2 Kings 17 26

2 Kings 17:26 kjv

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.

2 Kings 17:26 nkjv

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."

2 Kings 17:26 niv

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."

2 Kings 17:26 esv

So the king of Assyria was told, "The nations that you have carried away and placed in the cities of Samaria do not know the law of the god of the land. Therefore he has sent lions among them, and behold, they are killing them, because they do not know the law of the god of the land."

2 Kings 17:26 nlt

So a message was sent to the king of Assyria: "The people you have sent to live in the towns of Samaria do not know the religious customs of the God of the land. He has sent lions among them to destroy them because they have not worshiped him correctly."

2 Kings 17 verses

2 Kings 17 26 Meaning

The verse reports to the king of Assyria that the newly settled foreign nations in Samaria were being attacked and killed by lions because, from the settlers' perspective, they did not know the required customs or "law" of the local deity. This belief attributes the lion attacks to the "god of the land" (Yahweh) acting punitively for their ignorance of His territorial demands. It reflects an ancient Near Eastern understanding where specific deities governed particular lands, and their favor required proper observance of their traditions.

2 Kings 17 26 Context

This verse is embedded in 2 Kings Chapter 17, which primarily recounts the fall of the Northern Kingdom of Israel (Samaria) due to its persistent idolatry and disobedience to Yahweh, leading to their exile by the Assyrians (2 Kings 17:5-23). Following the deportation of the Israelites, the Assyrian king implemented a policy of resettling conquered peoples from other regions into the depopulated territory of Samaria (2 Kings 17:24). The new inhabitants, accustomed to their own deities and local customs, encountered unusual phenomena, specifically attacks by lions (2 Kings 17:25). This report to the King of Assyria explains their perception of why these attacks were happening. They believed the lions were a punishment sent by "the god of the land" (referring to Yahweh) because they, as foreigners, did not know how to properly appease or worship Him according to the land's specific laws or ordinances. This perspective underscores a common ancient Near Eastern worldview where local gods exerted power over their territories, and propitiation was necessary for survival. The Assyrians, by moving people around, inadvertently exposed them to a god whose "rules" they did not know, leading to what they interpreted as divine judgment.

2 Kings 17 26 Word analysis

• So they told (וַיֹּאמְרוּ, vayyomru): The Hebrew verb is a simple past tense, suggesting a straightforward report. "They" refers to some group familiar with the situation, possibly Assyrian officials or local leaders, who brought this unusual problem to the king's attention.
• the king of Assyria (לְמֶלֶךְ אַשּׁוּר, l'melech Ashur): The reigning monarch of the Assyrian Empire, a dominant superpower of the period responsible for the deportations. Historically, this would likely be Sargon II, who completed the capture of Samaria in 722 BC, or his successor.
• The nations (הַגּוֹיִם, hagoyim): This term, often translated as "Gentiles" or "peoples," specifically denotes the foreign groups whom the Assyrians brought from other regions and resettled into the land of Samaria (mentioned as Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sepharvaim in 2 Kings 17:24). It emphasizes their non-Israelite, diverse, pagan background.
• whom you have carried away and placed (אֲשֶׁר הִגְלֵיתָ וַתּוֹשֶׁב, asher higleita v'toshshev): Highlights the Assyrian king's absolute authority and direct role in this massive population transfer. "Carried away" (הגלה, haglah) refers to the forced exile of populations, a common Assyrian tactic to prevent rebellion. "Placed" (הושב, hoshshev) refers to their resettlement, aiming for imperial control and agricultural stability.
• in the cities of Samaria (בְּעָרֵי שֹׁמְרוֹן, b'arei Shomron): Refers to the former urban centers and surrounding regions of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Samaria, once a symbol of Israel's wealth and later its apostasy, was now re-inhabited by foreigners.
• do not know (לֹא יָדְעוּ, lo yadu): Implies a profound lack of awareness, understanding, or adherence to. It’s not merely intellectual ignorance but a practical non-acquaintance with expected behavior or worship practices.
• the law (אֶת מִשְׁפַּט, et mishpat): "Mishpat" (מִשְׁפָּט) is a rich Hebrew word. While often meaning "justice" or "judgment," here it signifies a custom, an ordinance, a due, or a prescribed rule. It encapsulates the proper way of relating to the deity and the land as required by its sovereign god. For the Israelites, this would be the Mosaic Covenant.
• of the god of the land (אֱלֹהֵי הָאָרֶץ, Elohei ha'aretz): A critical phrase. From the foreign settlers' polytheistic perspective, Yahweh, the God of Israel, was merely the local territorial deity associated with that specific piece of land. This view contrasts sharply with the biblical understanding of Yahweh as the one universal, sovereign God of all creation. This term highlights the syncretistic lens through which these pagans understood divine activity.
• therefore he has sent (וַיְשַׁלַּח, vayshalach): A direct causal attribution. The pagans believed the "god of the land" was actively intervening by deploying agents of judgment. The singular pronoun "he" refers back to "the god of the land."
• lions among them (בָּהֶם אֶת הָאֲרִיוֹת, bahem et ha'ariyot): The specific means of divine judgment, according to their understanding. Lions were prominent predators in the region, whose increased activity in depopulated areas would have been a significant threat. Biblically, lions are also seen as instruments of divine wrath.
• and behold, they are killing them (וְהִנֵּה מֵמִיתִים אֹתָם, v'hinneh memitim otam): "Behold" (הִנֵּה, hinneh) draws attention to the immediate and ongoing reality of the situation. The verb "killing" (מֵמִיתִים, memitim) is a present participle, indicating a continuing, active process, not a past, isolated event.
• because they do not know the law of the god of the land (כִּי אֵינָם יֹדְעִים אֶת מִשְׁפַּט אֱלֹהֵי הָאָרֶץ, ki einam yode'im et mishpat Elohei ha'aretz): This repetition from the beginning of the verse strongly emphasizes the core perceived reason for the calamity. It underlines their conviction about the connection between territorial gods, their "law," and the consequences of ignorance.

