2 Kings 17:36

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 36. _BUT THE LORD_] JEHOVAH, the supreme, self-existent, and eternal Being; author of all _being_ and _life_. This was to be the sole _object_ of their adoration. _WHO BROUGHT YOU UP_] This was a _strong reason_ why they should adore _Him_ only: he had saved them from the hands of their enemies, and he did it in such a _way_ as to show his _power_ to be irresistible; in such a Being they might safely confide. _HIM SHALL YE FEAR_] Here is the _manner_ in which he is to be worshipped. Him ye shall _reverence_ as your _Lawgiver_ and _Judge_; ye shall _respect_ and keep all his commandments; doing what he has enjoined, and avoiding what he has forbidden. _HIM SHALL YE WORSHIP_] Before Him ye shall _bow the knee_; living in the spirit of _obedience_, and performing every religious act in the _deepest humility_

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

BUT THE LORD, WHICH BROUGHT YOU UP OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT, WITH A GREAT POWER, AND A STRETCHED OUT ARM,.... Which is observed, to show the obligations they lay under, in point of gratitude, to serve the Lord: HIM SHALL YE FEAR, AND HIM SHALL YE WORSHIP, AND TO HIM SHALL YE DO SACRIFICE: and him only, and not other gods; none but he being the object of religious fear and divine worship, and to whom sacrifices should be offered....

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....

FEAR (_ See Scofield) - (Psalms 19:9). _...

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....

_with great power and a stretched out arm_ R.V. inserts WITH after _and_, as there is the preposition in the original text. _and him shall ye worship_ R.V. AND ONTO HIM SHALL YE HOW YOURSELVES. The verb is the same which is so rendered in the verse before. _shall ye do sacrifice_ R.V. omits _do_, as it is not given in 35 in the translation of this same verb....

B. THE REPOPULATION OF SAMARIA 17:24-41 TRANSLATION (24) And the king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, Ava, Hamath and from Sepharvaim, and made them dwell in the cities of Samaria in place of the children of Israel; and they possessed Samaria, and dwelt in her cities. (25) And it came to pass at the beginning of their dwelling there, they did not fear the LORD. And the LORD sent against them lions which slew some of them. (26) And they said to the king of Assyria, saying, The nations which you carried away and caused to dwell in the cities of Samaria do not know the manner of the God of the land, and He has sent among them lions; and behold they are killing them because they do not know the manner of the God of the land. (27) And the king of Assyria commanded, saying, Cause one of the priests which you carried away from there to go there, and let them go and dwell there...