Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Then the king of Assyria gave this order: “Have one of the priests you took captive from Samaria go back to live there and teach the people what the god of the land requires.” New Living Translation The king of Assyria then commanded, “Send one of the exiled priests back to Samaria. Let him live there and teach the new residents the religious customs of the God of the land.” English Standard Version Then the king of Assyria commanded, “Send there one of the priests whom you carried away from there, and let him go and dwell there and teach them the law of the god of the land.” Berean Standard Bible Then the king of Assyria commanded: “Send back one of the priests you carried off from Samaria, and have him go back to live there and teach the requirements of the God of the land.” Berean Literal Bible And the king of Assyria commanded, saying, “Send there one of the priests whom you⁺ carried away from there, and let him go and dwell there, and let him teach them the custom of the God of the land.” King James Bible Then the king of Assyria commanded, saying, Carry thither one of the priests whom ye brought from thence; and let them go and dwell there, and let him teach them the manner of the God of the land. New King James Version Then the king of Assyria commanded, saying, “Send there one of the priests whom you brought from there; let him go and dwell there, and let him teach them the rituals of the God of the land.” New American Standard Bible Then the king of Assyria issued commands, saying, “Take one of the priests there whom you led into exile, and have him go and live there; and have him teach them the custom of the God of the land.” NASB 1995 Then the king of Assyria commanded, saying, “Take there one of the priests whom you carried away into exile and let him go and live there; and let him teach them the custom of the god of the land.” NASB 1977 Then the king of Assyria commanded, saying, “Take there one of the priests whom you carried away into exile, and let him go and live there; and let him teach them the custom of the god of the land.” Legacy Standard Bible Then the king of Assyria commanded, saying, “Take there one of the priests whom you took away into exile and let him go and live there; and let him instruct them the custom of the god of the land.” Amplified Bible Then the king of Assyria commanded, “Take back [to Samaria] one of the priests whom you brought from there, and have him go and live there; and have him teach the people the custom of the god of the land.” Berean Annotated Bible Then the king of Assyria (a step) commanded: “Send back one of the priests you⁺ carried off from Samaria, and have him go back to live there and teach the requirements of the God {Elohe} of the land. Christian Standard Bible Then the king of Assyria issued a command: “Send back one of the priests you deported. Have him go and live there so he can teach them the requirements of the god of the land.” Holman Christian Standard Bible Then the king of Assyria issued a command: “Send back one of the priests you deported. Have him go and live there so he can teach them the requirements of the God of the land.” American Standard Version Then the king of Assyria commanded, saying, Carry thither one of the priests whom ye brought from thence; and let them go and dwell there, and let him teach them the law of the god of the land. Contemporary English Version The king replied, "Get one of the Israelite priests we brought here and send him back to Israel. He can live there and teach them about the god of that country." English Revised Version Then the king of Assyria commanded, saying, Carry thither one of the priests whom ye brought from thence; and let them go and dwell there, and let him teach them the manner of the God of the land. GOD'S WORD® Translation The king of Assyria gave this command: "Bring one of the priests you captured from there. Let him go back to teach them the customs of the god of that country." Good News Translation So the emperor commanded: "Send back one of the priests we brought as prisoners; have him go back and live there, in order to teach the people the law of the god of that land." International Standard Version So the king of Assyria issued this order: "Take one of the priests whom you carried away and let him go back and live there. Let him teach them the law of the god of the land." NET Bible So the king of Assyria ordered, "Take back one of the priests whom you deported from there. He must settle there and teach them the requirements of the God of the land." New Heart English Bible Then the king of Assyria commanded, saying, "Carry there one of the priests whom you brought from there; and let them go and dwell there, and let him teach them the law of the god of the land." Webster's Bible Translation Then the king of Assyria commanded, saying, Carry thither one of the priests whom ye brought from thence; and let them go and dwell there, and let him teach them the manner of the God of the land. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleThen the king of Assyria commanded: “Send back one of the priests you carried off from Samaria, and have him go back to live there and teach the requirements of the God of the land.” World English Bible Then the king of Assyria commanded, saying, “Carry there one of the priests whom you brought from there; and let him go and dwell there, and let him teach them the law of the god of the land.” Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd the king of Asshur commands, saying, “Cause one of the priests to go there whom you removed from there, and they go and dwell there, and he teaches them the custom of the God of the land.” Berean Literal Bible And the king of Assyria commanded, saying, “Send there one of the priests whom you⁺ carried away from there, and let him go and dwell there, and let him teach them the custom of the God of the land.” Young's Literal Translation And the king of Asshur commandeth, saying, 'Cause to go thither one of the priests whom ye removed thence, and they go and dwell there, and he doth teach them the custom of the God of the land.' Smith's Literal Translation And the king of Assur will command, saying, Carry there one of the priests which ye brought from thence; and they shall go and dwell there, and he shall teach them the judgment of the God of the land. