(A)Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against him; and Hoshea (B)became his vassal, and paid him tribute money. And the king of Assyria uncovered a conspiracy by Hoshea; for he had sent messengers to So, king of Egypt, and brought no tribute to the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year. Therefore the king of Assyria shut him up, and bound him in prison.

Read full chapter

Shalmaneser(A) king of Assyria came up to attack Hoshea, who had been Shalmaneser’s vassal and had paid him tribute.(B) But the king of Assyria discovered that Hoshea was a traitor, for he had sent envoys to So[a] king of Egypt,(C) 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.(D)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 2 Kings 17:4 So is probably an abbreviation for Osorkon.

Now (A)it came to pass in the fourth year of King Hezekiah, which was the seventh year of Hoshea the son of Elah, king of Israel, that Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against Samaria and besieged it. 10 And at the end of three years they took it. In the sixth year of Hezekiah, that is, (B)the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel, Samaria was taken. 11 (C)Then the king of Assyria carried Israel away captive to Assyria, and put them (D)in Halah and by the Habor, the River of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes,

Read full chapter

In King Hezekiah’s fourth year,(A) which was the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, Shalmaneser king of Assyria marched against Samaria and laid siege to it. 10 At the end of three years the Assyrians took it. So Samaria was captured in Hezekiah’s sixth year, which was the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel. 11 The king(B) of Assyria deported Israel to Assyria and settled them in Halah, in Gozan on the Habor River and in towns of the Medes.(C)

Read full chapter

For (A)so it was that the children of Israel had sinned against the Lord their God, who had brought them up out of the land of Egypt, from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and they had (B)feared other gods, and (C)had walked in the statutes of the nations whom the Lord had cast out from before the children of Israel, and of the kings of Israel, which they had made. Also the children of Israel secretly did against the Lord their God things that were not right, and they built for themselves [a]high places in all their cities, (D)from watchtower to fortified city. 10 (E)They set up for themselves sacred pillars and (F)wooden images[b] (G)on every high hill and under every green tree. 11 There they burned incense on all the high places, like the nations whom the Lord had carried away before them; and they did wicked things to provoke the Lord to anger, 12 for they served idols, (H)of which the Lord had said to them, (I)“You shall not do this thing.”

13 Yet the Lord testified against Israel and against Judah, by all of His (J)prophets, (K)every seer, saying, (L)“Turn from your evil ways, and keep My commandments and My statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by My servants the prophets.” 14 Nevertheless they would not hear, but (M)stiffened their necks, like the necks of their fathers, who (N)did not believe in the Lord their God. 15 And they (O)rejected His statutes (P)and His covenant that He had made with their fathers, and His testimonies which He had testified against them; they followed (Q)idols, (R)became idolaters, and went after the nations who were all around them, concerning whom the Lord had charged them that they should (S)not do like them. 16 So they left all the commandments of the Lord their God, (T)made for themselves a molded image and two calves, (U)made a wooden image and worshiped all the (V)host of heaven, (W)and served Baal. 17 (X)And they caused their sons and daughters to pass through the fire, (Y)practiced witchcraft and soothsaying, and (Z)sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke Him to anger. 18 Therefore the Lord was very angry with Israel, and removed them from His sight; there was none left (AA)but the tribe of Judah alone.

19 Also (AB)Judah did not keep the commandments of the Lord their God, but walked in the statutes of Israel which they made. 20 And the Lord rejected all the descendants of Israel, afflicted them, and (AC)delivered them into the hand of plunderers, until He had cast them from His (AD)sight. 21 For (AE)He tore Israel from the house of David, and (AF)they made Jeroboam the son of Nebat king. Then Jeroboam drove Israel from following the Lord, and made them commit a great sin. 22 For the children of Israel walked in all the sins of Jeroboam which he did; they did not depart from them, 23 until the Lord removed Israel out of His sight, (AG)as He had said by all His servants the prophets. (AH)So Israel was carried away from their own land to Assyria, as it is to this day.

Assyria Resettles Samaria

24 (AI)Then the king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, (AJ)Ava, Hamath, and from Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel; and they took possession of Samaria and dwelt in its cities. 25 And it was so, at the beginning of their dwelling there, that they did not fear the Lord; therefore the Lord sent lions among them, which killed some of them. 26 So they spoke to the king of Assyria, saying, “The nations whom you have removed and placed in the cities of Samaria do not know the rituals of the God of the land; therefore He has sent lions among them, and indeed, they are killing them because they do not know the rituals of the God of the land.” 27 Then the king of Assyria commanded, saying, “Send there one of the priests whom you brought from there; let him go and dwell there, and let him teach them the rituals of the God of the land.” 28 Then one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and dwelt in Bethel, and taught them how they should fear the Lord.

