1Hoshea's wicked reign. 3Becoming tributary to Shalmaneser, and afterward conspiring with the king of Egypt against him, he is shut up in prison. 5Shalmaneser after a three years' siege taketh Samaria, and carrieth Israel away captive for their wickedness, as the prophets had predicted. 24The strange nations, which were transplanted into the land of Israel, are plagued with lions; they send for one of the captive priests to teach them the worship of God, which they mix with their own idolatry.
1IN the 1twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah began Hoshea the son of Elah 2to reign in Samaria over Israel nine years.
1 He had indeed taken possession of the kingdom of Israel in the fourth year of Ahaz, that is, eight years before, 2 Kings 15:30, but in regard the land was full of disputes and troubles about the crown, neither he, nor any man else seems to have been confirmed, or a settled king those eight years; or, if he had been yet held to be king, he was notwithstanding under the tribute of the king of Assyria, yea also (as some perceive) his prisoner; so that the fore-mentioned eight years, come not here in the account of his reign; else he had reigned seventeen years. Compare 2 Kings 15:30; 18:9. Others perceive, that he reigned the first eight years absolutely as sovereign, and the other nine as tributary, and that the Holy Scripture here only makes mention of these last (years).
2 See 1 Kings 15 on verse 33.
2And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, but 3not as the kings of Israel that were before him.
3 That is; not with such great idolatry; for, the previous kings had for the most part worshipped not only the golden calves, but also Baal and other abominations of the heathens. Some likewise perceive that he permitted his people go up to Jerusalem, to offer there; which was forbidden them in the past, 1 Kings 12:27.
3¶Against him came up 4Shalmaneser king of Assyria; and Hoshea became his servant, and gave him 5presents.
4 Otherwise called also in some histories, Nabonassar. Although some are of the opinion that they were different men.
5 That is, a yearly tribute or tax.
4And the king of Assyria 6found conspiracy in Hoshea: for he had sent messengers to 7So king of Egypt, and brought no present to the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year: therefore the king of Assyria shut him up, and bound him in 8prison.
6 Namely about the fifth, or sixth year of this reign of Hosea. Compare 2 Kings 18:9.
7 Otherwise called in histories Sabachos, who, having expelled his predecessor Asychis, reigned many years over Egypt. This man’s help did Hosea seek against the Assyrians.
8 Hebr. the house of shutting up, or of restraint. This was done in the ninth year of king Hosea’s reign, mentioned in the first verse.
5¶Then thea king of Assyria came up throughout all the land, and went up to Samaria, and besieged it three years.
a 2 Kings 18:9.
6¶In theb ninth year of Hoshea the king of Assyria took Samaria, and carried Israel away into Assyria, and placed them in 9Halah and in 10Habor by the 11river of Gozan, and in the cities of the 12Medes.
b 2 Kings 18:10; Isa. 8:4.
9 Some hold it to be Calacine of Assyria, situated above Abiabene. See hereof also 2 Kings 18:11; 1 Chron. 5:26.
10 This is perceived to be a mountainous land of Assyria, bordering on Media. See 2 Kings 18:11.
11 A river in Mesopotamia, 2 Kings 18:11; 1 Chron. 5:26. Other, Nehar-Gozan, a region (as some perceive) in Media.
12 See Gen. 10 on verse 2.
7For so it was, that the children of Israel had sinned against the LORD their God, which had brought them up out of the land of Egypt, from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and had feared 13other gods,
13 See Gen. 35 on verse 2.
8And walkedc in the statutes of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel, and of the kings of Israel, 14which they had made.
c Lev. 18:3.
14 Understand the statutes, which the kings of Israel had made; also verse 19. Or, of the kings of Israel, which they, namely, the children of Israel, had set up.
9And the children of Israel 15did secretly those things that were not right 16against the LORD their God, and they built them high places in all their cities, 17from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city.
15 Or, cloaked. Hebr. properly covered, that is, they excused their idolatry and sins, and clothed them with the name and show of religion, holiness, and good intention, willing to serve God, not according to His Word, but according to their own fancy, against the express command of God, Num. 15:39.
16 Other, with the LORD, etc. that is, with the name or cloak of the service of God.
17 That is, everywhere throughout the entire land, as well in small and uninhabited places and in the field, as in great and populous places and cities. The watch towers were built here and there in the land, to warn the people of the enemies’ approach, or to secure the cattle, and the fruits of the ground.
