何細亞做以色列王

17 猶大王亞哈斯執政第十二年,以拉的兒子何細亞在撒瑪利亞登基做以色列王,執政九年。 他做耶和華視為惡的事,不過沒有他之前的以色列諸王那麼敗壞。 亞述王撒縵以色攻打以色列,何細亞納貢稱臣。 然而,何細亞差遣使者向埃及王梭求援,不再像往年那樣向亞述王進貢。亞述王發現後,把他抓起來囚在獄中。 亞述王攻打以色列全境,並圍困撒瑪利亞三年。 何細亞執政第九年,撒瑪利亞淪陷。亞述王把以色列人擄到亞述,安置在哈臘、歌散的哈博河一帶以及瑪代人的各城。

以色列人的罪惡史

以色列人之所以有如此下場,是因為他們的上帝耶和華領他們出埃及,從埃及王法老手中救出他們,他們卻犯罪得罪祂。他們祭拜別的神明, 效法耶和華在他們面前趕走的外族人的風俗和以色列諸王奉行的習俗。 以色列人暗中做不義之事,冒犯他們的上帝耶和華。從瞭望塔到堅城,他們在各地建邱壇, 10 在各高崗上、綠樹下立神柱和亞舍拉神像, 11 在各邱壇燒香,如同耶和華在他們面前趕走的外族人一樣。他們邪惡的行為激怒了耶和華。 12 儘管耶和華警告他們不可祭拜偶像,他們仍然執迷不悟。

13 耶和華藉著祂的眾先知和先見警告以色列人和猶大人說:「你們要離開惡道,遵守我的誡命和律例,即我吩咐你們祖先遵守並藉著我的僕人——眾先知傳給你們的律法。」 14 但他們充耳不聞,像他們祖先一樣頑固不化,不信靠他們的上帝耶和華, 15 拒絕遵守祂的律例和祂與他們祖先所立的約,無視祂的警告。他們隨從虛無的偶像,自己也變得虛無。他們違背耶和華的命令,去效法周圍的外族人。 16 他們把他們的上帝耶和華的誡命拋諸腦後,鑄造了兩個金牛犢,還造了亞舍拉神像。他們祭拜巴力和天上的萬象, 17 把自己的兒女燒死獻作祭物。他們占卜,行邪術,出賣自己去做耶和華視為惡的事,惹祂發怒。

18 因此,耶和華非常憤怒,從祂面前趕走以色列人,只留下猶大一個支派。 19 但猶大人也不遵守他們的上帝耶和華的誡命,反而效法以色列人的惡行。 20 於是,耶和華棄絕了以色列全族,使他們飽嚐痛苦,任人宰割,直至把他們從自己眼前趕走。 21 祂使以色列從大衛家分裂出來,以色列人便擁立尼八的兒子耶羅波安為王。耶羅波安誘使以色列人遠離耶和華,使他們犯了大罪。 22 以色列人沉溺於耶羅波安所犯的一切罪中,始終不肯回頭, 23 直到耶和華把他們從自己眼前趕走,正如祂藉自己的僕人——眾先知對他們的警告。這樣,以色列人被擄到亞述,至今仍住在那裡。

外族人移居撒瑪利亞

24 亞述王把巴比倫、古他、亞瓦、哈馬、西法瓦音等地的一些居民遷移到撒瑪利亞各城,代替以色列人。 25 剛遷居到那裡的時候,他們不敬拜耶和華,所以耶和華差遣獅子闖入他們當中,咬死了一些人。 26 有人稟告亞述王說:「你遷移到撒瑪利亞各城的那些人不知道當地神明的規矩,所以神明就差遣獅子闖入他們當中,咬死了一些人。」 27 亞述王便下令:「派一位被擄來的祭司回去,讓他住在那裡,把當地神明的規矩教導給他們。」 28 於是,有一位從撒瑪利亞被擄走的祭司回去住在伯特利,教導他們怎樣敬拜耶和華。

