John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 17:12
For they served idols ,.... Baalim, as the Targum; dunghill gods, as the word signifies, as they are often called in Scripture; and Sterculius was one of the names of Saturn, an Heathen deity, which he had, as is supposed, by his finding out the method of making land fruitful with dung F9 Vid. Macrob. l. 1. c. 7. Lactant. de fals. Relig. l. 1. c. 20. : whereof the Lord said unto them, ye shall not do this thing ; see Exodus 20:3 . read more
Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Kings 17:7-23
Though the destruction of the kingdom of the ten tribes was but briefly related, it is in these verses largely commented upon by our historian, and the reasons of it assigned, not taken from the second causes?the weakness of Israel, their impolitic management, and the strength and growing greatness of the Assyrian monarch (these things are overlooked)--but only from the First Cause. Observe, 1. It was the Lord that removed Israel out of his sight; whoever were the instruments, he was the... read more