2 Kings 17 8

2 Kings 17:8 kjv

And walked in the statutes of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel, and of the kings of Israel, which they had made.

2 Kings 17:8 nkjv

and had walked in the statutes of the nations whom the LORD had cast out from before the children of Israel, and of the kings of Israel, which they had made.

2 Kings 17:8 niv

and followed the practices of the nations the LORD had driven out before them, as well as the practices that the kings of Israel had introduced.

2 Kings 17:8 esv

and walked in the customs of the nations whom the LORD drove out before the people of Israel, and in the customs that the kings of Israel had practiced.

2 Kings 17:8 nlt

They had followed the practices of the pagan nations the LORD had driven from the land ahead of them, as well as the practices the kings of Israel had introduced.

2 Kings 17 verses

2 Kings 17 8 Meaning

This verse delineates two primary forms of spiritual deviation practiced by the Northern Kingdom of Israel (Samaria), leading to their impending exile. First, they adopted the idolatrous laws and customs of the pagan nations whom the Lord had driven out from the land before Israel. Second, they followed the corrupt religious practices established by the kings of Israel, starting with Jeroboam I, which introduced unauthorized worship. This marked a profound betrayal of their covenant with Yahweh, reflecting a syncretism of foreign gods and man-made religious systems alongside the nominal worship of the Lord.

2 Kings 17 8 Context

2 Kings 17 provides the theological explanation for the fall of the Northern Kingdom of Israel (Samaria) to the Assyrians in 722 BC and the subsequent exile of its people. The verse 2 Kings 17:8 comes as part of a lengthy divine indictment against Israel, listing their persistent rebellion and unfaithfulness despite repeated warnings from God through His prophets. The narrative clarifies that Israel's destruction was not a failure on God's part or an Assyrian triumph, but a direct consequence of Israel's covenant disobedience. The context immediately preceding this verse details how Israel stubbornly disregarded God's commands (2 Ki 17:7), culminating in their imitation of pagan worship (this verse) and their rejection of Yahweh. The "statutes of the nations" refer to the abhorrent customs of the Canaanites and other peoples whom God expelled from the land to make way for Israel. The "statutes of the kings of Israel" specifically points to the syncretistic, man-made religious innovations initiated by Jeroboam I at Bethel and Dan (1 Ki 12:25-33), which effectively severed Israel from true worship at the Jerusalem temple.

2 Kings 17 8 Word analysis

• walked: From the Hebrew verb halak (הָלַךְ), meaning "to walk," "to go," or "to proceed." In biblical context, "walking" often signifies one's lifestyle, conduct, or pattern of behavior. It denotes adherence to a certain path or way of life. Here, it implies not merely an occasional lapse but a sustained course of living, characterized by their embrace of foreign practices and the religious policies of their own ungodly kings. This term highlights Israel's deliberate choice and consistent deviation from God's way.
• in the statutes: From the Hebrew noun chuqqot (חֻקֹּת), meaning "decrees," "ordinances," or "laws." These are the established rules and practices of a people. The significant point here is that these are not God's divine ordinances (mitzvot) but humanly devised or demonic statutes that directly contradicted God's law. They represent the normative way of life of these peoples.
• of the nations: From the Hebrew word goyim (גּוֹיִם), referring to the non-Israelite, gentile peoples, particularly those pagan nations dwelling around and within the land of Canaan whom the Lord had dispossessed. These "nations" were marked by idolatry, child sacrifice, divination, and other abominable practices (e.g., Lev 18:24-30, Deut 18:9-12).
• whom the Lord cast out: Emphasizes the active role of Yahweh in judgment. The verb "cast out" (from yarash יָרַשׁ, related to dispossess/drive out) indicates God's decisive act of removing the previous inhabitants due to their wickedness, thus giving the land to Israel as an inheritance. This highlights the severe irony and folly of Israel adopting the very practices for which those nations were expelled.
• from before the children of Israel: This phrase underscores the direct experience of Israel. They had witnessed God's powerful acts of judgment against these nations, yet they failed to learn from history. The historical reality of the Canaanites' expulsion was a clear warning.
• and in the statutes: Reiterates the nature of the practices—established ways or laws. This highlights a second category of sin, equally condemned.
• of the kings of Israel: Refers specifically to the line of kings who ruled the Northern Kingdom after the division of the monarchy, beginning with Jeroboam I. These kings perpetuated their own forms of worship that deviated from the pure worship of Yahweh at Jerusalem.
• which they made: Emphasizes the human origin and arbitrary nature of these "statutes," in direct contrast to God-given law. Jeroboam's establishment of golden calves and alternate altars was a man-made system designed for political expediency, not divine command (1 Ki 12:25-33). This points to the danger of religious practices devised by human wisdom instead of divine revelation.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "walked in the statutes of the nations": This phrase paints a picture of comprehensive moral and religious assimilation. Israel embraced the very ways God warned them against and had punished other nations for. This "walk" indicates their chosen path, a settled and habitual embrace of ungodliness, representing deep-seated idolatry and spiritual compromise.
• "whom the Lord cast out from before the children of Israel": This is a potent theological justification for God's coming judgment. Israel had observed God's prior judgment firsthand; thus, their subsequent adoption of those same "statutes" demonstrated a profound disregard for divine precedent, their covenant, and the very God who established them in the land. It implies that if God judged these nations for their practices, Israel would also face judgment for adopting the same practices.
• "and in the statutes of the kings of Israel, which they made": This distinct phrase points to an internal corruption of Israelite worship, distinguishing it from foreign paganism but not making it less offensive to God. It addresses the political religion and syncretistic practices initiated by Jeroboam and maintained by successive kings. This was a man-made religious system designed to prevent the people from going to Jerusalem for worship, ultimately leading them further into apostasy and undermining God's prescribed worship. These human inventions stand in stark contrast to the divine law.

2 Kings 17 8 Bonus section

The consistent use of "statutes" (chuqqot) for both pagan nations and the kings of Israel suggests that in God's eyes, their man-made religious innovations carried the same weight of rebellion as overt idolatry. Both systems represented an adherence to rules contrary to Yahweh's divine law, blurring the lines between His truth and human deception. This verse illustrates the dangers of religious syncretism – blending true worship with false practices – and highlights the inherent spiritual peril of man-made traditions usurping divine commands. The divine expectation was absolute separation and obedience, not negotiation or compromise with the world's ways or human expediency.

2 Kings 17 8 Commentary

2 Kings 17:8 provides a crucial diagnosis of Israel's spiritual decay, serving as a pivotal point in understanding why the Northern Kingdom fell. Their "walk" signifies a chosen lifestyle, deeply ingrained in their national fabric. Their error stemmed from two primary sources: external idolatry ("statutes of the nations") and internal religious corruption ("statutes of the kings of Israel"). The adoption of pagan practices was a direct violation of their covenant with Yahweh, who had specifically commanded them to separate themselves from such abominations. They ignored the historical lesson of the dispossessed Canaanites, whose land they now inhabited because of those very practices. Simultaneously, they succumbed to the man-made religious system initiated by Jeroboam I, a political scheme designed to centralize power but effectively decentralizing and corrupting worship of Yahweh. This innovation fostered spiritual complacency, creating a convenient religion without true devotion. Both forms of disobedience—assimilation of pagan ways and innovation of Yahweh's worship—were rooted in a lack of trust in God and a failure to wholly follow His covenant. This dual failure demonstrates a comprehensive spiritual rebellion that left Israel without excuse, ultimately leading to divine judgment and exile as outlined in the curses of the Law (Deut 28).