29 可是,這些從各地遷來的民族都在所住的各城為自己製造神像,供奉在撒瑪利亞人在高崗上建造的神廟中。 30 巴比倫人造疏割·比訥神像,古他人造匿甲神像,哈馬人造亞示瑪神像, 31 亞瓦人造匿哈和他珥他神像,西法瓦音人焚燒兒女向他們的神明亞得米勒和亞拿米勒獻祭。 32 他們也敬拜耶和華,卻委任各種人做祭司,在高崗上的神廟為他們獻祭。 33 他們就這樣既敬拜耶和華,又各按各的風俗供奉自己的神明。

34 直到現在,他們仍然執迷不悟,不敬畏耶和華,也不遵行耶和華賜給雅各子孫的律例、典章、法度和誡命。耶和華曾給雅各取名叫以色列, 35 與他的子孫立約,吩咐他們:「不可祭拜其他神明,不可跪拜和供奉他們,也不可向他們獻祭。 36 耶和華伸出大能的臂膀把你們領出埃及,你們要敬拜祂,要向祂跪拜、獻祭。 37 你們要永遠謹遵祂所定的律例、典章、法度和誡命,不可祭拜其他神明。 38 不可忘記我與你們立的約,不可祭拜其他神明。 39 我是你們的上帝耶和華,你們要敬拜我,我必從一切仇敵手中救你們。」 40 但是他們沒有聽從,依然仿效先前的風俗。 41 那些移民到撒瑪利亞各城的外族人既敬拜耶和華,又供奉自己的偶像。直到今日,他們的子孫仍是這樣。

Oseias, rei de Israel

17 No ano duodécimo de Acaz, rei de Judá, começou a reinar Oseias, filho de Elá, e reinou sobre Israel, em Samaria, nove anos. E fez o que era mal aos olhos do Senhor; contudo, não como os reis de Israel que foram antes dele.

Contra ele subiu Salmaneser, rei da Assíria; e Oseias ficou sendo servo dele e dava-lhe presentes. Porém o rei da Assíria achou em Oseias conspiração, porque enviara mensageiros a Sô, rei do Egito, e não pagava presentes ao rei da Assíria cada ano, como dantes; então, o rei da Assíria o encerrou e aprisionou na casa do cárcere. Porque o rei da Assíria subiu por toda a terra, e veio até Samaria, e a cercou três anos. No ano nono de Oseias, o rei da Assíria tomou a Samaria, e transportou a Israel para a Assíria, e fê-los habitar em Hala e em Habor, junto ao rio Gozã, e nas cidades dos medos.

E sucedeu assim por os filhos de Israel pecarem contra o Senhor, seu Deus, que os fizera subir da terra do Egito, de debaixo da mão de Faraó, rei do Egito; e temeram a outros deuses. E andaram nos estatutos das nações que o Senhor lançara fora de diante dos filhos de Israel e nos costumes dos reis de Israel. E os filhos de Israel fizeram secretamente coisas que não eram retas, contra o Senhor, seu Deus; e edificaram altos em todas as suas cidades, desde a torre dos atalaias até à cidade forte. 10 E levantaram estátuas e imagens do bosque, em todos os altos outeiros e debaixo de todas as árvores verdes. 11 E queimaram ali incenso em todos os altos, como as nações que o Senhor transportara de diante deles; e fizeram coisas ruins, para provocarem à ira o Senhor. 12 E serviram os ídolos, dos quais o Senhor lhes dissera: Não fareis estas coisas. 13 E o Senhor protestou a Israel e a Judá, pelo ministério de todos os profetas e de todos os videntes, dizendo: Convertei-vos de vossos maus caminhos e guardai os meus mandamentos e os meus estatutos, conforme toda a Lei que ordenei a vossos pais e que eu vos enviei pelo ministério de meus servos, os profetas. 14 Porém não deram ouvidos; antes, endureceram a sua cerviz, como a cerviz de seus pais, que não creram no Senhor, seu Deus. 15 E rejeitaram os estatutos e o concerto que fizera com seus pais, como também os testemunhos com que protestara contra eles; e andaram após a vaidade e ficaram vãos, como também após as nações que estavam em roda deles, das quais o Senhor lhes tinha dito que não fizessem como elas. 16 E deixaram todos os mandamentos do Senhor, seu Deus, e fizeram imagens de fundição, dois bezerros; e fizeram um ídolo do bosque, e se prostraram perante todo o exército do céu, e serviram a Baal. 17 Também fizeram passar pelo fogo a seus filhos e suas filhas, e deram-se a adivinhações, e criam em agouros; e venderam-se para fazer o que era mal aos olhos do Senhor, para o provocarem à ira. 18 Pelo que o Senhor muito se indignou contra Israel e os tirou de diante da sua face; nada mais ficou, senão a tribo de Judá.

