Resettling Samaria and Syncretistic Worship
2 Kings 17:24-41
2 K.17.24 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויבא: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- מלך: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- אשור: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מבבל: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,prop
- ומכותה: CONJ+PREP+NOUN,f,sg,prop
- ומעוא: CONJ+PREP+NOUN,m,sg,prop
- ומחמת: CONJ+PREP+NOUN,f,sg,prop
- וספרוים: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,prop
- וישב: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- בערי: PREP+NOUN,f,pl,const
- שמרון: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- תחת: PREP
- בני: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וירשו: CONJ+VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- שמרון: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- וישבו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- בעריה: PREP+NOUN,f,pl,cstr+3fs
Parallels
- 2 Kings 17:6 (structural): Describes the deportation of the northern Israelite population to Assyria — the immediate background for the Assyrian repopulation of Samaria in v.24.
- 2 Kings 17:26 (verbal): After the new settlers are placed in Samaria (v.24), the Assyrian king commands that an Israelite priest be sent among them to teach the worship of the land — a direct continuation of the resettlement narrative.
- 2 Kings 17:30-33 (structural): Gives the religious practices of the peoples brought to Samaria, showing how the repopulation led to a mixed, syncretistic cult — a thematic consequence of v.24.
- Ezra 4:2 (allusion): Later postexilic sources record inhabitants of the land (Samaritans) claiming to worship the God of Israel and seeking to join the returned Jews — an echo of the mixed populations introduced in 2 Kings 17:24.
- John 4:9 (thematic): The New Testament reflects the long-term existence of Samaritans as a distinct group (the Samaritan woman’s dialogue with Jesus), an outcome traceable to the Assyrian resettlement described in v.24.
Alternative generated candidates
- The king of Assyria brought men from Babylon, from Cuthah, from Avva, from Hamath, and from Sepharvaim, and settled them in the cities of Samaria instead of the people of Israel; they possessed Samaria and dwelt in its towns.
- The king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath and Sepharvaim, and settled them in the cities of Samaria in place of the children of Israel; they took possession of Samaria and lived in its towns.
2 K.17.25 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויהי: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- בתחלת: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,cons
- שבתם: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,pl
- שם: ADV
- לא: PART_NEG
- יראו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- וישלח: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- בהם: PREP+PRON,3,m,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- האריות: NOUN,m,pl,def
- ויהיו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- הרגים: VERB,qal,ptcp,NA,m,pl
- בהם: PREP+PRON,3,m,pl
Parallels
- 1 Kings 13:24 (verbal): A man of God is killed by a lion; like 2 Kings 17:25, a lion acts as an agent bringing death—portraying a wild animal as the instrument of divine retribution.
- Ezekiel 5:17 (thematic): God threatens to send ‘famine and wild beasts’ among the people as punishment—paralleling the motif of Yahweh dispatching animals (lions) to punish unfaithfulness.
- Jeremiah 5:6 (thematic): Jeremiah speaks of a lion from the forest and a wolf of the desert that will slay/destroy because of Israel’s sin—uses wild animals as instruments of divine judgment similar to 2 Kgs 17:25.
- Hosea 13:7–8 (allusion): Yahweh likens himself to a lion who will tear and devour his people for their unfaithfulness—echoing the idea that the LORD’s activity can be pictured as a lion bringing punishment.
Alternative generated candidates
- When they began to live there they did not fear the LORD, so the LORD sent lions among them, which killed some of them.
- At the beginning of their settling there they did not fear the LORD; therefore the LORD sent lions among them, which killed some of them.
