2 Kings 18 11

2 Kings 18:11 kjv

And the king of Assyria did carry away Israel unto Assyria, and put them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes:

2 Kings 18:11 nkjv

Then the king of Assyria carried Israel away captive to Assyria, and put them in Halah and by the Habor, the River of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes,

2 Kings 18:11 niv

The king of Assyria deported Israel to Assyria and settled them in Halah, in Gozan on the Habor River and in towns of the Medes.

2 Kings 18:11 esv

The king of Assyria carried the Israelites away to Assyria and put them in Halah, and on the Habor, the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes,

2 Kings 18:11 nlt

At that time the king of Assyria exiled the Israelites to Assyria and placed them in colonies in Halah, along the banks of the Habor River in Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.

2 Kings 18 verses

2 Kings 18 11 Meaning

This verse details the successful and thorough deportation of the Northern Kingdom of Israel by the Assyrians. After capturing Samaria, the capital, the Assyrian king forcibly removed the Israelites from their homeland and resettled them in distant parts of the Assyrian Empire. The specific locations mentioned – Halah, the Habor River of Gozan, and the cities of the Medes – underscore the deliberate and extensive nature of this forced displacement, designed to dismantle their national identity and prevent future rebellion. This act marked the end of the independent Kingdom of Israel, serving as a powerful demonstration of God's judgment for their persistent idolatry and disobedience.

2 Kings 18 11 Context

This verse is situated within the account of King Hezekiah of Judah, portraying his righteous reign in stark contrast to the wickedness of the Northern Kingdom, Israel. Chapters 17 and 18 detail the reasons and circumstances of Israel's fall to Assyria. Specifically, 2 Kings 17 provides an extended theological commentary on why Israel was exiled: their consistent idolatry, Baal worship, child sacrifice, disregard for God's Law, and rejection of His prophets' warnings. Verses 9-10 describe the siege of Samaria by Shalmaneser V (continued by Sargon II) which led to the city's capture. Verse 11, then, directly states the outcome: the wholesale deportation of the Israelite population. This event, occurring around 722 BCE, marked the effective end of the independent Northern Kingdom and its national identity, fulfilling prophecies of judgment found throughout the Pentateuch and later prophets.

2 Kings 18 11 Word analysis

• He carried Israel away: The "He" refers to the King of Assyria, but within the broader theological narrative of 2 Kings, it is implicitly understood that God's sovereign will orchestrated this judgment, using Assyria as His instrument. The Hebrew word for "carried away" is galah (גָלָה), meaning "to be exiled, deported, uncovered, depart." It signifies a forceful removal from one's native land.
• Israel: Refers to the Northern Kingdom, comprising ten of the twelve tribes, whose capital was Samaria. This term distinguishes them from the Southern Kingdom, Judah, which included the tribes of Judah and Benjamin.
• to Assyria: Hebrew 'Ashshur (אַשּׁוּר), the powerful Mesopotamian empire that was the dominant global power in this era. Their policy of mass deportation and resettlement was a hallmark of their rule, intended to crush national identity and rebellion.
• and put them in Halah: Halah (חֶלַח) is an obscure location, generally thought to be in northern Mesopotamia. Its specific mention indicates the biblical writer's knowledge of the precise resettlement sites.
• by the Habor: Habor (חָבוֹר), Hebrew Chabor (חָבוֹר), is a river, modern Khabur, a significant tributary of the Euphrates, flowing through what is now northeastern Syria. It provided a lifeline for agriculture in the areas of resettlement.
• the river of Gozan: Gozan (גּוֹזָן), Hebrew Gozan (גּוֹזָן), was a region or city along the Habor River, possibly modern Tell Halaf in northeastern Syria. The phrase specifies that the Habor was the river associated with this region of Gozan, a known Assyrian administrative area for conquered peoples.
• and in the cities of the Medes: Medes (מָדַי), Hebrew Maday (מָדַי), refers to the land of Media, located east of Assyria, primarily in present-day northwestern Iran. This indicates that the Israelite exiles were dispersed over a very wide geographical area within the Assyrian Empire, emphasizing the thoroughness of the deportation. This dispersion greatly contributed to the "loss" of their distinct tribal identity.

2 Kings 18 11 Bonus section

The details of the locations in this verse provide important insights into the Assyrian policy of depopulation and resettlement. They would often resettle conquered peoples in agriculturally viable but ethnically diverse regions, and also disperse them broadly, placing groups far from their original homeland to prevent rebellion and cultural cohesion. The "cities of the Medes" indicates an especially distant removal, signaling a significant journey and full integration into foreign lands. While these ten tribes largely disappeared from conventional history as a unified national entity, they are not "lost" to God. Biblical prophecy later speaks of the re-gathering and restoration of all twelve tribes of Israel in the last days (e.g., Eze 37:15-22), indicating that despite their dispersion and loss of identity through this exile, their ultimate place in God's redemptive plan remains secure. This historical event became a cautionary tale for Judah, demonstrating the severe consequences of covenant infidelity.

2 Kings 18 11 Commentary

This concise verse marks the catastrophic culmination of centuries of spiritual decline and rebellion within the Northern Kingdom of Israel. It serves as a stark historical witness to God's unfailing commitment to His covenant, which included severe judgment for unfaithfulness. The systematic deportation to specific, distant locations within Assyria's vast empire highlights not just the Assyrian military might but the divine judgment that utilized this power as its instrument. For the Israelites, this exile meant a loss of land, nationhood, and unique identity as God's chosen people, largely ending their distinct political and social existence as the ten northern tribes in the land. The locations mentioned underscore the meticulousness of the Assyrian policy to scatter peoples and prevent any re-formation of resistance.