Table of Contents
The Reign of Hoshea and the Fall of Samaria
The chapter opens with the reign of Hoshea, the final king of the northern kingdom of Israel. It is recorded that he began to rule in the twelfth year of King Ahaz of Judah and reigned for nine years in Samaria. The text notes that he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, though not to the same extent as the kings who had preceded him. Despite this slight distinction, his reign was marked by continued disobedience. Hoshea became a vassal to Shalmaneser, the king of Assyria, and was forced to pay tribute. However, Hoshea secretly conspired against the Assyrians, sending messengers to So, the king of Egypt, and ceasing to send his tribute to Assyria. This act of rebellion was seen as a profound betrayal.
When the king of Assyria discovered Hoshea’s treachery, he had him imprisoned. The Assyrian king then proceeded to lay siege to Samaria, the capital of Israel. The siege is described as lasting for three years. This long and grueling siege highlights the determination of the Assyrians to conquer the rebellious kingdom. In the ninth year of Hoshea’s reign, Samaria was captured. The fall of Samaria marked the end of the northern kingdom of Israel, which had existed for over two centuries. The people of Israel were taken into exile by the king of Assyria and were settled in various parts of the Assyrian Empire, in Halah, and on the Habor, the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes. This event is known as the Assyrian exile and represents a pivotal moment in the history of God’s people.
The Sin of the Northern Kingdom
The biblical narrative does not present the fall of Israel as a mere political or military defeat. Instead, it is presented as the direct and unavoidable consequence of the nation’s spiritual rebellion and idolatry. A lengthy explanatory section follows the account of the exile, detailing the reasons for God’s judgment. It is explained that the people of Israel had sinned against the LORD their God, who had brought them up out of the land of Egypt and freed them from the hand of Pharaoh. Despite God’s mighty acts of salvation, the Israelites had chosen to fear other gods.
The text specifies their sins. They walked in the statutes of the nations whom the LORD had driven out before them. They secretly practiced things that were not right. They built high places for themselves in all their cities, from watchtower to fortified city. They set up sacred pillars and Asherim on every high hill and under every green tree. This widespread adoption of Canaanite and other pagan religious practices was a direct violation of the covenant. Furthermore, it is stated that they burned incense on all the high places, and they served idols, about which the LORD had said, “You shall not do this thing.” These were not isolated incidents but a pervasive and systemic rejection of God’s commands. They even caused their sons and daughters to pass through the fire, a practice of child sacrifice that was a great offense.
The Covenant Broken
The theological core of the chapter lies in the concept of the broken covenant. The text states that the LORD had warned Israel and Judah through all his prophets and seers, saying, “Turn from your evil ways and keep my commandments and my statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers and which I sent to you by my servants the prophets.” The warnings were clear, consistent, and divinely ordained. However, it is recorded that the Israelites did not listen. They hardened their necks and were not able to heed the warnings. Their hearts had become stubborn.
The narrative emphasizes that God had been patient and longsuffering. He had given them every opportunity to repent and return to Him. Their stubbornness and refusal to obey were a rejection of God himself. The text explains that they despised His statutes and His covenant. They had rejected His warnings and had served idols, even though God had strictly forbidden it. Therefore, God’s patience was exhausted, and His judgment was enacted. He removed them from His sight, and no one was left except the tribe of Judah alone. This is a profound statement: the northern kingdom was removed from the land promised to them because they had utterly failed to uphold their end of the covenant, a sacred agreement that was based on obedience and faithfulness.
Theological Themes and Significance
The fall of Israel is a powerful testament to the principle of divine judgment. It demonstrates that God is not indifferent to sin, particularly the sin of idolatry and covenant unfaithfulness. The narrative is not just a historical account but a theological explanation for a national disaster. It teaches that disobedience has consequences, both for individuals and for entire nations. The exile was a form of discipline intended to purify the nation and call them back to a relationship with God.
The chapter also highlights the concept of divine faithfulness. Although God’s judgment came upon Israel, the text makes it clear that He was faithful to His word. He had promised blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience, and He fulfilled both. The sending of prophets over many generations demonstrates God’s consistent effort to call His people back to Himself. Their destruction was not a failure on God’s part but the tragic result of their own unyielding rebellion against His loving commands. The account serves as a stern warning that God’s grace and patience are not endless and that persistent sin will eventually lead to judgment.
The Settlement of the Samaritans
After the fall of Samaria and the exile of the Israelites, the king of Assyria implemented a policy of population transfer. People from various conquered regions were moved into the cities of Samaria to replace the exiled Israelites. It is specified that people from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sepharvaim were brought in and settled in the cities of Samaria. This was a strategic move by the Assyrian Empire to prevent future rebellions by dissolving the national identity of the conquered peoples.