19 Até Judá não guardou os mandamentos do Senhor, seu Deus; antes, andaram nos estatutos que Israel fizera. 20 Pelo que o Senhor rejeitou a toda semente de Israel, e os oprimiu, e os deu nas mãos dos despojadores, até que os tirou de diante da sua presença.

21 Porque, depois que o Senhor rasgou a Israel da casa de Davi, e eles fizeram rei a Jeroboão, filho de Nebate, Jeroboão apartou a Israel de seguir o Senhor e os fez pecar um grande pecado. 22 Assim, andaram os filhos de Israel em todos os pecados que Jeroboão tinha feito; nunca se apartaram deles. 23 Até que o Senhor tirou a Israel de diante da sua presença, como falara pelo ministério de todos os seus servos, os profetas; assim, foi Israel transportado da sua terra à Assíria, onde permanece até ao dia de hoje.

O rei da Assíria leva para Samaria muitos estrangeiros

24 E o rei da Assíria trouxe gente de Babel, e de Cuta, e de Ava, e de Hamate, e de Sefarvaim e a fez habitar nas cidades de Samaria, em lugar dos filhos de Israel; e tomaram a Samaria em herança e habitaram nas suas cidades. 25 E sucedeu que, no princípio da sua habitação ali, não temeram ao Senhor; e mandou o Senhor entre eles leões, que mataram a alguns deles. 26 Pelo que falaram ao rei da Assíria, dizendo: A gente que transportaste e fizeste habitar nas cidades de Samaria não sabe o costume do Deus da terra; pelo que ele mandou leões entre ela, e eis que a matam, porquanto não sabe o culto do Deus da terra. 27 Então, o rei da Assíria mandou dizer: Levai ali um dos sacerdotes que transportastes de lá; que ele vá, e habite lá, e lhes ensine o costume do Deus da terra. 28 Veio, pois, um dos sacerdotes que transportaram de Samaria, e habitou em Betel, e lhes ensinou como deviam temer ao Senhor.

29 Porém cada nação fez os seus deuses, e os puseram nas casas dos altos que os samaritanos fizeram, cada nação nas suas cidades, nas quais habitavam. 30 E os de Babel fizeram Sucote-Benote; e os de Cuta fizeram Nergal; e os de Hamate fizeram Asima; 31 E os aveus fizeram Nibaz e Tartaque; e os sefarvitas queimavam seus filhos no fogo a Adrameleque e a Anameleque, deuses de Sefarvaim. 32 Assim temiam ao Senhor e dos mais humildes se fizeram sacerdotes dos lugares altos, os quais exerciam o ministério nas casas dos lugares altos. 33 Assim, ao Senhor temiam e também a seus deuses serviam, segundo o costume das nações dentre as quais tinham sido transportados.