10And they set them up 18images and 19groves 20in every high hill, and under every green tree:
18 See Lev. 26 on verse 1.
19 See Exod. 34:13 and Deut. 7:5 with the annotation Other, grove-gods, grove-images.
20 See Deut. 12 on verse 2.
11And there they burnt incense in all the high places, as did the heathen whom the LORD carried away before them; and wrought wicked things to provoke the LORD to anger:
12For they served 21idols, whereof the LORD had said unto them, Yed shall not do this thing.
21 See Lev. 26 on verse 30.
d Exod. 20:3, 4, 5; Deut. 5:7, 8, 9.
13Yet the LORD testified against Israel, and against Judah, 22by all the prophets, and by all the 23seers, saying, Turne ye 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.
22 Hebr. by the hand of.
23 Namely, to whom God had declared His will in all manner of ways, which He used in those times to instruct men by, as by oracles, visions, or dreams. See Num. 12 on verse 6.
e Jer. 18:11; 25:5; 35:15.
14Notwithstanding they would not hear, but 24hardenedf their necks, like to the neck of their fathers, that did not believe 25in the LORD their God.
24 That is, they were disobedient and rebellious to the utmost, refusing to yield to the exhortations of God. See Exod. 32 on verse 9.
f Deut. 31:27; Mal. 3:7.
25 That is, had not believed His threats.
15And they rejected his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their fathers, and his testimonies which he testified against them; and they followed 26vanity, and became vain, and went after the heathen that were round about them, concerning whom the LORD had charged them, that they should not do like them.
26 Idolatry is called vanity, as well because idols are a thing of nothing, as because the confidence fixed on them is in vain; yea also because idolaters are deprived of right judgment and understanding.
16And they left all the commandments of the LORD their God, andg made them molten images, even two calves, and made a grove, and worshipped 27all the host of heaven, and served 28Baal.
g Exod. 32:8; 1 Kings 12:28.
27 See Deut. 4 on verse 19.
28 See Judges 2 on verse 11.
17And they causedh their sons and their daughters to pass 29through the fire, and 30used divination and 31enchantments, and 32sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.
h Lev. 20:3, 4; Deut. 18:10; 2 Kings 16:3.
29 See Lev. 18 on verse 21.
30 Hebr. soothsaid soothsayings.
31 See Lev. 19 on verse 26.
32 See the meaning of this phrase, 1 Kings 21 on verse 20.
18Therefore the LORD was very angry with Israel, and removedi them out of 33his sight: there was none left but 34the tribe of Judah only.
i Hosea 1:6.
33 That is, out of the land of Canaan, which He had hallowed for an habitation to Himself, having therein His church in the midst whereof He dwelt, and in which the outward signs showed His presence. Also verses 20, 23; 2 Kings 23:27; 24:3.
34 Being hereunder comprised the Levites, who dwelt in the tribe of Judah, and the Simeonites, who were mingled among them, with a part of Benjamin. See 1 Kings 11 on verse 32.
19Also 35Judah kept not the commandments of the LORD their God, but walkedj in the statutes of Israel 36which they made.
35 This did increase the sin of the Israelites, that they made also those of Judah to sin by their evil examples, and provoked them to idolatry. See Hosea 4:15.
j Lev. 18:3.
36 Namely, the Israelites.
20And the LORD rejected 37all the seed of Israel, and afflicted them, and delivered them into the hand of spoilers, until he had cast them out of his sight.
37 Namely, the ten tribes, who are called Israel, to distinguish them from Judah, as appears by the following verse.
21For 38he rentk Israel from the house of David; and they made Jeroboam the son of Nebat king: and Jeroboam drave Israel from following the LORD, and made them sin 39a great sin.
38 Namely, the Lord, 1 Kings 12:24. Or, Israel rent itself from the house of David.
k 1 Kings 12:16, 17, 26.
39 See 1 Kings 12 on verse 30.
22For the children of Israel walked in all the sins of Jeroboam 40which he did; they departed not from them;
40 See 1 Kings 14 on verse 16.
23Until the LORD removed Israel out of his sight, as he had said 41by all his servants the prophets. So was Israel carried away out of their own land to Assyria 42unto this day.
41 Hebr. by the hand.
42 That is, which transportation makes them to be exiles and to continue in banishment unto this day, when this was written.
24¶And the king of Assyria brought men from Babylon, and from 43Cuthah, and from 44Ava, and from 45Hamath, and from 46Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel: and they possessed Samaria, and dwelt in the cities thereof.
43 A region (as is thought) of Arabia Deserta, inhabited by the Citanians, which border on Syria; or, of Persia, having the name from the river Cuthah.