However, the new inhabitants did not fear the LORD. Because they did not worship the true God, the LORD sent lions among them, which killed some of them. This was a form of divine intervention and judgment. The new settlers, being ignorant of God’s ways, interpreted the plague of lions as a sign that they were not properly worshiping the “god of the land.” They sent a message to the king of Assyria, explaining the situation. In response, the king of Assyria commanded that one of the exiled priests of Israel be sent back to teach the new settlers about the customs of the God of the land.
The Syncretistic Worship of the New Inhabitants
The returned priest taught the new inhabitants how they should fear the LORD. However, the result was a form of syncretistic worship. It is stated that the new inhabitants “feared the LORD, and also served their own gods.” Each group of settlers made their own gods and set them up in the shrines of the high places which the Israelites had built. For example, the people of Babylon made Succoth-Benoth, and the people of Cuth made Nergal. The text emphasizes that while they formally acknowledged the God of Israel, they did so while maintaining their own pagan religious practices. This practice of blending different religions is what gave rise to the distinct religious identity of the Samaritans.
The chapter concludes by restating the core issue. The new settlers continued their practices from their old lands and did not truly fear the LORD or follow His statutes, ordinances, and laws. The text contrasts their actions with the covenant that God had made with the Israelites, a covenant that demanded exclusive worship and obedience. The new settlers, like the exiled Israelites before them, failed to grasp the holiness and exclusivity of God. This tragic pattern of syncretism serves as a profound warning that a partial or compromised faith is not true faith.
Practical Lessons for Today
The narrative of 2 Kings 17 provides several profound lessons for believers today. The primary lesson is that idolatry is not just about carving wooden or stone images; it is about giving one’s ultimate allegiance, trust, and devotion to anything other than God. The Israelites’ sin was not just their worship of Baal and Molech but their reliance on political alliances and their hardened hearts that refused to heed God’s warnings. We are reminded that anything we place above God in our lives—money, career, power, or relationships—is a form of modern-day idolatry.
The chapter also warns against spiritual complacency and the consequences of unrepentant sin. The Israelites had received generations of warnings from the prophets, yet they chose to ignore them. We, too, are given constant warnings through Scripture and the Holy Spirit’s conviction. The fall of Israel serves as a stark reminder that God is serious about His commands and that persistent sin will not go unpunished. It urges us to take sin seriously and to cultivate a posture of humility and repentance.
Finally, the syncretistic religion of the Samaritans provides a powerful lesson about the dangers of compromised faith. The new inhabitants of Samaria tried to blend the worship of God with their own pagan practices. They thought they could fear the LORD while also serving their own gods. The text makes it clear that this is an impossibility. A true relationship with God requires exclusive devotion. We cannot serve two masters. This is a timeless warning against a half-hearted faith or the blending of biblical truth with worldly values. It challenges us to be fully committed to God and His ways, without compromise.
Cross References
Deuteronomy 28:15-6: This lengthy section of the Law outlines the curses that will befall Israel if they fail to obey God’s covenant. The exile described in 2 Kings 17 is a direct and tragic fulfillment of these warnings, demonstrating God’s faithfulness to His word and the severe consequences of disobedience.
Leviticus 26:14-39: Similar to Deuteronomy 28, this passage details the curses for disobedience. It specifically mentions that if Israel continues to reject God’s statutes, they will be scattered among the nations, and their land will be desolate. The Assyrian exile is a clear historical manifestation of these prophetic warnings.
Hosea 1:1-2:1: The book of Hosea, a contemporary prophet to the final years of the northern kingdom, is filled with messages of warning and judgment against Israel’s idolatry and spiritual adultery. Hosea’s own marriage is used as an object lesson of God’s relationship with a faithless Israel. The book is a powerful prophetic commentary on the very sins described in 2 Kings 17.
Amos 5:21-27: The prophet Amos condemns Israel’s religious hypocrisy. He states that God despises their feasts and solemn assemblies because their hearts are far from Him. He warns that because they have worshipped pagan gods, they will be sent into exile beyond Damascus. This prophecy is directly fulfilled by the Assyrian exile of the northern kingdom.
Jeremiah 25:3-11: Jeremiah speaks to the southern kingdom of Judah, warning them that they will suffer a fate similar to that of Israel. He mentions that the prophets have been sent repeatedly to call them back to God, but they have not listened. This cross-reference shows that the lesson of Israel’s fall was not lost on the later prophets, who used it as a solemn warning to Judah.
John 4:7-42: The encounter between Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well provides a New Testament perspective on the Samaritans. Jesus’ conversation with her highlights the lingering tension between Jews and Samaritans, a tension rooted in the historical and religious differences that began with the syncretistic worship described in 2 Kings 17. Jesus offers a new form of worship, not limited to a physical location, but in “spirit and truth,” transcending the old divisions and addressing the very issue of compromised worship.
Romans 1:18-23: Paul’s explanation of God’s wrath against the unrighteousness of humanity in Romans 1 is a theological parallel to the judgment on Israel. It speaks to the human tendency to suppress the truth and worship created things instead of the Creator. The fall of Israel is a historical demonstration of this theological principle on a national scale.