34 Até ao dia de hoje fazem segundo os primeiros costumes; não temem ao Senhor, nem fazem segundo os seus estatutos, e segundo as suas ordenanças e segundo a lei, e segundo o mandamento que o Senhor ordenou aos filhos de Jacó, a quem deu o nome de Israel. 35 Contudo, o Senhor tinha feito um concerto com eles e lhes ordenara, dizendo: Não temereis a outros deuses, nem vos inclinareis diante deles, nem os servireis, nem lhes sacrificareis. 36 Mas ao Senhor, que vos fez subir da terra do Egito com grande força e com braço estendido, a este temereis, e a ele vos inclinareis, e a ele sacrificareis. 37 E os estatutos, e as ordenanças, e a lei, e o mandamento que vos escreveu, tereis cuidado de os observar todos os dias; e não temereis a outros deuses. 38 E do concerto que fiz convosco vos não esquecereis; e não temereis a outros deuses. 39 Mas ao Senhor, vosso Deus, temereis, e ele vos livrará das mãos de todos os vossos inimigos. 40 Porém eles não ouviram; antes, fizeram segundo o seu primeiro costume. 41 Assim, estas nações temiam ao Senhor e serviam as suas imagens de escultura; como fizeram seus pais, assim fazem também seus filhos e os filhos de seus filhos, até ao dia de hoje.

Hoshea, Last King of Israel

17 Hoshea son of Elah became king over Israel during Ahaz’s twelfth year as king of Judah. Hoshea ruled in Samaria nine years. He did what the Lord said was wrong, but he was not as bad as the kings of Israel who had ruled before him.

Shalmaneser king of Assyria came to attack Hoshea. Hoshea had been Shalmaneser’s servant and had made the payments to Shalmaneser that he had demanded. But the king of Assyria found out that Hoshea had made plans against him by sending messengers to So, the king of Egypt. Hoshea had also stopped giving Shalmaneser the payments, which he had paid every year in the past. For that, the king put Hoshea in prison. Then the king of Assyria came and attacked all the land of Israel. He surrounded Samaria and attacked it for three years. He defeated Samaria in the ninth year Hoshea was king, and he took the Israelites away to Assyria. He settled them in Halah, in Gozan on the Habor River, and in the cities of the Medes.

Israelites Punished for Sin

All these things happened because the Israelites had sinned against the Lord their God. He had brought them out of Egypt and had rescued them from the power of the king of Egypt, but the Israelites had honored other gods. They lived like the nations the Lord had forced out of the land ahead of them. They lived as their evil kings had shown them, secretly sinning against the Lord their God. They built places to worship gods in all their cities, from the watchtower to the strong, walled city. 10 They put up stone pillars to gods and Asherah idols on every high hill and under every green tree. 11 The Israelites burned incense everywhere gods were worshiped, just as the nations who lived there before them had done, whom the Lord had forced out of the land. The Israelites did wicked things that made the Lord angry. 12 They served idols when the Lord had said, “You must not do this.” 13 The Lord used every prophet and seer to warn Israel and Judah. He said, “Stop your evil ways and obey my commands and laws. Follow all the teachings that I commanded your ancestors, the teachings that I gave you through my servants the prophets.”

14 But the people would not listen. They were stubborn, just as their ancestors had been who did not believe in the Lord their God. 15 They rejected the Lord’s laws and the agreement he had made with their ancestors. And they refused to listen to his warnings. They worshiped useless idols and became useless themselves. They did what the nations around them did, which the Lord had warned them not to do.

16 The people rejected all the commands of the Lord their God. They molded statues of two calves, and they made an Asherah idol. They worshiped all the stars of the sky and served Baal. 17 They made their sons and daughters pass through fire and tried to find out the future by magic and witchcraft. They always chose to do what the Lord said was wrong, which made him angry. 18 Because he was very angry with the people of Israel, he removed them from his presence. Only the tribe of Judah was left.

Judah Is Also Guilty

19 But even Judah did not obey the commands of the Lord their God. They did what the Israelites had done, 20 so the Lord rejected all the people of Israel. He punished them and let others destroy them; he threw them out of his presence. 21 When the Lord separated them from the family of David, the Israelites made Jeroboam son of Nebat their king. Jeroboam led the Israelites away from the Lord and led them to sin greatly. 22 So they continued to do all the sins Jeroboam did. They did not stop doing these sins 23 until the Lord removed the Israelites from his presence, just as he had said through all his servants the prophets. So the Israelites were taken out of their land to Assyria, and they have been there to this day.

