19 Also Judah did not keep the commandments of the Lord their God , but walked in the customs which Israel had introduced . 20 The Lord rejected all the descendants of Israel and afflicted them and gave them into the hand of plunderers , until e He had cast them out of His sight . 21 When He had torn Israel from the house of David , they made Jeroboam the son of Nebat king . Then Jeroboam drove Israel away from following the Lord and made them commit a great sin . 22 The sons of Israel walked in all the sins of Jeroboam which he did ; they did not depart from them 23 until e the Lord removed Israel from His sight , as He spoke through all His servants the prophets . So Israel was carried away into exile from their own land to Assyria until this day .
24 The king of Assyria brought men from Babylon and from Cuthah and from Avva and from Hamath and Sephar-vaim , and settled them in the cities of Samaria in place of the sons of Israel . So they possessed Samaria and lived in its cities . 25 At the beginning of their living there , they did not fear the Lord ; therefore the Lord sent lions among them which killed some of them. 26 So they spoke to the king of Assyria , saying , "The nations whom you have carried away into exile in the cities of Samaria do not know the custom of the god of the land ; so he has sent lions among them, and behold , they kill them because they do not know the custom of the god of the land ." 27 Then the king of Assyria commanded , saying , "Take there one of the priests whom you carried away into exile and let him go and live there ; and let him teach them the custom of the god of the land ." 28 So one of the priests whom they had carried away into exile from Samaria came and lived at Bethel , and taught them how they should fear the Lord . 29 But every nation still made gods of its own and put them in the houses of the high places which the people of Samaria had made , every nation in their cities in which they lived . 30 The men of Babylon made Succoth-benoth , the men of Cuth made Nergal , the men of Hamath made Ashima , 31 and the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak ; and the Sepharvites burned their children in the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech the gods of Sepharvaim . 32 They also feared the Lord and appointed from among themselves priests of the high places , who acted for them in the houses of the high places . 33 They feared the Lord and served their own gods according to the custom of the nations from among whom they had been carried away into exile . 34 To this day they do according to the earlier customs : they do not fear the Lord , nor do they follow their statutes or their ordinances or the law , or the commandments which the Lord commanded the sons of Jacob , whom He named e Israel ; 35 with whom the Lord made a covenant and commanded them, saying , " You shall not fear other gods , nor bow down yourselves to them nor serve them nor sacrifice to them. 36 "But the Lord , who brought you up from the land of Egypt with great power and with an outstretched arm , Him you shall fear , and to Him you shall bow yourselves down , and to Him you shall sacrifice .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 2 Kings 17:19-36
Commentary on 2 Kings 17:7-23
(Read 2 Kings 17:7-23)
Though the destruction of the kingdom of the ten tribes was but briefly related, it is in these verses largely commented upon, and the reasons of it given. It was destruction from the Almighty: the Assyrian was but the rod of his anger, Isaiah 10:5. Those that bring sin into a country or family, bring a plague into it, and will have to answer for all the mischief that follows. And vast as the outward wickedness of the world is, the secret sins, evil thoughts, desires, and purposes of mankind are much greater. There are outward sins which are marked by infamy; but ingratitude, neglect, and enmity to God, and the idolatry and impiety which proceed therefrom, are far more malignant. Without turning from every evil way, and keeping God's statutes, there can be no true godliness; but this must spring from belief of his testimony, as to wrath against all ungodliness and unrighteousness, and his mercy in Christ Jesus.
Commentary on 2 Kings 17:24-41
(Read 2 Kings 17:24-41)
The terror of the Almighty will sometimes produce a forced or feigned submission in unconverted men; like those brought from different countries to inhabit Israel. But such will form unworthy thoughts of God, will expect to please him by outward forms, and will vainly try to reconcile his service with the love of the world and the indulgence of their lusts. May that fear of the Lord, which is the beginning of wisdom, possess our hearts, and influence our conduct, that we may be ready for every change. Wordly settlements are uncertain; we know not whither we may be driven before we die, and we must soon leave the world; but the righteous hath chosen that good part which shall not be taken from him.