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Matthew Henry

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

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 17:1-4

The unwisdom of worldly craft and policy. Hoshea came to the throne at a time of great danger and difficulty. The Assyrian system of gradual expansion and annexation was settled and almost declared. The petty states upon her borders were first invaded and ravaged; then they were taken under her protection; finally they were absorbed. The process had been going on from the days of Tiglath-pileser I., and was still in operation. Damascus was a recent example of it. Under these circumstances,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 17:1-5

The reign of Hoshea. I. A FOOLISH SERVICE . The life of every man is a service of some sort. We cannot, even if we would, be absolutely our own masters. Some men are the servants of self. Some are the servants of others. Some are the servants of good. Some are the servants of evil. Some are the servants of money, or of pleasure, or of their passions. What higher epitaph could be written over any man's tomb than the simple words, "A servant of God"? What higher choice could any man make... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 17:1-6

REIGN OF HOSHEA . Hoshea, the last King of Israel, had a short reign of nine years only, during two of which he was besieged in his capital by the Assyrians. The writer notes that he was a bad king, but not so bad as most of his predecessors ( 2 Kings 17:2 ); that he submitted to Shalmaneser, and then rebelled against him ( 2 Kings 17:3 , 2 Kings 17:4 ); that he called in the aid of So, King of Egypt ( 2 Kings 17:4 ); that he was besieged by Shalmaneser in Samaria ( 2 Kings 17:5... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 17:1-6

The end of the kingdom of Israel We learn from the inscriptions that Hoshea, the murderer of Pekah, only secured his throne by acknowledging the supremacy of the King of Assyria. It was not long, however, before he conspired to achieve his independence. This led to the final overthrow of the kingdom. I. A LAST FLICKER . 1. Hoshea ' s better character . It is said of this last King of Israel that he did evil in the sight of the Lord, "but not as the kings of Israel that were... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 17:1-8

Aspects of a corrupt nation. "In the twelfth year of Ahaz King of Judah began Hoshea the son of Elah to reign in Samaria over Israel nine years," etc. Hoshea, the king here mentioned, was the nineteenth and last King of Israel. He lived about seven hundred and twenty years or more before Christ. After a reign of nine years his subjects were carried away captive to Assyria, and the kingdom of Israel came to an end. The selection we have made from this chapter presents to us —Aspects of a... 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 17:2

And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, but not as the kings of Israel that were before him. Hoshea's general attitude towards Jehovah was much the same as that of former kings of Israel. De maintained the calf-worship, leant upon "arms of flesh," and turned a deaf ear to the teaching of the prophets e.g, Hoshea and Micah, who addressed their warnings to him. But he was not guilty of any special wickedness—he set up no new idolatry; he seems to have allowed his subjects, if... read more

Albert Barnes

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

Not as the kings of Israel that were before him - The repentance of a nation like that of an individual, may be “too late.” God is long-suffering; but after national sins have reached a certain height, after admonitions and warnings have been repeatedly rejected, after lesser punishments have failed - judgment begins to fall. Forces have been set in motion, which nothing but a miracle could stop; and God does not see fit to work a miracle in such a case. Compare Butler, ‘Analogy, ‘ Pt. 1... read more

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