2 Kings 17:30

_AND THE MEN OF BABYLON MADE SUCCOTHBENOTH, AND THE MEN OF CUTH MADE NERGAL, AND THE MEN OF HAMATH MADE ASHIMA,_ Succoth-benoth. - i:e., 'the tents or booths of the daughters,' similar to those in which the Babylonian damsels celebrated impure rites (Amos 2:8). Havernick, however, ('Introduction,' p. 86; cf. Hengstenberg, 'Beitr.,' sec. 160) considers this an anomalous and as yet unexplained form of expression, which must have not a Hebrew, but an Assyrian origin. NERGAL. The Jewish writers say this idol was in the form of a cock; and it is certain that a cock is often seen associated with a priest on the Assyrian monuments (Layard, 'Nineveh and Babylon,' p. 538). But modern critics, looking to the astrological character of Assyrian idolatry, generally consider Nergal as the planet Mars, the god of war. It was most natural that "the men of Cuth," when transplante

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....

Verse 30. _THE MEN OF BABYLON MADE SUCCOTH-BENOTH_] This, literally, signifies _the tabernacles of the daughters_ or _young_ _women_, and most evidently refers to those public prostitutions of young virgins at the temple of _Melitta_ or _Venus_ among the Babylonians. See at the end of the chapter. 2 Kings 17:31. From _benoth_ it is probable that the word _Venus_ came, the _B_ being changed into _V_, as is frequently the case, and the _th_ into _s, benoth, Venos_. The rabbins say that her emblem was a _hen with_ _her chickens_; see _Jarchi_ on the place. _THE MEN OF CUTH MADE NERGAL_] This is supposed to have been the _solar orb_ or _light_. According to the rabbins, his emblem was a _cock_. See at the end of the chapter....

Succoth-benoth probably represents a Babylonian goddess called Zir-banit, the wife of Merodach. She and her husband were, next to Bel and Beltis, the favorite divinities of the Babylonians. Nergal, etymologically “the great man,” or “the great hero,” was the Babylonian god of war and hunting. His name forms an element in the Babylonian royal appellation, Nergal-shar-ezar or Neriglissar. The Assyrian inscriptions connect Nergal in a very special way with Cutha, of which he was evidently the tutelary deity. Ashima is ingeniously conjectured to be the same as Esmun, the AEsculapius of the Cabiri or “great gods” of the Phoenicians....

EXPOSITION 2 KINGS 17:1 THE REIGN OF HOSHEA OVER ISRAEL. DESTRUCTION OF THE ISRAELITE KINGDOM, AND THE GROUNDS OF IT RE-PEOPLING OF THE KINGDOM BY ASSYRIAN COLONISTS. 2 KINGS 17:1 REIGN OF HOSHEA. Hoshea, the last King of Israel, had a short reign of nine years only, during two of which

AND THE MEN OF BABYLON MADE SUCCOTHBENOTH,.... That is, those that came from Babylon made and served an idol of this name, which, according to the Jewish writers u, were the figures of an hen and chickens; but others suppose them to be the Pleiades, or seven stars, the stars being had in great veneration by the Babylonians; though others rather think those Succothbenoth, "tabernacles", or "booths of the daughters", as the words may be rendered, have respect to the apartments in the temple of Venus, or Mylitta with the Babylonians and Assyrians, in which women once in their lives prostituted themselves to whomsoever asked them, in honour of Venus; of which filthy practice of theirs Herodotus w makes mention; and Valerius Maximus speaks x of a temple of Sicca Venus, which is near in sound to this, where the like impurities were committed: AND THE MEN OF CUTH MADE NERGAL; which, according...

2 Kings 17:23. _So was Israel carried away out of their own hand to Assyria this day. And the king of Assyria brought men from Babylon, and from Cuthah, and from Ava and from Hamath, and from 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._ It was a part of the tactics of the Assyrian empire to take people away from their original location and colonize them in other places to shift them to another land; so that while the Israelites were taken to Babylon, numbers of those who had lived round about Babylon were brought to live in the Samaritan province, in order that nationalities might thus be broken down and patriotism might expire, thus making it easier for the Assyrian tyrant to govern the land....

7. ASSYRIA CONQUERS ISRAEL AND THE CAPTIVITY CHAPTER 17 _ 1. Hoshea, Israel's last king (2 Kings 17:1)_ 2. Shalmaneser imprisons Hoshea (2 Kings 17:3) 3. Israel carried into captivity (2 Kings 17:5) 4. Retrospect and Israel's sins (2 Kings 17:7) 5. The colonization of Samaria (2 Kings 17:24) Israel's last king was Hoshea. His name means “deliverance.” It indicates what might have been had he and the people repented of their sins. The record of his character is brief. “And he did that which was

THE ORIGIN OF THE SAMARITANS. This is a somewhat mixed account. 2 Kings 17:24 describes the settlement of the land with captives from other parts of the Assyrian empire, and the sending of a priest to teach them the manner of the God of the country. Next, 2 Kings 17:29 relates that the new settlers not only feared (_i.e._ worshipped) Yahweh, but also served their own gods. Finally (2 Kings 17:34) there is a general statement regarding the sin of Israel. This has no connexion with what precedes, nor does it in any way describe the Samaritan religion. It is perhaps nothing more than a new description of the sins for which Israel and Judah were carried away captive....

AND. Note the Figure of speech _Polysyndeton_ (App-6) emphasizing the five nations brought into Palestine. Compare 2 Kings 17:24. Each brought its own gods. Thus (according to the language of the O.T.) Samaria committed adultery (idolatry) with five husbands (compare Isaiah 54:5 with Isaiah 23:17; Jeremiah 22:20; Hosea 2:10). Repeated individually in John 4:18. No wonder the woman worshipped she knew not what ...