2 K.17.26 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמרו: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,pl
- למלך: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אשור: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לאמר: INF,qal,infc
- הגוים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- הגלית: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,sg
- ותושב: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בערי: PREP+NOUN,f,pl,const
- שמרון: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- לא: PART_NEG
- ידעו: VERB,qal,perf,3,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- משפט: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אלהי: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- הארץ: NOUN,f,sg,def
- וישלח: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- בם: PREP+PRON,3,m,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- האריות: NOUN,m,pl,def
- והנם: CONJ+DEM,3,m,pl
- ממיתים: VERB,qal,ptc,3,m,pl
- אותם: PRON,3,m,pl,obj
- כאשר: CONJ
- אינם: NEG+PRON,3,m,pl
- ידעים: VERB,qal,ptc,3,m,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- משפט: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אלהי: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- הארץ: NOUN,f,sg,def
Parallels
- 2 Kings 17:24 (structural): Immediate narrative context: Assyria resettles peoples in the cities of Samaria — background to the statement that the transplanted nations did not know the god of the land.
- 2 Kings 17:28 (verbal): Repeats and develops the same theme: the new settlers 'did not know the law of the God of the land' and request a priest to teach them how to worship, directly connected to v.26.
- Leviticus 26:22 (verbal): Divine retribution language: God warns that he will 'send wild beasts' among the people as punishment — parallels the reported sending of lions among the settlers.
- Deuteronomy 32:24 (thematic): Song of Moses imagery of God sending wild beasts/teeth of beasts upon people as part of divine judgment, thematically paralleling the motif of beasts sent because of ignorance or disobedience.
Alternative generated candidates
- They spoke to the king of Assyria, saying, “The nations whom you have deported and set in the cities of Samaria do not know the law of the God of the land; therefore he has sent lions among them, and behold—they kill them, because they do not know the law of the God of the land.”
- So they spoke to the king of Assyria, saying, “The peoples whom you removed and settled in the cities of Samaria do not know the ordinances of the god of the land; therefore he has sent lions among them, and behold, they are killing them because they do not know the ordinances of the god of the land.”
2 K.17.27 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויצו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- מלך: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- אשור: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לאמר: INF,qal,infc
- הליכו: VERB,qal,impv,2,m,pl
- שמה: ADV
- אחד: NUM,card,m,sg
- מהכהנים: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- הגליתם: VERB,hiphil,perf,2,m,pl
- משם: PREP
- וילכו: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,pl
- וישבו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- שם: ADV
- וירם: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- משפט: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אלהי: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- הארץ: NOUN,f,sg,def
Parallels
- 2 Kings 17:28-41 (structural): Immediate continuation of v.27: narrates the Assyrian resettlement program (bringing in a priest), the establishment of foreign cults, and the syncretistic results in the former Israelite territory.
- 2 Kings 17:30 (verbal): Closely related wording and theme—lists how each transplanted people made gods for themselves, paralleling the commissioning of a priest to teach local worship practices.
- Deuteronomy 12:29-32 (thematic): Warning against adopting the religious practices of the nations inhabiting the land; contrasts with the Assyrian policy of installing foreign cults and priests among Israel's former inhabitants.
- Ezekiel 8:6-12 (thematic): Prophetic exposure of priestly and communal involvement in foreign/abominable worship—parallels the problem of priests instructing people in non-Yahwistic cults.
- 1 Kings 11:11-13 (thematic): Divine judgment on Israelite monarchy for tolerance of foreign gods and idolatry; provides theological background for the exile and the subsequent imposition of foreign religious practices described in 2 Kgs 17:27.
Alternative generated candidates
- Then the king of Assyria commanded, “Send one of the priests whom you deported from there; let him go and live there and teach them the law of the God of the land.”
- Then the king of Assyria commanded, “Send there one of the priests whom you carried away from there; let him go and live there and let him set up the ordinances of the god of the land.”
2 K.17.28 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויבא: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- אחד: NUM,card,m,sg
- מהכהנים: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- הגלו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- משמרון: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וישב: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- בבית: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,def
- אל: NEG
- ויהי: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- מורה: VERB,qal,ptcp,NA,m,sg
- אתם: PRON,2,m,pl
- איך: ADV
- ייראו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- 2 Kgs 17:27 (structural): Immediate context: explains that the foreign settlers feared the LORD at first because a priest from Samaria was sent to live among them — directly parallels the same event.
