II Kings Chapter 17

II Kings Chapter 17
1 In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of
Judah began Hoshea the son of Elah to
reign in Samaria over Israel, and
reigned nine years. 2 And he did evil in
the sight of the Lord, but not as the kings
of Israel, that were before him.
3 And Shalmaneser king of Assyria
came up against him, and Hoshea
became his servant, and gave him
presents.
4 And the king of Assyria found treason
in Hoshea: for he had sent messengers to
So king of Egypt, and brought no present
unto the king of Assyria, as he had done
yearly: therefore the king of Assyria shut
him up, and put him in prison.
5 Then the king of Assyria came up
throughout all the land, and went against
Samaria, and besieged it three year.
6 In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of
Assyria took Samaria, and carried Israel
away unto Assyria, and put them in
Halah, and in Habor by the river of
Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.
7 For when the children of Israel sinned
against the Lord their God, which had
brought them out of the land of Egypt,
from under the hand of Pharaoh king of
Egypt, and feared other gods,
8 And walked according to the fashions
of the Heathen, whom the Lord had cast
out before the children of Israel, and
after the manners of the kings of Israel,
which they used,
9 And the children of Israel had done
secretly things that were not upright
before the Lord their God, and
throughout all their cities had built high
places, both from the tower of the
watch, to the defensed city, 10 And had
made them images and groves upon
every high hill, and under every green
tree,
11 And there burned incense in all the
high places, as did the heathen, whom
the Lord had taken away before them,
and wrought wicked things to anger the
Lord,
12 And served idols: whereof the Lord
had said unto them, Ye shall do no such
thing,
13 Notwithstanding the Lord testified to
Israel, and to Judah by all the prophets,
and by all the seers, saying, 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 obey,
but hardened their necks, like to the
necks of their fathers, that did not
believe in the Lord their God. 15 And
they refused his statutes and his
covenant, that he made with their fathers,
and his testimonies (wherewith he
witnessed unto them) and they followed
vanity, and became vain, and followed
the heathen that were round about them:
concerning whom the Lord had charged
them, that they should not do like them.
16 Finally they left all the
commandments of the Lord their God,
and made them molten images, even two
calves, and made a grove, and
worshiped all the host of heaven, and
served Baal.
17 And they made their sons and their
daughters pass through the fire, and used
witchcraft and enchantments, yea, sold
themselves to do evil in the sight of the
Lord, to anger him.
18 Therefore the Lord was exceeding
wroth with Israel, and put them out of his
sight, and none was left but the tribe of
Judah only. 19 Yet Judah kept not the
commandments of the Lord their God,
but walked according to the fashion of
Israel, which they used.
20 Therefore the Lord cast off all the
seed of Israel, and afflicted them, and
delivered them into the hands of
spoilers, until he had cast them out of his
sight.
21 For he cut off Israel from the house of
David, and they made Jeroboam the son
of Nebat king: and Jeroboam drew Israel
away from following the Lord, and made
them sin a great sin.
22 For the children of Israel walked in
all the sins of Jeroboam, which he did,
and departed not there from,
23 Until the Lord put Israel away out of
his sight, as he had said by all his
servants the prophets, and carried Israel
away out of their land to Assyria unto
this day.
24 And the king of Assyria brought folk
from Babylon, and from Cuthah, and
from Ava, and from Hamath, and from
Sepharvaim, and placed them in the
cities of Samaria instead of the children
of Israel: so they possessed Samaria,
and dwelt in the cities thereof.
25 And at the beginning of their dwelling
there, they feared not the Lord: therefore
the Lord sent lions among them, which
slew them.
26 Wherefore they spake 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. 27 Then the king
of Assyria commanded, saying, Carry
thither one of the priests whom ye
brought thence, and let him go and dwell
there, and teach them the manner of the
God of the country.
28 So one of the priests, which they had
carried from Samaria, came and dwelt in
Beth-el, and taught them how they should
fear the Lord. 29 Howbeit every nation
made their gods, and put them in the
houses of the high places, which the
Samaritans had made, every nation in
their cities, wherein they dwelt.
30 For the men of Babylon made
Succoth-Benoth: and the men of Cuth
made Nergal, and the men of Hamath
made Ashima,
31 And the Avites made Nibhaz, and
Tartak: and the Sepharvites burned their
children in the fire to Adrammelech, and
Anammelech the gods of Sepharvaim.
32 Thus they feared the Lord, and
appointed out priests out of themselves
for the high places, who prepared for
them sacrifices in the houses of the high
places.
33 They feared the Lord, but served their
gods after the manner of the nations
whom they carried thence.
34 Unto this day they do after the old
manner: they neither fear God, neither do
after their ordinances, nor after their
customs, nor after the law, nor after the
commandment, which the Lord
commanded the children of Jacob, whom
he named Israel,
35 And with whom the Lord had made a
covenant, and charged them, saying, Fear
none other gods, nor bow yourselves to
them, nor serve them, nor sacrifice to
them:
36 But fear the Lord which brought you
out of the land of Egypt with great
power, and a stretched out arm: him fear
ye, and worship him, and sacrifice to
him.
37 Also keep ye diligently the statutes
and the ordinances, and the law, and the
commandment, which he wrote for you,
that ye do them continually, and fear not
other gods.
38 And forget not the covenant that I
have made with you, neither fear ye
other gods,
39 But fear the Lord your God, and he
will deliver you out of the hands of all
your enemies.
40 Howbeit they obeyed not, but did
after their old custom.
41 So these nations feared the Lord, and
served their images also: so did their
children, and their children's children:
as did their fathers , so do they unto this
day.