Keraia
2 Kings 17

2 Kings 17:31

Samaria Resettled · 2 Kings 17:24–41
Read 2 Kings 17

Translations

Modern
…the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burned their children in the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech the gods of Sepharvaim.
Traditional
And the Avites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burnt their children in fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim.
Literal
…and the Avites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burned their children in the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim.
Latin
Porro Hevæi fecerunt Nebahaz et Tharthac. Hi autem qui erant de Sepharvaim, comburebant filios suos igni, Adramelech et Anamelech diis Sepharvaim,

Original

Hebrew
English
…the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burned their children in the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech the gods of Sepharvaim.

Notes

2 Kings 17:26–31

  • The king of Assyria was Sargon II. He ruled from 721 to 705 BC.

  • the God of the land … has sent lions: People in the ancient Near East believed a land's peace and success were tied to its god and religious practices.

  • One of the priests returned to Bethel, but his teachings on worshiping the Lord were likely influenced by Jeroboam I's religion and mixed with pagan practices.

  • The foreigners also continued to worship their own gods. They added the worship of Israel’s God to their own practices. Most of the false gods mentioned here are unknown. Jewish scribes may have changed their names.

  • Nergal was the Mesopotamian god of the underworld. Nibhaz and Tartak were probably Elamite gods.

2 Kings 17:24–41

The writer adds information about later events in Israel, like foreigners moving into the land and the mixed population's blended religious practices.

Theme notes and profiles

Arameans Assyria Samaritans

People

Adrammelech: Assyrian god worshipped by Sepharvites in Samaria Anammelech: Assyrian deity worshiped by Sepharvites Nibhaz: Idol god worshiped by the Avvites in Samaria Tartak: An Avvite deity worshipped in Samaria

Places

Ivvah: City conquered by Assyria, people resettled in Samaria Sepharvaim: City of origin for people resettled in Samaria

Glossary

Adrammelech Anammelech Avvites Book of Micah Gods and Goddesses Jeroboam Kings, Books of First and Second Manasseh, Tribe of Nations Nibhaz Samaritans Syria, Syrians Tartak

Topics

Adrammelech: An Assyrian Idol Anammelech: An Assyrian Idol Avites: Colonists of Samaria Babylon: Empire of Colonists From, Sent to Samaria Children: Inhuman Practice of offering to Idols Children: Sacrificed Idolatry: Idols Mentioned in Scripture: Adrammelech Idolatry: Idols Mentioned in Scripture: Anammelech Idolatry: Idols Mentioned in Scripture: Nibhaz and Tartak Judgments: Delivered: Into the Hands of the Assyrians Nibhaz: An Idol Offerings: Human Sacrifices: The Sepharvites to Idols Samaria: Country of: Foreign Colonies Distributed Among the Cities of, by the King of Assyria Sepharvaim: An Assyrian City, from Which the King of Assyria Colonized Samaria Sepharvites: The People of Sepharvaim Tartak: An Assyrian Idol