Charles Spurgeon Commentary 2 Kings 17
Charles Spurgeon Commentary
2 Kings 17
Charles Spurgeon Commentary
2 Kings 17
"until Jehovah removed Israel out of his sight, as he spake by all his servants the prophets. So Israel was carried away out of their own land to Assyria unto this day. And the king of Assyria brought men from Babylon, and from Cuthah, and from Avva, and from Hamath and Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel; and they possessed Samaria, and dwelt in the cities thereof." — 2 Kings 17:23-24 (ASV)
It was a part of the Assyrian empire's tactics to take people away from their original location and resettle them in other places—to shift them to another land. Consequently, while the Israelites were taken to Babylon, many of those who had lived around Babylon were brought to live in the Samaritan province. This was done so that nationalities might thus be broken down and patriotism expire, thus making it easier for the Assyrian tyrant to govern the land.
"And so it was, at the beginning of their dwelling there, that they feared not Jehovah: therefore Jehovah sent lions among them, which killed some of them. Wherefore they spake to the king of Assyria, saying, The nations which thou hast carried away, and placed in the cities of Samaria, know not the law of the god of the land: therefore he hath sent lions among them, and, behold, they slay them, because they know not the law of the god of the land. Then the king of Assyria commanded, saying, Carry thither one of the priests whom ye brought from thence; and let them go and dwell there, and let him teach them the law of the god of the land." — 2 Kings 17:25-27 (ASV)
He did not care one single bit himself what their religion was. But if they did not happen to have a religion to suit the country, "Well, then, send one of the priests who used to live there who can teach them what it is." According to his notions, they could take it up just when they liked.
"So one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and dwelt in Beth-el, and taught them how they should fear Jehovah. Howbeit every nation made gods of their own, and put them in the houses of the high places which the Samaritans had made, every nation in their cities wherein they dwelt. And the men of Babylon made Succoth-benoth, and the men of Cuth made Nergal, and the men of Hamath made Ashima, and the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak; and the Sepharvites burnt their children in the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim." — 2 Kings 17:28-31 (ASV)
It would answer no practical purpose if I were to explain the meaning of the names of these various gods. Some of them had animal forms. Their worship generally involved the most lascivious rites, and especially the worship of Molech or Moloch, who is mentioned under two different forms here. He was a god whose worship culminated in the most dreadful cruelties, for children were passed through the fires and burnt in his honour.
"So they feared Jehovah, and made unto them from among themselves priests of the high places, who sacrificed for them in the houses of the high places. They feared Jehovah, and served their own gods, after the manner of the nations from among whom they had been carried away. Unto this day they do after the former manner: they fear not Jehovah, neither do they after their statutes, or after their ordinances, or after the law or after the commandment which Jehovah commanded the children of Jacob, whom he named Israel; with whom Jehovah had made a covenant, and charged them, saying, Ye shall not fear other gods, nor bow yourselves to them, nor serve them, nor sacrifice to them: but Jehovah, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt with great power and with an outstretched arm, him shall ye fear, and unto him shall ye bow yourselves, and to him shall ye sacrifice: and the statutes and the ordinances, and the law and the commandment, which he wrote for you, ye shall observe to do for evermore; and ye shall not fear other gods: and the covenant that I have made with you ye shall not forget; neither shall ye fear other gods:" — 2 Kings 17:32-38 (ASV)
How this warning comes over and over and over again! Hear, O Israel. The Lord your God is one God. The worship of anything else under any pretext whatsoever, besides the one ever-blessed trinity in unity, is forever forbidden to us.
"but Jehovah your God shall ye fear; and he will deliver you out of the hand of all your enemies. Howbeit they did not hearken, but they did after their former manner. So these nations feared Jehovah, and served their graven images; their children likewise, and their children`s children, as did their fathers, so do they unto this day." — 2 Kings 17:39-41 (ASV)
Trying, as far as ever they could, to link the old idolatries with the worship of the true God, which is the most loathsome in the sight of Most High.
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