaria fell and then became king after Shalmaneser's death during the siege.

• invaded the whole land: The Assyrians would destroy the area around an enemy's main city before attacking it.

• The ninth year of King Hoshea’s reign was 722 BC.

• carried away the Israelites: The Assyrians deported people to prevent future rebellions. Sargon also brought other people to Israel to create a mixed population (see 2 Kings 17:24–25).

• Halah was northeast of Nineveh in Assyria.

• The Habor River is a branch of the Euphrates River in northwestern Assyria.

• Gozan was on the Habor River northeast of Haran (see Genesis 12:4). Assyrian records from the area include names that are clearly Israelite, possibly showing the deportation of Samaria's people.

• sinned against the LORD … who had brought them out of the land of Egypt: Their downfall came from repeatedly being unfaithful. Instead of staying loyal to their Redeemer, they worshiped other gods.

• Israel's rescue from Egypt is a common theme in the Old Testament. It appears in:

  • the poetic writings (Exodus 15:1–18; Psalms 77:13–20; 105:26–45; 106:7–12; 114:1–8; Habakkuk 3:3–15),

  • the prophets (Isaiah 63:11–14; Jeremiah 2:1–8; 32:21–23; Ezekiel 20:10–12; Micah 6:4), and

  • the historical writings (Joshua 3:5; 4:14, 18–24; 1 Samuel 12:6).

Israel committed many sins, including pagan rituals and practices. Whether done openly or in secret, God knew about them all. Israel's kings often started these practices by building pagan shrines, sacred pillars, and Asherah poles. They copied pagan sacrifices and idol worship (2 Kings 10:29; 15:18, 28; 1 Kings 12:28–33; 15:34; 16:30–33).

People from all parts of Israelite society, both royalty and commoners, continued these sins. They ignored warnings from God's prophets, including Isaiah, Hosea, Amos, and Micah.

provoking the LORD to anger: When God is angry, he is not mean or bad-tempered. Instead, human wrongdoing angers him because people have turned against God and harmed each other. God deals with human wrongdoing through his justice (see also 2 Kings 13:3; 17:17–18; 21:6; 22:13, 17; 23:26–27; 24:20; Romans 3:23; 6:23; 14:10; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Colossians 3:6; 1 John 1:8–10).

Like their ancestors (Deuteronomy 10:16; 1 Samuel 12:6–9; Psalm 106:28), the Israelites continued to be unfaithful to the Lord (Isaiah 65:6–7; Amos 2:4; see Acts 7:51–53).

all the commandments of the LORD: The narrator lists specific examples of Israel's disobedience. These include:

• the two metal calves set up at Dan and Bethel (1 Kings 12:28–30),

• the Canaanite fertility symbol called an Asherah pole (2 Kings 13:6; 17:10; 1 Kings 14:23; 16:33; Micah 5:14),

• the ongoing worship of Baal (1 Kings 16:31–33; Hosea 2:13; 13:1), and

• the detestable Molech rituals (2 Kings 16:3; Psalm 106:37).

• The LORD was very angry: God's anger is a fair response to evil that requires justice.

• even Judah did not keep the commandments of the LORD: This hints at the future fall of the southern kingdom as well (2 Kings 25:1–21).

All of Israel's wrongdoings and disobedience were linked to the sins of Jeroboam I (1 Kings 12:26–33).

• The Assyrians exiled the Israelites to other regions they controlled (2 Kings 17:6) and sent different groups to settle in Israel. By mixing these diverse peoples, the Assyrians aimed to control the population better and shift their loyalties to Assyria.

• Samaria became the official name of this new Assyrian province.

The writer adds information about later events in Israel, like foreigners moving into the land and the mixed population's blended religious practices.

• The king of Assyria was Sargon II. He ruled from 721 to 705 BC.

• the God of the land … has sent lions: People in the ancient Near East believed a land's peace and success were tied to its god and religious practices.

• One of the priests returned to Bethel, but his teachings on worshiping the Lord were likely influenced by Jeroboam I's religion and mixed with pagan practices.

• The foreigners also continued to worship their own gods. They added the worship of Israel’s God to their own practices. Most of the false gods mentioned here are unknown. Jewish scribes may have changed their names.

• Nergal was the Mesopotamian god of the underworld. Nibhaz and Tartak were probably Elamite gods.

They worshiped the LORD, but they also served their own gods: The Hebrew faith, already mixed with Jeroboam I's religion, now included many foreign customs. Genuine worship of the Lord nearly vanished. Only a few faithful Israelites responded to Hezekiah’s later invitation to come to Judah for the Passover celebration (2 Chronicles 30:10–19).

According to Israel’s covenant with the Lord (Exodus 20:5; Deuteronomy 6:4–15), Israel was to worship only the Lord. Only God could truly save and protect them from all enemies.

worshiped the LORD but also served their idols: The Samaritan religion mixed the worship of Israel’s God with other religions. This kind of mixture is called syncretism (an eclectic combination of religions). Because of this, Samaritans were later viewed with suspicion and treated with contempt (see Nehemiah 4:1–2; 10:28–31; John 4:7–9).