- 2 Kgs 17:29 (structural): Follows the same episode by describing how the settlers appointed priests from among themselves — relates to issues of irregular/imitative priesthood introduced in v.28.
- Judg 17:5-13 (thematic): The story of Micah’s private shrine and hireling priest parallels the phenomenon of unauthorized or improvised priests serving local communities and fostering syncretistic worship.
- Ezek 44:23 (thematic): Ezekiel’s rule that priests are to teach the people the difference between holy and common echoes the priest’s role in v.28 of instructing the inhabitants how to ‘fear the LORD.’
- Mal 2:7 (verbal): ‘For the priest’s lips should preserve knowledge’ emphasizes the priestly duty to teach and instruct the people, resonating with the priest from Samaria who taught proper worship.
Alternative generated candidates
- So one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and settled in Bethel and taught them how they should fear the LORD.
- One of the priests whom they had carried away came and lived in Bethel and was teaching them how they should fear the LORD.
2 K.17.29 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויהיו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- עשים: VERB,qal,inf
- גוי: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- גוי: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אלהיו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
- ויניחו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- בבית: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,def
- הבמות: NOUN,f,pl,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- עשו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- השמרנים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- גוי: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- גוי: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בעריהם: PREP+NOUN,f,pl,abs,3,m,pl
- אשר: PRON,rel
- הם: PRON,personal,3,m,pl
- ישבים: VERB,qal,part,3,m,pl
- שם: ADV
Parallels
- 2 Kings 17:33 (structural): Same narrative context and immediately parallel statement: the people ‘feared the LORD and served their own gods,’ repeating the syncretistic situation described in v.29 within the same chapter.
- Judges 17:6 (thematic): Both passages depict religious decentralization and local self-determination in worship—‘every man did that which was right in his own eyes’ parallels nations making and worshiping their own gods.
- Deuteronomy 12:2–3 (verbal): Deuteronomy’s command to destroy ‘high places’ (bāmôṯ) contrasts with 2 Kgs 17:29 where nations place their gods in the high places; uses the same terminology and addresses the issue of cultic sites.
- 1 Kings 11:7, 33 (thematic): Solomon’s building of high places for foreign gods and the nation’s ensuing idolatry mirrors the phenomenon in 2 Kgs 17:29—installation of other deities and worship at high places leading to syncretism.
Alternative generated candidates
- They made for themselves each nation its own gods and set them up in the high places that the Samaritans had made—each nation in the cities where they dwelt.
- Thus each nation made for itself the gods of its own people and placed them in the high places that the Samaritans had made—every nation in the cities where they dwelt.
2 K.17.30 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ואנשי: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,cons
- בבל: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- עשו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- סכות: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- בנות: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- ואנשי: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,cons
- כות: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- עשו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- נרגל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ואנשי: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,cons
- חמת: NOUN,f,sg,cons
- עשו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- אשימא: NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- 2 Kings 17:29 (structural): Immediate context: neighboring verse lists other foreign settlers and the specific deities they introduced into Samaria, forming a continuous catalogue of imported cults.
- Judges 18:30 (thematic): The Danites set up a graven image and established foreign worship in Israelite territory—parallel pattern of non‑Yahwistic cultic installations within Israel.
- Judges 2:11-13 (thematic): General depiction of Israel abandoning Yahweh to serve Baals and foreign deities, echoing the syncretism and apostasy seen when settlers brought their gods.
- Ezekiel 8:14-16 (allusion): Visionary exposure of foreign cult practices (women weeping for Tammuz; sun worship) inside Israel’s sacred spaces—comparable examples of imported Near Eastern religious rites.
- 1 Kings 11:4-8 (thematic): Solomon’s foreign wives lead him to build shrines and burn incense to foreign gods (Ashtoreth, Milcom, Chemosh), illustrating elite‑sponsored adoption of non‑Yahwistic deities similar to the settlers’ worship.
Alternative generated candidates
- The men of Babylon made Succoth‑benoth; the men of Cuth made Nergal; the men of Hamath made Ashima.
- The men of Babylon made Succoth‑benoth; the men of Cuth made Nergal; the men of Hamath made Ashima.
