2 Kings 17:1–17:23
Sources
Reformed ConsensusReformation Study BibleGeneva Bible Notes (1599)John Trapp (1647)John Gill (1748)Matthew Henry (1714)Jamieson-Fausset-BrownBarnes (1832)Cross-References (TSK)Reformed Consensus
The fall of the Northern Kingdom in 2 Kings 17 is not presented as a geopolitical accident but as the deliberate covenant lawsuit of Yahweh against a people who had systematically exchanged the living God for the idols of Canaan, Egypt, and Assyria, so that the Assyrian invasion is itself the instrument of divine wrath rather than its cause. Calvin notes that Israel's sin was compounded by willful impenitence: the prophets were sent again and again, yet the people stiffened their necks after the manner of their fathers who did not believe in the Lord their God (v. 14), revealing that external ordinances cannot produce faith where the Spirit is withheld. The text's theological structure, with its repeated "because" clauses (vv. 7, 17–18), functions as a covenant indictment modeled on the curses of Deuteronomy 28–29, demonstrating that exile was not Assyria's victory but the precise fulfillment of the word God had sworn through Moses. Reformed interpreters rightly stress that Judah's survival (v. 18) was wholly owing to divine mercy and the preservation of the Davidic line through which the promised Seed would come, not to any moral superiority in the southern tribes. Here the historian intends a mirror for every generation: persistent covenant-breaking, especially the worship of anything in the place of God, ends not in self-realization but in expulsion from the land of promise.
Reformation Study Bible
Ahaz. The synchronism with Ahaz's reign is difficult to unravel. See 16:1 and note. Hoshea . . . reigned nine years, That is, 732-723 8.c., ending with his imprisonment for three years preceding the fall of Samaria (wv. 4, 5). | This section narrates the reign of Hoshea, the last king of Israel. In 722 8.c, the king of Assyria conquered Samaria and deported the peo- ple of Israel to Assyria, i | Shalmaneser. Shalmaneser V, who succeeded Tiglath-pileser Ill as king of Assyria, ruled from 727-722 8.c. Hoshea, unlike his predecessor Pekah (15:27-31 and notes), was a vassal of Assyria. | So, king of Egypt. “So” may be the name of a place in the eastern delta of Egypt, where the king of Egypt was. Switching his allegiance, Hoshea hoped that Egypt would protect him from any Assyrian reprisals. The prophet Hosea condemns this diplomacy as “without sense” (Hos. 7:11). offered no tribute to the king of Assyria. Withholding tribute from a suzerain (overlord) was tantamount to rebellion, | for three years he besieged it. The Assyrian campaign followed the arrest of Hoshea in 724/23 8.c. During this long siege, Shalmaneser V died and was succeeded by Sargon Il (Is. 20:1), who exiled the inhabitants of Samaria (Vv. 6). | In the ninth year of Hoshea. That is, 722/21 8.c. The figure given (‘ninth year") counts his reign from 730, perhaps because his having the Assyrians as sponsors delayed his official recognition. Another possibili- ty is that it leaves out the three years he was in prison. the king of Assyria. Sargon II, who ruled Assyria 722-705 B.c. carried the Israelites away. Sargon II claims in his annals to have deport- ed 27,290 inhabitants to distant locations. The capture of Samaria marked the end of the northern kingdom (1 Chr. 5:25, 26). It never rose again (w. 7-23 and notes). Archaeological evidence suggests that many people fled Israel during the succession of Assyrian attacks on the north and settled in Judah. This influx of northern refugees significantly increased the pop- ulation of Jerusalem during the late eighth and early seventh century B.c. Gozan. This Assyrian provincial capital was near the Habor River, a north- ern tributary of the Euphrates. cities of the Medes. Though not identified by name, they were probably in the area northeast of the Tigris River and south of the Caspian Sea. | customs. Not only did Israel imitate the practices of its pagan neighbors (Ex. 34:15; Deut. 18:9; Judg. 2:13), but it also followed the cul- tic innovations of its wayward kings (1 Kin. 12:26-33; 16:30-34). | high places. See note 1 Kin. 3:2. 17:10 pillars. See note 1 Kin. 14:23. Asherim. See note 1 Kin. 14:15. on every high hill and under every green tree. See Deut. 12:2; Jer. 2:20; 3:6, 13; 17:2. | idols. Any representation of a pagan deity or of the Lord was expressly forbidden (Ex. 20:4; Deut. 4:15-19, 23-28), | all the Law. That is, the Mosaic law with all the provisions of the covenant (1 Kin. 2:3 note). | metal images of two calves. The religious idols of Jeroboam | at Bethel and Dan (1 Kin. 12:28, 29) were in part modeled on the construc- tion of the golden calf by Aaron (Ex. 32:4, 8; Deut. 9:12, 16; Hos. 13:2). the host of heaven. Although condemned in the Mosaic law (Deut. 4:19; 17:3), some Israelites participated in such astral cults (21:5; 23:4, 5; Amos 5:26). served Baal. See 1 Kin. 16:31, 32. | burned their sons and their daughters as offerings. See notes 3:27; 16:3. divination and omens. See note 16:15. | the customs that Israel had introduced. See 8:18; 11:18-21. | the Loro rejected all the descendants of Israel. God's rejection was demonstrated by their exile from the land He had given them (v. 6). | When he had torn Israel from the house of David. The creation of the northern kingdom was a punishment against Solomon (1 Kin. 11:11-13), but it also was a promising beginning for the northern tribes (1 Kin. 11:29-39). made them commit great sin. The reference is to Jeroboam’s fashion- ing of two calves at Bethel and Dan (1Kin. 12:25-33; 14:7-16 and notes).
