2 Kings 17:1-23

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Kings 17:1-6

We have here the reign and ruin of Hoshea, the last of the kings of Israel, concerning whom observe, I. That, though he forced his way to the crown by treason and murder (as we read 2 Kgs. 15:30), yet he gained not the possession of it till seven or eight years after; for it was in the fourth year of Ahaz that he slew Pekah, but did not himself begin to reign till the twelfth year of Ahaz, 2 Kgs. 17:1. Whether by the king of Assyria, or by the king of Judah, or by some of his own people, does... read more

Matthew Henry

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 17:1

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... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 17:2

And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, but not as the kings of Israel that were before him. He did not worship Baal, as some of them had done; and he could not worship the calves, as all of them had, for they were carried away by the Assyrians in the former captivities, as the Jews F19 Seder Olam Rabba, c. 22. say; and who also observe F20 T. Bab. Gittin, fol. 88. Kimchi in loc. , that he removed the garrisons set on the borders of the land to watch the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 17:3

Against him came up Shalmaneser king of Assyria ,.... Which some take to be the same with Tiglathpileser, see 1 Chronicles 5:26 but he rather seems to be his son; his name was to be found, as Josephus F23 Antiqu. l. 9. c. 14. sect. 2. relates, in the archives of the Tyrians, against whom he had an expedition; his name is Salmanassar in Metasthenes F24 De Judicio Temp. fol. 221. 2. , who says he reigned seventeen years: and Hoshea became his servant, and gave him presents ,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 17:4

And the king of Assyria found conspiracy in Hoshea ,.... That he was forming a scheme to rebel against him, and cast off his yoke; of this he had intelligence by spies he sent, and placed to observe him very probably: for he had sent messengers to So king of Egypt ; to treat with him, and enter into alliance with him, to help him against, and free him from, the king of Assyria. This king of Egypt is supposed to be Sabacon the Ethiopian, who reigned in Egypt ninety years; of whom... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 17:5

Then the king of Assyria came up throughout all the land ,.... Of Israel, there being none to oppose his march; Hoshea not daring to come out, and meet him and fight him: and went up to Samaria, and besieged it three years ; so long the city held out against him, see 2 Kings 18:9 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 17:6

In the ninth year of Hoshea the king of Assyria took Samaria ,..... Which was the last year of his reign, and to be reckoned either from the time of his reigning in full power and authority, or from his first casting off the Assyrian yoke; See Gill on 2 Kings 17:1 . and carried Israel away into Assyria ; not only the inhabitants of Samaria, but all the ten tribes inhabiting the several parts of the kingdom, for which Josephus is express F1 Antiqu. l. 9. c. 10. sect. 1. . and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 17:7

For so it was, that the children of Israel had sinned against the Lord their God ,.... By committing idolatry, which is the sin enlarged upon in the following discourse, as the cause of their being carried captive: which had brought them up out of the land of Egypt, from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt ; which is observed to show their ingratitude, and to aggravate their sin of idolatry: and had feared other gods ; which could do them neither good nor hurt, wherefore it must... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 17:8

And walked in the statutes of the heathen, whom the Lord cast out from before the children of Israel ,.... Meaning the Canaanites, in whose idolatrous ways they walked, and whom they imitated; though their ejection out of the land should have been a warning to them, and they were the more inexcusable, as they were particularly cautioned against walking in them, Leviticus 18:3 . and of the kings of Israel, which they had made ; their laws and statutes, to worship the golden calves, and... read more

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