2 Kings 17 24

2 Kings 17:24 kjv

And the king of Assyria brought men 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: and they possessed Samaria, and dwelt in the cities thereof.

2 Kings 17:24 nkjv

Then the king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, 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.

2 Kings 17:24 niv

The king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Kuthah, Avva, Hamath and Sepharvaim and settled them in the towns of Samaria to replace the Israelites. They took over Samaria and lived in its towns.

2 Kings 17:24 esv

And the king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the people of Israel. And they took possession of Samaria and lived in its cities.

2 Kings 17:24 nlt

The king of Assyria transported groups of people from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sepharvaim and resettled them in the towns of Samaria, replacing the people of Israel. They took possession of Samaria and lived in its towns.

2 Kings 17 verses

2 Kings 17 24 Meaning

This verse records the Assyrian strategy of population transfer after their conquest of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Following the exile of the Israelites, the Assyrian king brought diverse peoples from Babylon, Cuthah, Ava, Hamath, and Sepharvaim and settled them in the former Israelite cities of Samaria. These foreign groups took possession of the land and established their dwellin`s, effectively replacing the original Israelite inhabitants and laying the foundation for the mixed culture and religion that would characterize the Samaritans.

2 Kings 17 24 Context

Chapter Context: Chapter 17 of 2 Kings documents the ultimate downfall of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. After centuries of kings who "did evil in the sight of the Lord," fostering idolatry and disobeying God's commandments despite warnings from prophets, the kingdom finally succumbs to Assyrian power. Verses 7-23 provide a comprehensive theological explanation for Israel's destruction and exile, explicitly stating that it was a divine judgment due to their persistent sin. Verse 24 marks the beginning of the post-exile phase in the land itself, demonstrating how the physical territory, once divinely promised to Israel, was re-settled by foreign peoples according to Assyrian imperial policy. This transfer sets the stage for the narrative of syncretism that follows (vv. 25ff.), where the new inhabitants combine their pagan practices with a partial fear of the Lord.

Historical Context: This event took place shortly after the fall of Samaria in 722/721 BCE. The Assyrian Empire, under kings like Tiglath-Pileser III and later Sargon II (who likely completed the final deportations after Shalmaneser V initiated the siege), implemented a deliberate policy of mass deportation and population exchange to maintain control over conquered territories. This policy served several purposes: it prevented nationalist uprisings by diluting local populations, supplied labor for imperial projects, and re-populated areas that were strategically or economically important. The groups mentioned – from Babylon, Cuthah, Ava, Hamath, and Sepharvaim – reflect the vast geographical reach of the Assyrian Empire and its capacity to relocate diverse peoples across its domains. The resulting mixture of these foreigners with any remaining Israelites eventually gave rise to the Samaritan people, whose unique religious and ethnic identity significantly diverged from mainstream Judaism, leading to the deep-seated animosity seen centuries later in the New Testament period.

Word Analysis

• "And the king of Assyria": (מֶלֶךְ אַשּׁוּר - melekh Ashshur). This refers to Sargon II, who consolidated the Assyrian conquest of Samaria. Assyria was the dominant imperial power in the ancient Near East known for its extensive military campaigns and administrative practices including mass deportations.
• "brought people": (וַיָּבֵא ... גּוֹיִם - vayyave...goyim). "Goyim" means "nations" or "peoples." This indicates a forced relocation of various ethnic groups, not a voluntary migration. It underscores the Assyrian's power and policy of population transfer.
• "from Babylon": (מִבָּבֶל - mi-Bavel). Babylon, though a future empire, was a region subject to Assyrian control at this time. Its inclusion reflects the extent of Assyrian dominion.
• "and from Cuthah": (וְכּוּתָה - v-Khuthah). A city in central Mesopotamia, modern Tell Ibrahim. It was known as a significant religious center associated with the worship of Nergal, god of the underworld.
• "and from Ava": (וְעַוָּא - v-Avva). The exact location is uncertain, possibly in Mesopotamia or northern Syria. It highlights the diversity of origins for the transplanted groups.
• "and from Hamath": (וְחֲמָת - v-Hamath). An important Aramaean city-state in central Syria, conquered by Assyria. Its people would have brought West Semitic cultural and religious elements.
• "and from Sepharvaim": (וּסְפַרְוַיִם - u-Spharvayim). Generally identified with Sippar in Mesopotamia, known for its strong tradition of sun-god worship. This particular origin is significant because the subsequent verse mentions their horrific practice of child sacrifice to Adrammelech and Anammelech.
• "and placed them": (וַיֹּשֶׁב אוֹתָם - vayyoshev otam). Literally, "and he caused them to dwell." It conveys the deliberate, top-down decree of the Assyrian king in resettling these populations.
• "in the cities of Samaria": (בְּעָרֵי שֹׁמְרוֹן - b'arei Shomron). Samaria here refers to the broader territory of the Northern Kingdom, not just its capital city, which had been depopulated of its Israelite inhabitants.
• "instead of the children of Israel": (תַּחַת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל - tachat bnei Yisrael). This phrase is crucial. It clearly states the complete displacement and replacement of the native Israelite population. This fulfilled prophecies of the land "vomiting out" its disobedient inhabitants.
• "and they possessed Samaria": (וַיִּירְשׁוּ אֶת־שֹׁמְרוֹן - vayyirshu et-Shomron). To "inherit" or "take possession." This signifies that these foreign peoples gained full control and established a lasting presence in the former Israelite territory.
• "and dwelt in the cities thereof": (וַיֵּשְׁבוּ בְּעָרֶיהָ - vayyeshvu b'areha). They settled permanently, indicating the completion and stability of the Assyrian resettlement policy. This establishes their roots in the land, leading to their subsequent development as the Samaritans.