2 K.17.31 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- והעוים: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,def
- עשו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- נבחז: PNOUN,m,sg
- ואת: CONJ
- תרתק: PNOUN,m,sg
- והספרוים: CONJ+PNOUN,m,pl
- שרפים: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- בניהם: NOUN,m,pl,abs+3,pl
- באש: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- לאדרמלך: PREP+PNOUN,m,sg
- וענמלך: CONJ+PNOUN,m,sg
- אלהי: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- ספרוים: PNOUN,m,pl
Parallels
- 2 Kings 17:17 (verbal): Same chapter reports Israelites 'burning their sons and daughters in the fire'—directly parallels the report of child sacrifice to foreign gods in v.31.
- Deuteronomy 12:31 (verbal): Explicitly condemns the practice 'they even burn their sons and daughters in the fire to their gods'—language and theme closely mirror 2 Kgs 17:31.
- Leviticus 18:21 (thematic): Prohibits offering children to Molech; provides the Mosaic legal background against which Israelite child sacrifice (as in 2 Kgs 17:31) is judged abominable.
- Jeremiah 7:31 (thematic): Condemns burning children in the Valley of Ben‑Hinnom as sacrifice—prophetic denunciation of the same cultic practice described in 2 Kgs 17:31.
- 2 Kings 23:10 (structural): Describes King Josiah defiling Topheth to prevent child sacrifice—illustrates later reformist reaction to the very practice attributed to foreign cults in 2 Kgs 17:31.
Alternative generated candidates
- The Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak; and the Sepharvites burned their children in the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim.
- The Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak; and the Sepharvites burned their children in the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim.
2 K.17.32 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויהיו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- יראים: ADJ,m,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- ויעשו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- להם: PREP+PRON,3,m,pl
- מקצותם: PREP+NOUN,f,pl,abs+PRON,3,m,pl
- כהני: NOUN,m,pl,cons
- במות: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ויהיו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- עשים: VERB,qal,inf
- להם: PREP+PRON,3,m,pl
- בבית: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,def
- הבמות: NOUN,f,pl,def
Parallels
- 2Kgs.17.33 (verbal): Near-identical language and idea in the same narrative: they ‘feared the LORD’ yet served their own gods—direct verbal parallel within the chapter.
- 2Kgs.17.34-41 (structural): Continuation of the chapter describing the settlers’ syncretism—how they maintained Yahweh-fear in form while practising idolatry and local cults.
- Judg.2.11-13 (thematic): Early pattern of Israelite apostasy: the people ‘forsook the LORD’ and served Baal and other gods—theme of covenantal infidelity and syncretism.
- Ps.106.36-38 (thematic): A liturgical/historical summary condemning Israelites who sacrificed to idols/demons and mingled with the nations—parallels the charge of serving foreign gods despite proximity to Yahweh.
- Jer.2.11 (allusion): Prophetic indictment of a people exchanging the true God for false gods—captures the theological criticism behind the statement that they ‘served their own gods.’
Alternative generated candidates
- They feared the LORD, yet they served their own gods and appointed from among themselves priests for the high places, who served in the shrines.
- They feared the LORD, and they appointed from among themselves priests for the high places, and they sacrificed in the high places.
2 K.17.33 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- את: PRT,acc
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- היו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- יראים: ADJ,m,pl
- ואת: CONJ
- אלהיהם: NOUN,m,pl,abs+3mp
- היו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- עבדים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- כמשפט: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הגוים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- הגלו: VERB,hiph,perf,3,m,pl
- אתם: PRON,2,m,pl
- משם: PREP
Parallels
- 1 Kings 12:28-33 (structural): Describes Israelite worship of alternative cultic sites and idols (golden calves, high places) established after the nation’s division—parallels syncretistic practice of fearing YHWH while serving other gods.
- Deuteronomy 28:64 (allusion): A warning that exile will scatter Israel among nations where they will serve other gods of wood and stone—anticipates the situation described in 2 Kgs 17:33 (exilic influence leading to dual worship).
