2 Kings 17:14

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 17:14

Notwithstanding, they would not hear ,.... Their instructions, advice, and admonitions, and obey them: but hardened their necks, like to the neck of their fathers, that did not believe in the Lord their God : as Terah and Nahor, who were idolaters; or rather, their fathers in the wilderness, that made and served the calf, and those that rebelled against Moses and Aaron; it is a metaphor taken from oxen, that will not submit their necks to the yoke, but draw back from it, or cast it off,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 17:1-41

THE REIGN OF HOSHEA OVER ISRAEL . DESTRUCTION OF THE ISRAELITE KINGDOM , AND THE GROUNDS OF IT RE - PEOPLING OF THE KINGDOM BY ASSYRIAN COLONISTS . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 17:6-23

Captivity and its cause. Here is the beginning of the dispersion of Israel. Soon that favored nation will be "a people scattered and peeled." These verses give us the explanation of Israel's exile. It is a solemn warning against the neglect of opportunities. I. COMMANDS DISOBEYED . "They rejected his statutes" ( 2 Kings 17:15 ); "They left all the commandments of the Lord their God" ( 2 Kings 17:16 ); "They served idols, whereof the Lord had said unto them, Ye shall not do this... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 17:7-23

The provocations which induced God to destroy the Israelite kingdom. Here, for once, the writer ceases to be the mere historian, and becomes the religious teacher and prophet, drawing out the lessons of history, and justifying the ways of God to man. As Bahr says, he " does not carry on the narrative as taken from the original authorities, but himself here begins a review of the history and fate of Israel, which ends with 2 Kings 17:23 , and forms an independent section by itself."... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 17:7-23

The lessons to be learnt from the destruction of the kingdom of Samaria. The first and main lesson is, of course, the great fact— I. THAT NATIONS ARE TREATED BY GOD AS RESPONSIBLE UNITS , AND ARE PUNISHED , EVEN DESTROYED , FOR THEIR SINS . It was their "evil ways," their transgression against the commandments of God, that lay at the root of Israel's rejection. The prophets Hosea and Amos paint an awful picture of the condition of Samaria under its later... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 17:7-23

Review of the history of Israel. The Bible does not simply relate, but draws aside the veil and shows us the innermost springs of God's providence, and how they work. It teaches us to understand the deepest causes of the rise and fall of nations. The causes it insists on are not economical, or political, or intellectual, but religious, and its lessons are for all time. We may say of this survey of Israel's history—these things "are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 17:9-23

A great privilege, wickedness, and ruin. "For so it was," etc. We have used the first verses of this chapter, in our last sketch, to set forth the aspects of a corrupt nation . The Israelitish people appear in that fragment of their history as an unfortunate inheritor of wrong, a guilty worker of wrong, and a terrible victim of wrong. These fifteen verses now under our notice present to us three subjects of thought—a great national privilege; a great national wickedness; and a great... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 17:14

Notwithstanding they would not hear ; rather, and they would not hear . The construction still runs on without any change (see the comment on 2 Kings 17:7 and 2 Kings 17:12 ). But hardened their necks. (On the origin of the phrase, see 'Homiletic Commentary' on Exodus 32:9 .) The obstinate perversity of the Israelites, which the phrase expresses, is noted through the entire history (see Exodus 33:3 , Exodus 33:5 ; Exodus 34:9 ; Deuteronomy 9:6 , Deuteronomy 9:13 ; ... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Kings 17:14

To “harden” or “stiffen the neck” is a common Hebrew expression significative of unbending obstinacy and determined self-will. See the marginal references. read more

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