44 See Deut. 2 on verse 23, called also Ivah, 2 Kings 18:34.
45 See Num. 13 on verse 21.
46 The land of the city of Sephora, situated in Mesopotamia by the Euphrates.
25And so it was at the beginning of their dwelling there, that they feared 47not the LORD: therefore the LORD sent lions among them, which slew some of them.
47 That is, they served Him not according to the lawful manner prescribed by Moses.
26Wherefore they 48spake to the king of Assyria, saying, The nations which thou hast removed, and placed in the cities of Samaria, know not the manner of the God of the land: therefore he hath sent lions among them, and, behold, they slay them, because they know not the manner of the God of the land.
48 Namely, the new inhabitants, by their ambassadors, whom they dispatched away to the king, to acquaint him with their grievance.
27Then the king of Assyria commanded, saying, Carry thither one 49of the priests whom ye brought from thence; 50and let them go and dwell there, and let him teach them the manner of the God of the land.
49 They were not the Levitical priests, but whom the king of Israel had made of the lowest of the people, 1 Kings 12:31.
50 Namely, the priest with his retinue, servants and household; or with those who conducted him.
28Then one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and dwelt in Beth-el, and taught them how they should 51fear the LORD.
51 That is, serve; although doubtless more after the idolatrous manner of the former kings, than after the law of God, given by Moses. Also verses 32, 33, 41.
29Howbeit 52every 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.
52 Hebr. nation, nation; also in the following words of this verse. See Gen. 7 on verse 2.
30And the men of Babylon made 53Succoth-benoth, and the men of Cuth made Nergal, and the men of Hamath made Ashima,
53 This name, with the rest that follow in this verse, and in the 31st are for the most part held to be names of idols, which the Samaritans worshipped; but hereof are different opinions among the learned.
31And the Avites made 54Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites 55burnt their children in fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim.
54 Otherwise, Nibhan.
55 See Lev. 18 on verse 21.
32So they feared the LORD, and madel unto themselves 56of the lowest of them priests of the high places, which sacrificed for them in the houses of the high places.
l 1 Kings 12:31.
56 Hebr. of their ends, or of their uttermost parts. See 1 Kings 12 on verse 31.
33Theym feared the LORD, and 57served their own gods, after the manner of the nations whom they carried away 58from thence.
m Zeph. 1:5.
57 Namely, each their idol, according to the manner of their country, from where each nation was carried thither by the Assyrians.
58 Hebr. from where.
34Unto this day they do 59after the former manners: they fear not the LORD, neither do they after their statutes, or after their ordinances, or after the law and commandment which the LORD commanded the children of Jacob, 60whom hen named Israel;
59 Understand here the Israelites, of whom see verse 23. For here is made a contrast between the stubbornness of the Israelites, who were carried away into Assyria, because they would not leave their old idolatry; and the changeableness of the Assyrians to serve the Lord after the idolatrous manner of the Israelites, although they had never done this before.
60 This is here added, to upbraid the Israelites that they had forgotten the exceeding great mercies, which God had shown to their father Jacob and likewise to them, about that time when He had given them the name of Israel, which ought to have moved them to serve the same God alone purely, and to cleave unto Him faithfully.
n Gen. 32:28; 35:10; 1 Kings 18:31.
35With whom the LORD had made 61a covenant, and charged them, saying, Yeo shall not fear other gods, nor bow yourselves to them, nor serve them, nor sacrifice to them:
61 See Gen. 17:7; Exod. 19:5, etc.; 24:7, etc.
o Judges 6:10.
36But the LORD, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt with great power and 62a stretched out arm, him shall ye fear, and him shall ye worship, and to him shall ye do sacrifice.
62 See Exod. 6 on verse 5.
37And the 63statutes, and the ordinances, and the law, and the commandment, which he wrote for you, ye shall observe to do for evermore; and ye shall not fear other gods.
63 Understand by these four words: first, the ceremonial law; second, the civil laws; third, the true doctrine; fourth, the moral law. See Gen. 26 on verse 5.
38And the covenant that I have made with you ye shall not forget; neither shall ye fear other gods.
39But the LORD your God ye shall fear; and he shall deliver you out of the hand of all your enemies.
40Howbeit they did not hearken, but they did after their 64former manner.
64 Which was ordained by Jeroboam and other idolatrous kings.
41So 65these nations 66feared the LORD, and served their graven images, both their children, and their children's children: as did their fathers, so do they unto this day.
65 Namely the heathen, who were come out of Assyria, to dwell in Samaria and in the land of the Israelites.
66 Namely, after the idolatrous manner of the Israelites. See on verse 28.