- Psalm 106:36-38 (thematic): The psalm recounts Israel sacrificing to idols and shedding innocent blood—an indictment of the same idolatrous syncretism and covenant unfaithfulness reflected in 2 Kings 17:33.
- Ezekiel 20:30-32 (thematic): God charges that Israel profanes His holy name among the nations and follows detestable practices—echoes the idea that exile and contact with foreign nations produced worship of other deities alongside YHWH.
Alternative generated candidates
- They feared the LORD, and yet they served their idols—according to the custom of the nations from whom they had been carried away.
- They feared the LORD and served their own gods, according to the ordinances of the nations from which they had been carried away.
2 K.17.34 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- עד: PREP
- היום: NOUN,m,sg,def
- הזה: DEM,m,sg
- הם: PRON,personal,3,m,pl
- עשים: VERB,qal,inf
- כמשפטים: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- הראשנים: ADJ,m,pl,def
- אינם: PART_NEG
- יראים: ADJ,m,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- ואינם: CONJ+PART_NEG
- עשים: VERB,qal,inf
- כחקתם: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs+PRON,3,m,pl
- וכמשפטם: CONJ+PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs+PRON,3,m,pl
- וכתורה: CONJ+PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- וכמצוה: CONJ+PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- אשר: PRON,rel
- צוה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- את: PRT,acc
- בני: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- יעקב: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אשר: PRON,rel
- שם: ADV
- שמו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- 2 Kings 17:41 (verbal): Same context and near-verbatim idea — the foreign nations 'feared the LORD, yet served their own gods' and 'did after their former manner,' closely mirroring v.34's depiction of not keeping Israel's statutes.
- Deuteronomy 4:5-8 (structural): Speaks of the statutes and judgments given to Israel and their distinctiveness among the nations; provides the legal/theological background for v.34's claim that the nations did not keep Israel's law and commandments.
- Ezekiel 20:12,13,21 (thematic): Ezekiel recounts that God gave the Israelites 'my statutes and judgments' but they disobeyed and profaned them — paralleling v.34's emphasis that the peoples did not fear the LORD nor observe His statutes and ordinances.
- Psalm 78:10 (thematic): Describes Israel's failure to 'keep the covenant' and refusal to 'walk in his law,' reflecting the same theme in v.34 of not fearing the LORD and not following His statutes.
Alternative generated candidates
- To this day they do according to their former practices: they do not fear the LORD, nor do they observe the statutes and ordinances, the law and the commandment that the LORD gave to the descendants of Jacob, whom he named Israel.
- To this day they do according to their former practices; they do not fear the LORD, nor do they keep their statutes or their ordinances, nor the law and commandment that the LORD commanded the sons of Jacob, whom he named Israel.
2 K.17.35 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויכרת: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אתם: PRON,2,m,pl
- ברית: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ויצום: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- לאמר: INF,qal,infc
- לא: PART_NEG
- תיראו: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,pl
- אלהים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- אחרים: ADJ,m,pl,abs
- ולא: CONJ
- תשתחוו: VERB,hitp,impf,2,m,pl
- להם: PREP+PRON,3,m,pl
- ולא: CONJ
- תעבדום: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,pl+PRON,3,pl
- ולא: CONJ
- תזבחו: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,pl
- להם: PREP+PRON,3,m,pl
Parallels
- Exodus 20:3-5 (verbal): The Decalogue forbids other gods, worship, service and idolatrous sacrifices—close verbal and conceptual overlap with the command not to fear, bow to, serve, or sacrifice to other gods.
- Deuteronomy 5:7 (verbal): Restates the first commandment (‘You shall have no other gods before me’), echoing the same prohibition against other deities present in 2 Kgs 17:35.
- Deuteronomy 6:14-15 (thematic): Warns Israel not to follow other gods, linking covenant faithfulness to exclusive worship of YHWH—the same covenantal demand addressed in 2 Kgs 17:35.