29 However every nation continued to make gods of its own, and put them (AK)in the shrines on the high places which the Samaritans had made, every nation in the cities where they dwelt. 30 The men of (AL)Babylon made Succoth Benoth, the men of Cuth made Nergal, the men of Hamath made Ashima, 31 (AM)and the Avites made Nibhaz and Tartak; and the Sepharvites (AN)burned their children in fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim. 32 So they feared the Lord, (AO)and from every class they appointed for themselves priests of the [c]high places, who sacrificed for them in the shrines of the high places. 33 (AP)They feared the Lord, yet served their own gods—according to the rituals of the nations from among whom they were carried away.

34 To this day they continue practicing the former rituals; they do not fear the Lord, nor do they follow their statutes or their ordinances, or the law and commandment which the Lord had commanded the children of Jacob, (AQ)whom He named Israel, 35 with whom the Lord had made a covenant and charged them, saying: (AR)“You shall not fear other gods, nor (AS)bow down to them nor serve them nor sacrifice to them; 36 but the Lord, who (AT)brought you up from the land of Egypt with great power and (AU)an outstretched arm, (AV)Him you shall fear, Him you shall worship, and to Him you shall offer sacrifice. 37 And the statutes, the ordinances, the law, and the commandment which He wrote for you, (AW)you shall be careful to observe forever; you shall not fear other gods. 38 And the covenant that I have made with you, (AX)you shall not forget, nor shall you fear other gods. 39 But the Lord your God you shall fear; and He will deliver you from the hand of all your enemies.” 40 However they did not obey, but they followed their former rituals. 41 (AY)So these nations feared the Lord, yet served their carved images; also their children and their children’s children have continued doing as their fathers did, even to this day.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 2 Kings 17:9 Places for pagan worship
  2. 2 Kings 17:10 Heb. Asherim, Canaanite deities
  3. 2 Kings 17:32 Places for pagan worship

Israel Exiled Because of Sin

All this took place because the Israelites had sinned(A) against the Lord their God, who had brought them up out of Egypt(B) from under the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt. They worshiped other gods and followed the practices of the nations(C) 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(D) they built themselves high places in all their towns. 10 They set up sacred stones(E) and Asherah poles(F) on every high hill and under every spreading tree.(G) 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,(H) though the Lord had said, “You shall not do this.”[a] 13 The Lord warned(I) Israel and Judah through all his prophets and seers:(J) “Turn from your evil ways.(K) 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.”(L)

14 But they would not listen and were as stiff-necked(M) as their ancestors, who did not trust in the Lord their God. 15 They rejected his decrees and the covenant(N) he had made with their ancestors and the statutes he had warned them to keep. They followed worthless idols(O) and themselves became worthless.(P) They imitated the nations(Q) 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,(R) and an Asherah(S) pole. They bowed down to all the starry hosts,(T) and they worshiped Baal.(U) 17 They sacrificed(V) their sons and daughters in the fire. They practiced divination and sought omens(W) and sold(X) 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.(Y) 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.(Z) 20 Therefore the Lord rejected all the people of Israel; he afflicted them and gave them into the hands of plunderers,(AA) until he thrust them from his presence.(AB)

21 When he tore(AC) Israel away from the house of David, they made Jeroboam son of Nebat their king.(AD) Jeroboam enticed Israel away from following the Lord and caused them to commit a great sin.(AE) 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,(AF) as he had warned(AG) through all his servants the prophets. So the people of Israel were taken from their homeland(AH) into exile in Assyria, and they are still there.

Samaria Resettled

24 The king of Assyria(AI) brought people from Babylon, Kuthah, Avva, Hamath and Sepharvaim(AJ) 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(AK) 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(AL) where they settled, and set them up in the shrines(AM) the people of Samaria had made at the high places.(AN) 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(AO) and Anammelek, the gods of Sepharvaim.(AP) 32 They worshiped the Lord, but they also appointed all sorts(AQ) 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.(AR) 35 When the Lord made a covenant with the Israelites, he commanded them: “Do not worship(AS) any other gods or bow down to them, serve them or sacrifice to them.(AT) 36 But the Lord, who brought you up out of Egypt with mighty power and outstretched arm,(AU) is the one you must worship. To him you shall bow down and to him offer sacrifices. 37 You must always be careful(AV) to keep the decrees(AW) and regulations, the laws and commands he wrote for you. Do not worship other gods. 38 Do not forget(AX) 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,(AY) they were serving their idols. To this day their children and grandchildren continue to do as their ancestors did.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 2 Kings 17:12 Exodus 20:4,5

Prayer for Israel’s Restoration

To the Chief Musician. (A)Set to [a]“The Lilies.” A [b]Testimony of Asaph. A Psalm.