• "The nations... do not know the law of the god of the land": This phrase reveals the pagan settlers' theological framework. They view Yahweh not as the universal creator God, but as one among many territorial deities, like those in their own homelands. Their solution is pragmatic: learn the local god's customs to ensure safety and prosperity. This sets up the problem for the narrative solution later in the chapter (2 Kings 17:27-28), where an Israelite priest is sent to teach them "the law of the god of the land," leading to syncretism rather than true worship of Yahweh alone.
• "Therefore he has sent lions among them... because they do not know the law of the god of the land": This reinforces the perceived direct causal link between ignorance of "divine law" and divine punishment. The lions are seen not as natural phenomena (though they were that, they were viewed through a theological lens), but as divine agents enforcing the demands of the "god of the land." This echoes numerous biblical instances where God uses natural calamities or animals as instruments of judgment against His disobedient people or against the nations.

2 Kings 17 26 Bonus section

• The incident of the lions highlights a practical consequence of depopulating the land. The disruption of human settlement and agriculture could lead to the proliferation of wild animals, including lions, becoming a greater threat to any remaining or new human inhabitants. However, within the biblical narrative, these occurrences are interpreted providentially as direct actions of God.
• The phrase "the god of the land" represents a specific Ancient Near Eastern religious worldview where gods were tied to specific territories and peoples. This territorial view of deities was a stark contrast to Israel's monotheistic belief in Yahweh as the one true God over all nations and all lands (e.g., Ps 24:1). The narrative implicitly critiques this limited understanding.
• The mishpat (law/ordinance) they sought to learn refers, in its fullest biblical sense, to the statutes, judgments, and ordinances of the Mosaic Covenant, which were designed to govern Israel's life in the land and their worship of Yahweh. The foreigners, however, would likely only learn superficial aspects or practical rituals, not the deep theological principles of the covenant.

2 Kings 17 26 Commentary

This verse encapsulates a crucial theological clash and practical problem arising from Assyrian policy. From the foreign settlers' limited perspective, the problem in Samaria was a functional one: they were not appeasing the local deity (Yahweh) correctly. Their solution was to learn the specific cultic "laws" (mishpat) required by this regional "god." This utilitarian approach to deity starkly contrasts with Israel's covenantal relationship with Yahweh, who is revealed as the one, sovereign, universal God demanding exclusive worship. The Assyrian king's subsequent decision to send a priest to teach these foreigners illustrates the pagan pragmatic approach to religion. This initiated the syncretistic practices of the Samaritans, who simultaneously "feared the LORD and served their own gods," illustrating a profound failure to truly comprehend or exclusively worship Yahweh. The lions were perceived as divine messengers, ironically affirming Yahweh's dominion over the land even in the minds of those who misunderstood His true nature.