2 Kings, Chapter 17:

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Verses from 2 Kings, Chapter 17 of the book of 2 Kings of the Bible.

2 Kings - Old Testament — 2 Kings – Old Testament

Hosea is the last king of Israel

1. In the twelfth year of the reign of Ahaz king of Judah, Hosea son of Elah ascended the throne of Israel in Samaria and reigned nine years.
2. Although Hosea practiced evil in the eyes of the Lord, he did not reach the same level of wickedness as the previous kings of Israel.
3. Shalmaneser, king of Assyria, marched against Hosea, who had become his vassal and paid tribute to him.
4. However, the king of Assyria discovered that Hosea had conspired against him, sending messengers to the king of Egypt and failing to pay tribute annually. So Shalmaneser imprisoned him.
5. The king of Assyria invaded the whole land, besieged Samaria and besieged it for three years.
6. In the ninth year of Hosea's reign, the Assyrian king conquered Samaria and exiled the Israelites to Assyria. He established them in Hala, in Gozan, on the banks of the river Habor, and in the cities of the Medes.

Israel is exiled because of sin

7. This happened because the Israelites had sinned against the Lord their God, who had brought them out of Egypt, freeing them from the power of Pharaoh, king of Egypt. They worshiped other gods,
8. following the practices of the nations that the Lord had expelled before them, as well as the traditions established by the kings of Israel.
9. The Israelites secretly committed evil against the Lord their God. In all their cities, from the watchtowers to the fortified cities, they built idolatrous altars.
10. They erected sacred pillars and Asherah poles on every high mountain and under every leafy tree.
11. They burned incense on all the idolatrous altars, imitating the nations that the Lord had driven out before them. They did evil things that provoked the Lord's anger.
12. They worshiped idols, even though the Lord said: “Do not do this”.
13. The Lord repeatedly warned Israel and Judah through all the prophets and seers, saying: “Turn from your evil ways, obey my commandments and decrees, according to all the Law that I commanded your ancestors and that I have transmitted it through my servants the prophets.”
14. However, they refused to listen and were stubborn like their ancestors, who did not trust in the Lord their God.
15. They rejected the decrees, the covenant that the Lord had made with their ancestors, and their warnings. Instead, they followed useless idols, becoming useless themselves. They imitated the nations around them, even though the Lord had commanded, “Do not imitate them.”
16. They abandoned all the commandments of the Lord their God and made for themselves two metal calves and a sacred Asherah pole. They prostrated themselves before the entire host of heaven and worshiped Baal.
17. They burned their sons and daughters as sacrifices, practiced divination and sorcery, and sold themselves to do evil in the eyes of the Lord, provoking Him to anger.
18. The Lord was extremely angry with Israel and expelled them from his presence, except for the tribe of Judah.
19. Yet Judah also did not obey the commandments of the Lord their God. They followed the practices established by Israel.
20. Therefore, the Lord rejected all the people of Israel, afflicting them and delivering them into the hands of plunderers, until they were expelled from his presence.
21. When the Lord separated Israel from the dynasty of David, the Israelites chose Jeroboam son of Nebat as their king. He led Israel to abandon the Lord and commit great sins.
22. The Israelites continued to practice all the sins of Jeroboam and did not turn away from them,
23. until the Lord removed them from his presence, as he had warned through all his servants the prophets. Thus, the people of Israel were taken into exile in Assyria, where they remain to this day.

Samaria is colonized

24. The king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Cutha, Ava, Hamath and Sepharvaim, and settled them in the cities of Samaria, replacing the Israelites. They took possession of Samaria and began to live in its cities.
25. When they began to live there, they did not worship the Lord. So the Lord sent lions among them, and they killed some of the people.
26. Then they said to the king of Assyria: “The nations that you deported and settled in the cities of Samaria do not know the customs of the God of that land. Therefore, he sent lions that are killing these people, because they do not know the customs of the God of that land.”
27. Then the king of Assyria gave this order: “Send back one of the priests who were deported from there. Let him go and settle there to teach the people the ways of the God of the land.”
28. So one of the exiled priests from Samaria settled in Bethel and taught the people how to worship the Lord.
29. However, each group made its own gods and placed them in the idolatrous shrines that the inhabitants of Samaria had made. Each group did so in their cities.
30. The Babylonians made Succoth-Benoth, the Cuthites made Nergal, those from Hamath made Ashima,
31. the Avians made Nibaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burned their sons as sacrifices to Adramelech and Anamelech, gods of Sepharvaim.
32. They worshiped the Lord, but they also appointed anyone to be a priest at the idolatrous altars.
33. They worshiped the Lord, but they also worshiped their own gods, according to the customs of the nations from which they were brought.
34. To this day, they follow their ancient practices. They do not worship the Lord or observe the decrees, ordinances, laws and commandments that the Lord gave to the descendants of Jacob, whom he called Israel.
35. When the Lord made a covenant with the Israelites, he commanded them: “Do not worship other gods or bow down to them, do not worship them or offer sacrifices to them.
36. Worship only the Lord, who brought you out of Egypt with great power and an outstretched arm. Bow down before him and offer sacrifices only to him.
37. Always obey the decrees, ordinances, laws, and commandments that he has given you. Do not worship other gods.
38. Do not forget the covenant he made with you and do not worship other gods.
39. Worship only the Lord your God, and he will deliver you from the hands of all your enemies.”
40. However, they paid no heed, but continued to practice their ancient practices.
41. Even when these nations worshiped the Lord, they also worshiped their idols. To this day, their children and grandchildren continue to do what their ancestors did.