- Leviticus 26:1 (verbal): Forbids making idols, set-ups of images, and bowing to them—parallels the prohibition against worshiping and serving other gods in 2 Kgs 17:35.
- Jeremiah 7:23 (allusion): Recalls the covenant command to ‘obey my voice’ and do my commandments, emphasizing covenant obedience and exclusive loyalty to YHWH as in 2 Kgs 17:35.
Alternative generated candidates
- For the LORD made a covenant with them and charged: “You shall not fear other gods, nor bow down to them, nor serve them, nor sacrifice to them.”
- For the LORD made a covenant with them and charged them, “You shall not fear other gods, nor bow yourselves to them, nor serve them, nor sacrifice to them.”
2 K.17.36 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- כי: CONJ
- אם: CONJ
- את: PRT,acc
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אשר: PRON,rel
- העלה: NOUN,f,sg,abs,def
- אתכם: PRT+PRON,2,m,pl
- מארץ: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- מצרים: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- בכח: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- גדול: ADJ,m,sg,abs
- ובזרוע: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- נטויה: ADJ,f,sg,abs
- אתו: PRON,3,m,sg,acc
- תיראו: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,pl
- ולו: CONJ+PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- תשתחוו: VERB,hitp,impf,2,m,pl
- ולו: CONJ+PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- תזבחו: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,pl
Parallels
- Exodus 6:6 (verbal): Uses the same phrasing: God will bring Israel out of Egypt 'with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm'—the verbal motif cited in 2 Kings 17:36.
- Exodus 20:2 (thematic): The Decalogue opens by identifying Yahweh as the one who brought Israel out of Egypt, which undergirds the demand to fear and worship him found in 2 Kgs 17:36.
- Deuteronomy 5:6 (verbal): Repeats the formula 'I am the LORD who brought you out of the land of Egypt,' echoing the same grounding for exclusive devotion reflected in 2 Kgs 17:36.
- Deuteronomy 6:13 (thematic): Commands Israel to 'fear the LORD your God, serve him, and swear by his name,' paralleling 2 Kgs 17:36's call to fear, worship, and offer sacrifices to Yahweh alone.
- Isaiah 63:11-12 (allusion): Recounts God's mighty deliverance from Egypt 'by his glorious arm' and his guidance of the people—an allusion to the covenantal act that justifies Israel's exclusive worship in 2 Kgs 17:36.
Alternative generated candidates
- But only the LORD you shall fear—the one who brought you up out of the land of Egypt with great power and an outstretched arm; to him you shall bow, and to him you shall offer sacrifice.
- But you shall fear the LORD your God; he it is who brought you up out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. To him you shall fear; to him you shall bow; to him you shall sacrifice.
2 K.17.37 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ואת: CONJ
- החקים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- ואת: CONJ
- המשפטים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- והתורה: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,def
- והמצוה: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- כתב: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- לכם: PREP,2,m,pl
- תשמרון: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,pl
- לעשות: VERB,qal,inf
- כל: DET
- הימים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- ולא: CONJ
- תיראו: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,pl
- אלהים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- אחרים: ADJ,m,pl,abs
Parallels
- Deuteronomy 6:24-25 (verbal): God's command to observe statutes and ordinances and the resulting fear/reverence of the LORD closely parallels the language and purpose of keeping the law and not fearing other gods.
- Deuteronomy 5:32-33 (verbal): The injunction to be careful to do what the LORD has commanded (not turning aside) echoes the call here to keep the statutes and commandments continually.
- Leviticus 18:4-5 (verbal): The phrasing 'follow my statutes and keep my rules' and the promise of life for obedience parallels 2 Kgs 17:37's summons to observe the statutes, judgments and commandments.
- 2 Kings 17:33 (structural): Immediate context: whereas v.33 records that the people 'feared the LORD but served their own gods,' v.37 issues the opposite command—observe the law and do not fear other gods—highlighting the contrast.
Alternative generated candidates
- You shall keep the statutes, the ordinances, the law and the commandment that he wrote for you, and do them all the days; you shall not fear other gods.