Words-group Analysis

• "The king of Assyria brought people... and placed them... instead of the children of Israel": This passage details a comprehensive strategy of population replacement. It emphasizes Assyrian dominance and their meticulous efforts to erase the former national identity of Israel in the region and secure imperial control. This act fundamentally altered the demographic and religious landscape of the northern kingdom.
• "from Babylon, and from Cuthah, and from Ava, and from Hamath, and from Sepharvaim": This explicit listing of origins highlights the diversity of the relocated peoples. This mixture was strategic for Assyria, preventing any single, strong nationalistic sentiment from forming amongst the new settlers, thereby minimizing rebellion risk and integrating them more easily into the imperial fabric. Each region brought its unique cultural and religious practices.
• "possessed Samaria, and dwelt in the cities thereof": This concluding phrase underscores the permanence of the new settlement. The new inhabitants did not just temporarily occupy but legally "possessed" the land and permanently settled. This laid the groundwork for the future ethno-religious identity of the Samaritans and solidified the irreversible consequences of Israel's judgment.

2 Kings 17 24 Commentary

2 Kings 17:24 marks a pivotal moment in biblical history, directly following the divine judgment against the Northern Kingdom of Israel. God, having patiently warned His people through prophets for centuries, finally allowed the Assyrian Empire to enact His promised judgment for Israel's pervasive idolatry and covenant breaking. The verse depicts Assyria's calculated policy of depopulating the conquered land of Samaria by exiling the Israelites and then deliberately repopulating it with various foreign peoples from across their vast empire. This was a common and effective Assyrian tactic to crush national identity and rebellion. The named cities of origin foreshadow the specific pagan gods these new inhabitants brought with them, setting the stage for the religious syncretism that would characterize the "Samaritans"—a mixed people group who subsequently developed a unique blend of pagan and Israelite traditions. This event not only signifies the physical end of the Northern Kingdom but also initiates a historical, ethnic, and theological rift that profoundly impacted later interactions, particularly between Jews and Samaritans in the New Testament era.

Bonus Section

• The deliberate diversity of the imported peoples (from various locations including Mesopotamia and Syria) underscores Assyria's systematic approach to colonial control. By mixing populations with distinct loyalties, Assyria minimized the risk of a unified resistance, a key component of their long-term imperial strategy.
• This verse provides crucial background for understanding the identity and practices of the Samaritans as depicted in the New Testament. Their claim of partial Israelite heritage (due to mingling with remaining Israelites) yet their distinct worship practices (mixing YHWH worship with foreign deities, and valuing Mount Gerizim over Jerusalem) directly stem from this Assyrian resettlement.
• From a theological perspective, this act of population transfer, though carried out by a pagan empire, aligns with God's ultimate sovereignty. It serves as a visible, physical consequence of Israel's disobedience and fulfilled prophecies of their exile and the land being taken over by foreigners, demonstrating God's unwavering justice.
• The land's "vomiting out" of its inhabitants due to unholiness (Lev 18:28) is seen fulfilled here, as the land literally becomes inhabited by new, different peoples after its original inhabitants are expelled due to their practices.