2 Kings 17:16

Translations

Modern

They abandoned all the commandments of the LORD their God and made for themselves two cast idols of calves and an Asherah pole. They bowed down to all the host of heaven and served Baal.

Traditional

And they left all the commandments of the Lord their God, and made them molten images, even two calves, and made a grove, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served Baal.

Literal

And they left all the commandments of YHWH their God, and they made for themselves a molten image and two calves, and they made an Asherah pole and bowed low to all the host of the heavens, and they served the Baal.

Latin

Et dereliquerunt omnia præcepta Domini Dei sui: feceruntque sibi conflatiles duos vitulos, et lucos, et adoraverunt universam militiam cæli: servieruntque Baal,

Original

Hebrew

English

They abandoned all the commandments of the LORD their God and made for themselves two cast idols of calves and an Asherah pole. They bowed down to all the host of heaven and served Baal.

Notes

2 Kings 17:16–17

all the commandments of the LORD: The narrator lists specific examples of Israel's disobedience. These include:

the two metal calves set up at Dan and Bethel (1 Kings 12:28–30),
the Canaanite fertility symbol called an Asherah pole (2 Kings 13:6; 17:10; 1 Kings 14:23; 16:33; Micah 5:14),
the ongoing worship of Baal (1 Kings 16:31–33; Hosea 2:13; 13:1), and
the detestable Molech rituals (2 Kings 16:3; Psalm 106:37).

2 Kings 17:1–23

The report of the northern kingdom's fall has two main parts:

Events during the reign of Israel's last king, Hoshea, including the capture of Samaria and the deportation of Israel's people (2 Kings 17:1–6);
The reasons for Israel's fall and Assyria's conquest:
- Israel's many sins (2 Kings 17:7–17) that led to God's judgment (2 Kings 17:18–20), and
- the major sin of Jeroboam I, who started Israel's widespread disobedience to God (2 Kings 17:21–23).

Theme notes and profiles

Assyria Jeroboam I Apostasy Canaanite Religion Curses and Blessings God’s Anger God’s Covenant with Israel’s Kings God’s Judgment of His People Intermarriage and Divorce Invasion Making Sense of the Exile Oppression of God’s People Promised Land Purity and Identity Remember Him The Collapse of Culture The Dangers of Sin The Land The Purpose of the Judgments True Success

Related verses

1 Kings 14:15
For the LORD will strike Israel as a reed is shaken in the water. He will uproot Israel from this good land that He gave their fathers, and He will scatter them beyond the Euphrates, because they have made their Asherah poles, provoking the LORD to anger.
1 Kings 16:31
And as if it were not enough for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, he even married Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and he then proceeded to serve and worship Baal.
1 Kings 12:28
After seeking advice, the king made two golden calves and said to the people, “Going up to Jerusalem is too much for you. Here, O Israel, are your gods, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.”
1 Kings 14:23
They also built for themselves high places, sacred pillars, and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every green tree.
Deuteronomy 4:19
When you look to the heavens and see the sun and moon and stars—all the host of heaven—do not be enticed to bow down and worship what the LORD your God has apportioned to all the nations under heaven.
1 Kings 22:53
Ahaziah served and worshiped Baal, provoking the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger, just as his father had done.
1 Kings 16:33
Then he set up an Asherah pole. Thus Ahab did more to provoke the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger than all the kings of Israel before him.
2 Kings 21:3
For he rebuilt the high places that his father Hezekiah had destroyed, and he raised up altars for Baal. He made an Asherah pole, as King Ahab of Israel had done, and he worshiped and served all the host of heaven.
1 Kings 15:13
He also removed his grandmother Maacah from her position as queen mother because she had made a detestable Asherah pole. Asa chopped down the pole and burned it in the Kidron Valley.
2 Kings 11:18
So all the people of the land went to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They smashed the altars and idols to pieces, and they killed Mattan the priest of Baal in front of the altars. And Jehoiada the priest posted guards for the house of the LORD.
Psalm 106:18–20
Then fire blazed through their company; flames consumed the wicked.
Exodus 32:8
How quickly they have turned aside from the way that I commanded them! They have made for themselves a molten calf and have bowed down to it. They have sacrificed to it and said, ‘These, O Israel, are your gods, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.’”

People

Asherah: Canaanite goddess; associated with wooden poles, idolatry Baal: Canaanite god, "Lord/God of the Covenant"

Glossary

Book of Micah Dispersion of the Jews, Diaspora Gods and Goddesses Golden Calf Grove High Place Host, Host of Heaven Jeroboam Kings, Books of First and Second Oak Samaritans Tribe of Dan

Topics

Assyria: Israelites Carried Captive Into Baal: An Idol of the Phoenicians, God of the Sun by the Kingdom of Israel Babylon: Empire of Samaria Forsaking God: Kingdom of Israel Groves for Idol Worship Planted by Israelites Groves: Worshiped by Israelites Idolatry: Captivity of Israel on Account of Idolatry: Objects of Sun, Moon, and Stars Judgments: Delivered: Into the Hands of the Assyrians Rulers: Wicked in Permitting Baal-Worship Stars: Worshiped

2 Kings 17:16

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