80 Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel,
(B)You who lead Joseph (C)like a flock;
You who dwell between the cherubim, (D)shine forth!
Before (E)Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh,
Stir up Your strength,
And come and save us!

(F)Restore us, O God;
(G)Cause Your face to shine,
And we shall be saved!

O Lord God of hosts,
(H)How long will You be angry
Against the prayer of Your people?
(I)You have fed them with the bread of tears,
And given them tears to drink in great measure.
You have made us a strife to our neighbors,
And our enemies laugh among themselves.

Restore us, O God of hosts;
Cause Your face to shine,
And we shall be saved!

You have brought (J)a vine out of Egypt;
(K)You have cast out the [c]nations, and planted it.
You prepared room for it,
And caused it to take deep root,
And it filled the land.
10 The hills were covered with its shadow,
And the [d]mighty cedars with its (L)boughs.
11 She sent out her boughs to [e]the Sea,
And her branches to [f]the River.

12 Why have You (M)broken down her [g]hedges,
So that all who pass by the way pluck her fruit?
13 The boar out of the woods uproots it,
And the wild beast of the field devours it.

14 Return, we beseech You, O God of hosts;
(N)Look down from heaven and see,
And visit this vine
15 And the vineyard which Your right hand has planted,
And the branch that You made strong (O)for Yourself.
16 It is burned with fire, it is cut down;
(P)They perish at the rebuke of Your countenance.
17 (Q)Let Your hand be upon the man of Your right hand,
Upon the son of man whom You made strong for Yourself.
18 Then we will not turn back from You;
Revive us, and we will call upon Your name.

19 Restore us, O Lord God of hosts;
Cause Your face to shine,
And we shall be saved!

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 80:1 Heb. Shoshannim
  2. Psalm 80:1 Heb. Eduth
  3. Psalm 80:8 Gentiles
  4. Psalm 80:10 Lit. cedars of God
  5. Psalm 80:11 The Mediterranean
  6. Psalm 80:11 The Euphrates
  7. Psalm 80:12 walls or fences

Psalm 80[a]

For the director of music. To the tune of “The Lilies of the Covenant.” Of Asaph. A psalm.

Hear us, Shepherd of Israel,
    you who lead Joseph like a flock.(A)
You who sit enthroned between the cherubim,(B)
    shine forth before Ephraim, Benjamin and Manasseh.(C)
Awaken(D) your might;
    come and save us.(E)

Restore(F) us,(G) O God;
    make your face shine on us,
    that we may be saved.(H)

How long,(I) Lord God Almighty,
    will your anger smolder(J)
    against the prayers of your people?
You have fed them with the bread of tears;(K)
    you have made them drink tears by the bowlful.(L)
You have made us an object of derision[b] to our neighbors,
    and our enemies mock us.(M)

Restore us, God Almighty;
    make your face shine on us,
    that we may be saved.(N)

You transplanted a vine(O) from Egypt;
    you drove out(P) the nations and planted(Q) it.
You cleared the ground for it,
    and it took root and filled the land.
10 The mountains were covered with its shade,
    the mighty cedars with its branches.
11 Its branches reached as far as the Sea,[c]
    its shoots as far as the River.[d](R)

12 Why have you broken down its walls(S)
    so that all who pass by pick its grapes?
13 Boars from the forest ravage(T) it,
    and insects from the fields feed on it.
14 Return to us, God Almighty!
    Look down from heaven and see!(U)
Watch over this vine,
15     the root your right hand has planted,
    the son[e] you have raised up for yourself.

16 Your vine is cut down, it is burned with fire;(V)
    at your rebuke(W) your people perish.
17 Let your hand rest on the man at your right hand,
    the son of man(X) you have raised up for yourself.
18 Then we will not turn away from you;
    revive(Y) us, and we will call on your name.

19 Restore us, Lord God Almighty;
    make your face shine on us,
    that we may be saved.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 80:1 In Hebrew texts 80:1-19 is numbered 80:2-20.
  2. Psalm 80:6 Probable reading of the original Hebrew text; Masoretic Text contention
  3. Psalm 80:11 Probably the Mediterranean
  4. Psalm 80:11 That is, the Euphrates
  5. Psalm 80:15 Or branch