2 Kings 17

2 Kings 17:1

NIne yeares] since the beginning of Hosheas reigne happened in the last year of Irams reigne, 2 Kings 15. 30. 32. and that the ninth of Hoshea falleth just with the sixth of Hezekiah 2 Kings 18:1-37. 〈◊〉. 10. these nine yeares must not bee understood of his whole reigne; seeing that there is all Ahaz his time between, which was sixteen yeares, 2 Kings 16:2. and also six yeares of King Hezekiah whether there were any vacancy in the Kingdome, as 2 Kings 15:1. or whether hee was not properly King, untill hee was established by the King of Assyria his protection; as beginning a new numeration of the yeares of his reigne, according to the custome, see upon, Ezech. 1. 1.

2 Kings 17:4

To so] to have reliefe from him against the Assirians, those monarchies having been emulators one of another for a long time, see 2 Kings 18:21. Ier. 37. 5.

2 Kings 17:9

Secretly] this may be referred to private idolatries and impieties, Ezech. 18. 12. besides the publick and authorized ones. Or to the pretences of good intentions, wherewith they coloured their publick superstitions: [from the towers] set in severall places for the safeguard of the countrey, against the enemies incursions; or for the safeguard of the cattell, and of the fruites of the earth; the meaning is, that they did it in all places from the biggest to the least.

2 Kings 17:15

Vanitie] a frequent name for ils, Deuteronomy 32:21. 1 Corinthians 8:4 [Became vaine] be sotted in idolatry, and as it were transformed into the likenesse of the heathen, see Psal. 115. 8.

2 Kings 17:17

Let them goe] let there another new plantation be sent thither in the place and stead of them which were devoured by the Lions: which perhaps happened in the dayes of Ezar-haddon, Ezra 4:2.

2 Kings 17:18

Out of his] from the place where God was present upon earth in grace and vertue: which was his Church, over which Gods eye yet watcheth in a speciall manner.

2 Kings 17:24

The King] first Salmanezer, and then Esarhaddon, Ezra 4:2.

2 Kings 17:25

Feared not] they yeelded no religious worship to the true God, neither did they in any manner of way acknowledge him.

2 Kings 17:26

Of the Land] the foolish conceit of idolaters, that each countrey and nation should have its own proper deity, what it had pleased them to choose.

2 Kings 17:28

One of the] not one of them which were of the tribe of Levi, but one of them which the Kings of Israel had made of their own minde, 1 Kings 12:31 [how they should] the outward ceremonies of the law, by which the people yeelded unto the Lord some kinde of worship, though false and corrupt; yet it did keepe alive some memory of him, and some reverence of his name.

2 Kings 17:34

Neither doe they] their religion is but a mixture of the true and false.