The Beginning of the Samaritan People

24 The king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sepharvaim and put them in the cities of Samaria to replace the Israelites. These people took over Samaria and lived in the cities. 25 At first they did not worship the Lord, so he sent lions among them which killed some of them. 26 The king of Assyria was told, “You sent foreigners into the cities of Samaria who do not know the law of the god of the land. This is why he has sent lions among them. The lions are killing them because they don’t know what the god wants.”

27 Then the king of Assyria commanded, “Send back one of the priests you took away. Let him live there and teach the people what the god wants.” 28 So one of the priests who had been carried away from Samaria returned to live in Bethel. And he taught the people how to honor the Lord.

29 But each nation made gods of its own and put them in the cities where they lived and in the temples where gods were worshiped. These temples had been built by the Samaritans. 30 The people from Babylon made Succoth Benoth their god. The people from Cuthah worshiped Nergal. The people of Hamath worshiped Ashima. 31 The Avvites worshiped Nibhaz and Tartak. The Sepharvites burned their children in the fire, sacrificing them to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim. 32 They also honored the Lord, but they chose priests for the places where gods were worshiped. The priests were chosen from among themselves, and they made sacrifices for the people. 33 The people honored the Lord but also served their own gods, just as the nations did from which they had been brought. 34 Even today they do as they did in the past. They do not worship the Lord nor obey his rules and commands. They do not obey the teachings or the commands of the Lord, which he gave to the children of Jacob, whom he had named Israel. 35 The Lord had made an agreement with them and had commanded them, “Do not honor other gods. Do not bow down to them or worship them or offer sacrifices to them. 36 Worship the Lord who brought you up out of the land of Egypt with great power and strength. Bow down to him and offer sacrifices to him. 37 Always obey the rules, orders, teachings, and commands he wrote for you. Do not honor other gods. 38 Do not forget the agreement I made with you, and do not honor other gods. 39 Instead worship the Lord your God, who will save you from all your enemies.”

40 But the Israelites did not listen. They kept on doing the same things they had done before. 41 So these nations honored the Lord but also worshiped their idols, and their children and grandchildren still do as their ancestors did.

Hoshea Last King of Israel(A)

17 In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah, Hoshea(B) son of Elah became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned nine years. He did evil(C) in the eyes of the Lord, but not like the kings of Israel who preceded him.

Shalmaneser(D) king of Assyria came up to attack Hoshea, who had been Shalmaneser’s vassal and had paid him tribute.(E) But the king of Assyria discovered that Hoshea was a traitor, for he had sent envoys to So[a] king of Egypt,(F) and he no longer paid tribute to the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year. Therefore Shalmaneser seized him and put him in prison.(G) The king of Assyria invaded the entire land, marched against Samaria and laid siege(H) to it for three years. In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria(I) captured Samaria(J) and deported(K) the Israelites to Assyria. He settled them in Halah, in Gozan(L) on the Habor River and in the towns of the Medes.

Israel Exiled Because of Sin

All this took place because the Israelites had sinned(M) against the Lord their God, who had brought them up out of Egypt(N) from under the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt. They worshiped other gods and followed the practices of the nations(O) the Lord had driven out before them, as well as the practices that the kings of Israel had introduced. The Israelites secretly did things against the Lord their God that were not right. From watchtower to fortified city(P) they built themselves high places in all their towns. 10 They set up sacred stones(Q) and Asherah poles(R) on every high hill and under every spreading tree.(S) 11 At every high place they burned incense, as the nations whom the Lord had driven out before them had done. They did wicked things that aroused the Lord’s anger. 12 They worshiped idols,(T) though the Lord had said, “You shall not do this.”[b] 13 The Lord warned(U) Israel and Judah through all his prophets and seers:(V) “Turn from your evil ways.(W) Observe my commands and decrees, in accordance with the entire Law that I commanded your ancestors to obey and that I delivered to you through my servants the prophets.”(X)

14 But they would not listen and were as stiff-necked(Y) as their ancestors, who did not trust in the Lord their God. 15 They rejected his decrees and the covenant(Z) he had made with their ancestors and the statutes he had warned them to keep. They followed worthless idols(AA) and themselves became worthless.(AB) They imitated the nations(AC) around them although the Lord had ordered them, “Do not do as they do.”