Geneva Bible Notes (1599)
In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah began Hoshea the son of Elah to reign in Samaria over Israel nine years.
John Trapp (1647)
In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah began Hoshea the son of Elah to reign in Samaria over Israel nine years. Began Hoshea the son of Elah to reign. — Heb., He reigned, sc., as an absolute king, and no longer a vassal or tributary to the king of Assyria as before. Vatab. Over Israel nine years, — viz., Four in the days of Ahaz, and five of Hezekiah.
John Gill (1748)
In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah began Hoshea the son of Elah to reign in Samaria over Israel nine years. In this account there is some difficulty, since it was in the twentieth of Jotham, that is, the fourth of Ahaz, that Hosea conspired against Pekah king of Israel, and slew him, when it might be reasonably thought he began his reign: now either there was an interregnum until the twelfth of Ahaz, or Hoshea however was not generally received and acknowledged as king till then, as others think; he being a tributary to the king of Assyria, and a kind of viceroy, is not said to reign until he rebelled against him; after which he reigned nine years, four in the times of Ahaz, and five in the reign of Hezekiah, 2 Kings 18:9 , in this way the author of the Jewish chronology goes (r), in which he is followed by other Jewish writers; and this bids as fair as any to remove the difficulty, unless these nine years refer to the time of his reign before the twelfth of Ahaz; and the sense be, that in the twelfth of Ahaz he had reigned nine year's; but it is said he "began" to reign then. (r) Seder Olam Rabba, c. 22.
Matthew Henry (1714)
When the measure of sin is filled up, the Lord will forbear no longer. The inhabitants of Samaria must have endured great affliction. Some of the poor Israelites were left in the land. Those who were carried captives to a great distance, were mostly lost among the nations.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
CHAPTER 17 2Ki 17:1-6. Hoshea's Wicked Reign. 1. In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah, began Hoshea … to reign—The statement in 2Ki 15:30 may be reconciled with the present passage in the following manner: Hoshea conspired against Pekah in the twentieth year of the latter, which was the eighteenth of Jotham's reign. It was two years before Hoshea was acknowledged king of Israel, that is, in the fourth of Ahaz, and twentieth of Jotham. In the twelfth year of Ahaz his reign began to be tranquil and prosperous [Calmet].Hoshea king of Israel, his wicked reign: being subdued by Shalmaneser king of Assyria, he conspireth against him with So king of Egypt: he is besieged; taken prisoner; and with all the people carried captive to Assyria for their sins, 2 Kings 17:1-23 . The strange nations transplanted into Samaria are plagued with lions: an Israelitish priest is sent to them; whence followeth a mixture of religious, 2 Kings 17:24-41 . Quest. How can this be true, seeing it is said that he reigned , or began to reign , in Israel in the twentieth year of Jotham, 2 Kings 15:30 , which was the fourth year of Ahaz, as was there noted? Answ. He usurped the kingdom in Ahazâs fourth year; but either was not owned as king by the generality of the people, or was not accepted and established in his kingdom by the Assyrian, till Ahazâs twelfth year; or in his eight first years he was only a tributary prince, and the king of Assyriaâs viceroy; and after that time he set up for himself, which drew the Assyrian upon him. Nine years, to wit, after his confirmation and peaceable possession of his kingdom; for in all he reigned seventeen or eighteen years, to wit, twelve with Ahaz, who reigned sixteen years, and six with Hezekiah, 2 Kings 18:10 .
Barnes (1832)
In the twelfth year - Compare 2 Kings 15:30 note. The history of the kingdom of Israel is in this chapter brought to a close.
Cross-References (TSK)
2Kings 16:20; 2Kings 17:2; 2Kings 15:30; 2Kings 17:1; 2Kings 18:9; 2Kings 17:3; 2Kings 17:5; 2Kings 17:24; Numbers 13:16; 2Kings 16:7; 2Kings 16:19; 2Kings 15:17; 2Kings 16:2; 2Kings 15:27; 2Kings 8:25; 2Kings 18:1; 2Kings 17:13; 2Kings 18:2; 2Kings 25:27