2 Kings 17:5-8, 13-15a, 18
Chapter 17
In the ninth year of the reign of Hoshea, the king of Assyria captured Samaria, exiled the Israelites to Asshur and made them settle in Halah, at the banks of Habor, the river of Gozan, as well as in the cities of the Medes.
This happened because the children of Israel had sinned against the Lord, their God, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt, where they were subject to Pharaoh. But they had turned back to other gods.
They followed the customs of the nations which the Lord had driven out before them.
The Lord warned Israel and Judah through the mouth of every prophet and seer, saying:“Turn from your evil ways and keep my commandments and precepts according to the laws which I commanded your fathers and which I have sent to you by my servants, the prophets.”
But they did not listen and refused, as did their fathers, who did not believe in the Lord, their God.
They despised his statutes, the covenant he had made with their fathers, and the warnings he had given them. They pursued worthless idols and became worthless, imitating the nations that surrounded them, despite what the Lord had said: “Do not do as they do.”
So the Lord became indignant with Israel and cast them far away from his presence, leaving only the tribe of Judah.
Commentaries
Hosea of Israel.
In just three verses, the history of Hosea’s reign, the last king of Israel, is summarized. Although he receives the same rating as all his predecessors, it is noted that he was not as bad as the kings before him (2). Verses 3ff describe the final stage of international relations between Israel and Assyria. After being attacked, the king pays tribute but soon secretly travels to Egypt to seek support against Assyria. When this plan is uncovered, Assyria responds with a final invasion and captures the king. In two verses (5ff.), the fall and ruin of what was called the “Northern Kingdom” are detailed; the Israelites are deported, and the territory is colonized by prisoners from other provinces of the same Assyrian empire (cf. 18:9-12).
The rest of the chapter presents a detailed reflection by the Deuteronomist narrator on the events that occurred in the kingdom of Israel. According to his analysis, everything happened because Israel rebelled against God, its former Liberator, and turned to serve other gods, which the Lord had forbidden them to do (7-12). Verses 13-17 explain the reasons for Israel’s downfall: despite being warned and guided by God through His prophets, the people disobeyed the Lord. They adopted the practices of neighboring peoples. The sentence in verses 18-20 states that Israel’s sins angered the Lord so much that He decided to cast them out of His presence and leave Judah alone. Verses 24-41 describe the situation of the new settlers, who were forced to live in the territory now controlled by the Assyrians.