2 Kings 17:28-29 ESV

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 17:28

Then one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria —the country, not the city, as in 2 Kings 17:24 and 2 Kings 17:25 — came and dwelt in Bethel. Bethel from a very early time greatly eclipsed Dan. While the allusions to Bethel, commonly called "Bethaven" (" House of nothingness" for "House of God "), are frequent in the Israelitish prophets ( Hosea 4:15 ; Hosea 5:8 ; Hosea 10:5 , Hosea 10:8 , Hosea 10:15 ; Amos 3:14 ; Amos 4:4 ; Amos 5:5 , Amos 5:6 ; ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 17:29

Howbeit every nation made gods of their own, and put them in the houses of the high places which the Samaritans had made, every nation in their cities wherein they dwelt. The several bands of settlers found in the cities assigned to them "houses of the high places," or high-place temples ( 2 Kings 17:9 ), which had been left standing when the inhabitants were carried off. These "houses" they converted to their own use, setting up in them their several idolatries. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Kings 17:28

The priest sent to the colonists was not a true Yahweh-priest, but one of those who had been attached to the calf-worship, probably at Bethel. Hence, he would be willing to tolerate the mixed religion, which a true Yahweh-priest would have unsparingly condemned. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Kings 17:29

The “Samaritans” here are the Israelites. The temples built by them at the high places 1 Kings 12:31; 1 Kings 13:32 had remained standing at the time of their departure. They were now occupied by the new-comers, who set up their own worship in the old sanctuaries. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 2 Kings 17:28

2 Kings 17:28. Then one of the priests whom they had carried away came, &c. A prophet would have done them more good, especially as it appears this was but one of the priests of the calves, who therefore chose to dwell at Beth-el. And taught them how they should fear the Lord That is, the manner of God’s worship as it had been practised in Israel: for as to any thing further, whether respecting their duty to God or man, though he might possibly teach them to know more than they knew... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 2 Kings 17:29

2 Kings 17:29. Howbeit, every nation made gods of their own Or, worshipped, as the Hebrew word here used sometimes means; of which see Exodus 32:35. That is, they worshipped the gods which they had served in the places from whence they came. And put them in the high places which the Samaritans That is, which the former inhabitants of the city and kingdom had made. read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 17:1-41

End of the northern kingdom (17:1-41)Some time after Shalmaneser V succeeded Tiglath-pileser III as king of Assyria, the Israelite king Hoshea tried to show himself independent of Assyria by refusing to pay the annual tribute. He thought that with Egyptian support his rebellion would be successful. Shalmaneser put an end to such hopes by invading Israel and besieging Samaria. After three years Israel’s defence collapsed, and Shalmaneser’s successor, Sargon II, captured Samaria and carried off... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - 2 Kings 17:29

THEY "FEARED" JEHOVAH AND SERVED THEIR OWN GODS"Howbeit every nation made gods of their own, and put them in the houses of the high places which the Samaritans had made, every nation in their cities wherein they dwelt. And the men of Babylon made Succoth-benoth, and the men of Cuth made Nergal, and the men of Hamath made Ashima, and the men of Avva made Nibhaz and Tartak; and the Sepharvites burnt their children to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim. So they feared Jehovah, and... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 2 Kings 17:29

29. Howbeit every nation made gods of their own—These Assyrian colonists, however, though instructed in the worship, and acknowledging the being of the God of Israel, did not suppose Him to be the only God. Like other heathens, they combined His worship with that of their own gods; and as they formed a promiscuous society from different nations or provinces, a variety of idols was acknowledged among them. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 2 Kings 17:7-41

17. The captivity of the Northern Kingdom 17:7-41The writer of Kings took special pains to explain the reasons for and the results of Israel’s captivity. read more