- And you shall keep the statutes and the ordinances, the law and the commandments that he wrote for you—to do them all the days; you shall not fear other gods.
2 K.17.38 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- והברית: NOUN,f,sg,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- כרתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,_,sg
- אתכם: PRT+PRON,2,m,pl
- לא: PART_NEG
- תשכחו: VERB,qal,impf,2,pl
- ולא: CONJ
- תיראו: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,pl
- אלהים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- אחרים: ADJ,m,pl,abs
Parallels
- Deuteronomy 4:23-24 (verbal): Explicit warning not to forget the covenant with Yahweh and prohibition against other gods; language and theological concern (jealous God) echo 2 Kgs 17:38.
- Deuteronomy 6:12-14 (verbal): Commands Israel not to forget the LORD when prosperous and forbids following other gods—directly parallels the admonition in 2 Kgs 17:38.
- Deuteronomy 8:11-14 (thematic): Warning that prosperity can lead Israel to forget the covenant and turn to other gods, developing the same theme of covenantal faithfulness found in 2 Kgs 17:38.
- Exodus 34:14 (verbal): Prohibits worship of other gods and emphasizes Yahweh’s jealousy—verbal/theological parallel to the command in 2 Kgs 17:38.
- 2 Kings 17:39 (structural): Immediate literary parallel in the same passage: continues the covenant admonition, calling Israel to fear the LORD (contrasting fearing other gods in v.38).
Alternative generated candidates
- You shall not forget the covenant that I have made with you; do not fear other gods.
- You shall not forget the covenant that I made with you; you shall not fear other gods.
2 K.17.39 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- כי: CONJ
- אם: CONJ
- את: PRT,acc
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אלהיכם: NOUN,m,pl,abs+PRON,2,m,pl
- תיראו: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,pl
- והוא: CONJ+PRON,3,m,sg
- יציל: VERB,piel,impf,3,ms
- אתכם: PRT+PRON,2,m,pl
- מיד: PREP
- כל: DET
- איביכם: NOUN,m,pl,abs+PRON,2,pl,m
Parallels
- Deuteronomy 6:13 (verbal): Uses the same imperative formula 'Fear the LORD your God' (יִרְאֵ֣ה יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ), linking exclusive reverence to covenant obligations that undergird God's care.
- Deuteronomy 28:7 (thematic): A covenantal blessing promising that the LORD will cause enemies to be defeated before Israel—parallels the promise that fearing God results in deliverance from foes.
- Psalm 34:7 (verbal): States that 'the angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them'—an explicit verbal link between fearing God and divine deliverance.
- Proverbs 14:26 (thematic): Portrays the 'fear of the LORD' as a secure refuge providing confidence and protection, thematically connecting reverent fear with deliverance from harm.
Alternative generated candidates
- You shall fear the LORD your God; he will deliver you from the hand of all your enemies.”
- But you shall fear the LORD your God; he will deliver you from the hand of all your enemies.”
2 K.17.40 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ולא: CONJ
- שמעו: VERB,qal,impv,2,m,pl
- כי: CONJ
- אם: CONJ
- כמשפטם: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,pl
- הראשון: ADJ,m,sg,def
- הם: PRON,personal,3,m,pl
- עשים: VERB,qal,inf
Parallels
- Jeremiah 7:24 (verbal): Uses the same rebuke — 'they did not listen' — and depicts Israel's return to previous sinful practices despite warnings (echo of 'they did according to their former ways').
- Ezekiel 20:8 (verbal): God says 'they did not listen' after being warned not to follow their fathers' practices; the language and idea of disobedience and reverting to former customs echo 2 Kgs 17:40.
- Judges 2:19 (thematic): After a judge died the people 'turned back' and behaved more corruptly than their fathers, returning to earlier practices — a thematic parallel about repeating former sins.
- 2 Chronicles 36:16 (verbal): Describes the people mocking God's messengers and not listening, provoking judgment — parallels the refusal to heed instruction and persistence in former ways found in 2 Kgs 17:40.
