2 Kings 17 : 1 (HCSB)
In the twelfth year of Judah's King Ahaz, Hoshea son of Elah became king over Israel in Samaria; *he reigned nine years.
2 Kings 17 : 2 (HCSB)
He did what was evil in the LORD's sight, but not like the kings of Israel who preceded him.
2 Kings 17 : 3 (HCSB)
Shalmaneser king of Assyria attacked him, and Hoshea became his vassal and paid him tribute money.
2 Kings 17 : 4 (HCSB)
But the king of Assyria discovered a conspiracy by Hoshea-- he had sent envoys to So king of Egypt and had not paid tribute money to the king of Assyria as in previous years. Therefore, the king of Assyria arrested him and put him in prison.
2 Kings 17 : 5 (HCSB)
Then the king of Assyria invaded the whole land, marched up to Samaria, and besieged it for three years.
2 Kings 17 : 6 (HCSB)
In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria captured Samaria. He deported the Israelites to Assyria and settled them in Halah and by the Habor, Gozan's river, and in the cities of the Medes.
2 Kings 17 : 7 (HCSB)
*This disaster happened because the people of Israel had sinned against the LORD their God who had brought them out of the land of Egypt from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt and because they had worshiped other gods.
2 Kings 17 : 8 (HCSB)
They had lived according to the customs of the nations that the LORD had dispossessed before the Israelites and the customs the kings of Israel had introduced.
2 Kings 17 : 9 (HCSB)
The Israelites secretly did what was not right against the LORD their God. They built high places in all their towns from watchtower to fortified city.
2 Kings 17 : 10 (HCSB)
They set up for themselves sacred pillars and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every green tree.
2 Kings 17 : 11 (HCSB)
They burned incense on all the high places just like those nations that the LORD had driven out before them. They did evil things, provoking the LORD.
2 Kings 17 : 12 (HCSB)
They served idols, although the LORD had told them, "You must not do this."
2 Kings 17 : 13 (HCSB)
Still, the LORD warned Israel and Judah through every prophet and every seer, saying, "Turn from your evil ways and keep My commandments and statutes according to all the law I commanded your ancestors and sent to you through My servants the prophets."
2 Kings 17 : 14 (HCSB)
But they would not listen. Instead, they became obstinate like their ancestors who did not believe the LORD their God.
2 Kings 17 : 15 (HCSB)
They rejected His statutes and His covenant He had made with their ancestors and the warnings He had given them. They pursued worthless idols and became worthless themselves, following the surrounding nations the LORD had commanded them not to imitate.
2 Kings 17 : 16 (HCSB)
They abandoned all the commandments of the LORD their God. They made for themselves molded images-- even two calves-- and an Asherah pole. They worshiped the whole heavenly host and served Baal.
2 Kings 17 : 17 (HCSB)
They made their sons and daughters pass through the fire and practiced divination and interpreted omens. They devoted themselves to do what was evil in the LORD's sight and provoked Him.
2 Kings 17 : 18 (HCSB)
Therefore, the LORD was very angry with Israel, and He removed them from His presence. Only the tribe of Judah remained.
2 Kings 17 : 19 (HCSB)
Even Judah did not keep the commandments of the LORD their God but lived according to the customs Israel had introduced.
2 Kings 17 : 20 (HCSB)
So the LORD rejected all the descendants of Israel, afflicted them, and handed them over to plunderers until He had banished them from His presence.
2 Kings 17 : 21 (HCSB)
When the LORD tore Israel from the house of David, Israel made Jeroboam son of Nebat king. Then Jeroboam led Israel away from following the LORD and caused them to commit great sin.
2 Kings 17 : 22 (HCSB)
The Israelites persisted in all the sins that Jeroboam committed and did not turn away from them.
2 Kings 17 : 23 (HCSB)
Finally, the LORD removed Israel from His presence just as He had declared through all His servants the prophets. So Israel has been exiled to Assyria from their homeland until today.
2 Kings 17 : 24 (HCSB)
Then the king of Assyria brought *people from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sepharvaim and settled them in place of the Israelites in the cities of Samaria. The settlers took possession of Samaria and lived in its cities.
2 Kings 17 : 25 (HCSB)
When they first lived there, they did not fear the LORD. So the LORD sent lions among them, which killed some of them.
2 Kings 17 : 26 (HCSB)
The settlers spoke to the king of Assyria, saying, "The nations that you have deported and placed in the cities of Samaria do not know the custom of the God of the land. Therefore, He has sent lions among them, which are killing them because the people don't know the custom of the God of the land."
2 Kings 17 : 27 (HCSB)
Then the king of Assyria issued a command: "Send back one of the priests you deported. Have him go and live there so he can teach them the custom of the God of the land."
2 Kings 17 : 28 (HCSB)
So one of the priests they had deported came and lived in Bethel, and he began to teach them how they should fear the LORD.
2 Kings 17 : 29 (HCSB)
But *the people of each nation, in the cities where they lived, were still making their own gods and putting them in the shrines of the high places that the Samaritans had made.
2 Kings 17 : 30 (HCSB)
The men of Babylon made Succoth-benoth, the men of Cuth made Nergal, the men of Hamath made Ashima,
2 Kings 17 : 31 (HCSB)
the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burned their children in the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of the Sepharvaim.
2 Kings 17 : 32 (HCSB)
So they feared the LORD, but they also appointed from their number, priests to serve them in the shrines of the high places.
2 Kings 17 : 33 (HCSB)
They feared the LORD, but they also worshiped their own gods according to the custom of the nations where they had been deported from.
2 Kings 17 : 34 (HCSB)
They are *still practicing the former customs to this day. None of them fear the LORD or observe their statutes and ordinances, the law and commandments the LORD commanded the descendants of Jacob; He renamed him Israel.
2 Kings 17 : 35 (HCSB)
The LORD made a covenant with them and commanded them, "Do not fear other gods; do not bow down to them; do not serve them; do not sacrifice to them.
2 Kings 17 : 36 (HCSB)
Instead, fear the LORD, who brought you from the land of Egypt with great power and an outstretched arm. You are to bow down to Him, and you are to sacrifice to Him.
2 Kings 17 : 37 (HCSB)
You are to be careful always to observe the statutes, the ordinances, the laws, and the commandment He wrote for you; do not fear other gods.
2 Kings 17 : 38 (HCSB)
Do not forget the covenant that I have made with you. Do not fear other gods,
2 Kings 17 : 39 (HCSB)
but fear the LORD your God, and He will deliver you from the hand of all your enemies."
2 Kings 17 : 40 (HCSB)
However, they would not listen but continued practicing their former custom.
2 Kings 17 : 41 (HCSB)
These nations feared the LORD but also served their idols. Their children and grandchildren continue doing as their fathers did until today.
❮
❯