16 They forsook all the commands of the Lord their God and made for themselves two idols cast in the shape of calves,(AD) and an Asherah(AE) pole. They bowed down to all the starry hosts,(AF) and they worshiped Baal.(AG) 17 They sacrificed(AH) their sons and daughters in the fire. They practiced divination and sought omens(AI) and sold(AJ) themselves to do evil in the eyes of the Lord, arousing his anger.

18 So the Lord was very angry with Israel and removed them from his presence.(AK) Only the tribe of Judah was left, 19 and even Judah did not keep the commands of the Lord their God. They followed the practices Israel had introduced.(AL) 20 Therefore the Lord rejected all the people of Israel; he afflicted them and gave them into the hands of plunderers,(AM) until he thrust them from his presence.(AN)

21 When he tore(AO) Israel away from the house of David, they made Jeroboam son of Nebat their king.(AP) Jeroboam enticed Israel away from following the Lord and caused them to commit a great sin.(AQ) 22 The Israelites persisted in all the sins of Jeroboam and did not turn away from them 23 until the Lord removed them from his presence,(AR) as he had warned(AS) through all his servants the prophets. So the people of Israel were taken from their homeland(AT) into exile in Assyria, and they are still there.

Samaria Resettled

24 The king of Assyria(AU) brought people from Babylon, Kuthah, Avva, Hamath and Sepharvaim(AV) and settled them in the towns of Samaria to replace the Israelites. They took over Samaria and lived in its towns. 25 When they first lived there, they did not worship the Lord; so he sent lions(AW) among them and they killed some of the people. 26 It was reported to the king of Assyria: “The people you deported and resettled in the towns of Samaria do not know what the god of that country requires. He has sent lions among them, which are killing them off, because the people do not know what he requires.”

27 Then the king of Assyria gave this order: “Have one of the priests you took captive from Samaria go back to live there and teach the people what the god of the land requires.” 28 So one of the priests who had been exiled from Samaria came to live in Bethel and taught them how to worship the Lord.

29 Nevertheless, each national group made its own gods in the several towns(AX) where they settled, and set them up in the shrines(AY) the people of Samaria had made at the high places.(AZ) 30 The people from Babylon made Sukkoth Benoth, those from Kuthah made Nergal, and those from Hamath made Ashima; 31 the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burned their children in the fire as sacrifices to Adrammelek(BA) and Anammelek, the gods of Sepharvaim.(BB) 32 They worshiped the Lord, but they also appointed all sorts(BC) of their own people to officiate for them as priests in the shrines at the high places. 33 They worshiped the Lord, but they also served their own gods in accordance with the customs of the nations from which they had been brought.

34 To this day they persist in their former practices. They neither worship the Lord nor adhere to the decrees and regulations, the laws and commands that the Lord gave the descendants of Jacob, whom he named Israel.(BD) 35 When the Lord made a covenant with the Israelites, he commanded them: “Do not worship(BE) any other gods or bow down to them, serve them or sacrifice to them.(BF) 36 But the Lord, who brought you up out of Egypt with mighty power and outstretched arm,(BG) is the one you must worship. To him you shall bow down and to him offer sacrifices. 37 You must always be careful(BH) to keep the decrees(BI) and regulations, the laws and commands he wrote for you. Do not worship other gods. 38 Do not forget(BJ) the covenant I have made with you, and do not worship other gods. 39 Rather, worship the Lord your God; it is he who will deliver you from the hand of all your enemies.”

40 They would not listen, however, but persisted in their former practices. 41 Even while these people were worshiping the Lord,(BK) they were serving their idols. To this day their children and grandchildren continue to do as their ancestors did.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Kings 17:4 So is probably an abbreviation for Osorkon.
  2. 2 Kings 17:12 Exodus 20:4,5