Alternative generated candidates
- But they did not listen; rather they followed their earlier practices.
- However they did not listen; they did according to their former customs.
2 K.17.41 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויהיו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- הגוים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- האלה: DEM,pl
- יראים: ADJ,m,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- ואת: CONJ
- פסיליהם: NOUN,m,pl,abs+3,m,pl
- היו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- עבדים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- גם: ADV
- בניהם: NOUN,m,pl,abs+3,pl
- ובני: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,cons
- בניהם: NOUN,m,pl,abs+3,pl
- כאשר: CONJ
- עשו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- אבתם: NOUN,m,pl,abs,3,m,pl
- הם: PRON,personal,3,m,pl
- עשים: VERB,qal,inf
- עד: PREP
- היום: NOUN,m,sg,def
- הזה: DEM,m,sg
Parallels
- Judges 2:10-13 (structural): Both passages describe generations who forget YHWH and turn to the worship of other gods; the recurrent pattern—parents’ idolatry echoed by their children—is central in Judges and in 2 Kgs 17:41.
- Psalm 115:4-8 (verbal): Psalm contrasts the living God with mute idols and observes that those who make or trust idols become like them, echoing the coexistence of fear of the LORD and service to graven images noted in 2 Kgs 17:41.
- Jeremiah 2:11-13 (allusion): Jeremiah condemns God’s people for exchanging the true God for worthless idols and for establishing ‘broken cisterns,’ a theme parallel to the mixed devotion—fearing YHWH yet serving idols—found in 2 Kgs 17:41.
- Isaiah 44:9-20 (thematic): Isaiah satirizes idol-making and idolatry and stresses the futility and continuity of worshiping man-made gods, paralleling the depiction of persistent, generational idol worship in 2 Kgs 17:41.
Alternative generated candidates
- These nations feared the LORD and yet served their carved images; their children and their children’s children continue to do as their fathers did to this day.
- These nations feared the LORD and served their carved images; also their children and their children's children—just as their fathers did—so they do to this day.
And the king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, from Cuthah, from Ava, from Hamath, and from Sepharvaim; and he settled them in the cities of Samaria instead of the sons of Israel. They took possession of Samaria and dwelt in its cities.
At the beginning of their settlement there they did not fear the LORD; so the LORD sent lions among them, and they killed some of them.
Then they reported to the king of Assyria: “The peoples whom you deported and settled in the cities of Samaria do not know the laws of the gods of the land; therefore he has sent lions among them, and behold, they are killing them, because they do not know the laws of the gods of the land.”
The king of Assyria then commanded: “Send one of the priests whom you brought from there; let him go and live there, and teach them the laws of the gods of the land.”
One of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and settled in Bethel, and he taught them how they should fear the LORD. So each people made for themselves gods of its own and placed them in the high places the Samaritans had made, each people in the cities where they lived.
The men of Babylon made Succoth‑benoth; the men of Cuth made Nergal; the men of Hamath made Ashima.
The Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak; and the Sepharvites burned their children in the fire for Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim.
They feared the LORD, yet they appointed from among themselves priests of the high places and offered sacrifices at the high places.
They feared the LORD and served their own gods—after the customs of the nations from which they had been deported.
To this day they do according to their former practices; they do not fear the LORD and they do not observe their statutes and ordinances—the law and the commandment that the LORD commanded the descendants of Jacob, whose name he called Israel.
When the LORD made a covenant with them he charged them: “You shall not fear other gods, nor bow down to them, nor serve them, nor offer sacrifices to them. But to the LORD who brought you up from the land of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand you shall fear; to him you shall bow down, and to him you shall offer sacrifices.
You shall keep the statutes, the judgments, the law and the commandment that he wrote for you—observe them all the days; and you shall not fear other gods.
You shall not forget the covenant that I have made with you; do not forget it, and do not fear other gods. But you shall fear the LORD your God; he will save you from the hand of all your enemies.”
They did not heed; rather they followed their former practices.
These nations feared the LORD and served their carved images; so too did their children and their children's children—doing as their fathers did—down to this day.