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd the king of the Assyrians commanded, saying: Carry thither one of the priests whom you brought from thence captive, and let him go, and dwell with them: and let him teach them the ordinances of the God of the land. Catholic Public Domain Version Then the king of the Assyrians commanded, saying: “Lead to that place one of the priests, whom you brought as a captive from there. And let him go and live with them. And let him teach them the ordinances of the God of the land.” New American Bible The king of Assyria gave the order, “Send back some of the priests you deported, to go there and settle, to teach them the proper worship of the god of the land.” New Revised Standard Version Then the king of Assyria commanded, “Send there one of the priests whom you carried away from there; let him go and live there, and teach them the law of the god of the land.” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleThen the king of Assyria commanded, saying, Take there one of the priests whom you have carried away from there; and let him go and dwell there, and let him teach them the religion of the god of the land. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And the King of Assyria commanded and said: “Bring out there one of the Priests whom you have taken captive from there, and he shall go and he shall dwell there and shall teach them the judgment of the God of the land.” OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Then the king of Assyria commanded, saying: 'Carry thither one of the priests whom ye brought from thence; and let them go and dwell there, and let him teach them the manner of the God of the land.' Brenton Septuagint Translation And the king of the Assyrians commanded, saying, Bring some Israelites thence, and let them go and dwell there, and they shall teach them the manner of the God of the land. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Israel's Cities Resettled by Foreigners…26So they spoke to the king of Assyria, saying, “The peoples that you have removed and placed in the cities of Samaria do not know the requirements of the God of the land. Because of this, He has sent lions among them, which are indeed killing them off.” 27Then the king of Assyria commanded: “Send back one of the priests you carried off from Samaria, and have him go back to live there and teach the requirements of the God of the land.” 28Thus one of the priests they had carried away came and lived in Bethel, and he began to teach them how they should worship the LORD.… Cross References Then the king of Assyria commanded: Ezra 1:1-4 In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken through Jeremiah, the LORD stirred the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia to send a proclamation throughout his kingdom and to put it in writing as follows: / “This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: ‘The LORD, the God of heaven, who has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, has appointed me to build a house for Him at Jerusalem in Judah. / Whoever among you belongs to His people, may his God be with him, and may he go to Jerusalem in Judah and build the house of the LORD, the God of Israel; He is the God who is in Jerusalem. … 2 Chronicles 36:22-23 In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken through Jeremiah, the LORD stirred the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia to send a proclamation throughout his kingdom and to put it in writing as follows: / “This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: ‘The LORD, the God of heaven, who has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, has appointed me to build a house for Him at Jerusalem in Judah. Whoever among you belongs to His people, may the LORD his God be with him, and may he go up.’” “Send back one of the priests you carried off from Samaria, 2 Kings 18:11 The king of Assyria exiled the Israelites to Assyria and settled them in Halah, in Gozan by the Habor River, and in the cities of the Medes. 2 Chronicles 13:9-10 But did you not drive out the priests of the LORD, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites? And did you not make priests for yourselves as do the peoples of other lands? Now whoever comes to consecrate himself with a young bull and seven rams can become a priest of things that are not gods. / But as for us, the LORD is our God. We have not forsaken Him; the priests who minister to the LORD are sons of Aaron, and the Levites attend to their duties. 2 Chronicles 11:13-15 Moreover, the priests and Levites from all their districts throughout Israel stood with Rehoboam. / For the Levites left their pasturelands and their possessions and went to Judah and Jerusalem, because Jeroboam and his sons had rejected them as priests of the LORD. / And Jeroboam appointed his own priests for the high places and for the goat demons and calf idols he had made. and have him go back to live there Ezra 2:70 So the priests, the Levites, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the temple servants, along with some of the people, settled in their own towns; and the rest of the Israelites settled in their towns. Numbers 35:2-8 “Command the Israelites to give, from the inheritance they will possess, cities for the Levites to live in and pasturelands around the cities. / The cities will be for them to live in, and the pasturelands will be for their herds, their flocks, and all their other livestock. / The pasturelands around the cities you are to give the Levites will extend a thousand cubits from the wall on every side. … and teach the requirements of the God of the land.” 2 Chronicles 17:7-9 In the third year of his reign, Jehoshaphat sent his officials Ben-hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah to teach in the cities of Judah, / accompanied by certain Levites—Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tob-adonijah—along with the priests Elishama and Jehoram. / They taught throughout Judah, taking with them the Book of the Law of the LORD. They went throughout the towns of Judah and taught the people. Deuteronomy 17:10-11 You must abide by the verdict they give you at the place the LORD will choose. Be careful to do everything they instruct you, / according to the terms of law they give and the verdict they proclaim. Do not turn aside to the right or to the left from the decision they declare to you. Malachi 2:7 For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, because he is the messenger of the LORD of Hosts. 2 Kings 17:24-26 Then the king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sepharvaim and settled them in the towns of Samaria to replace the Israelites. They took possession of Samaria and lived in its towns. / Now when the settlers first lived there, they did not worship the LORD, so He sent lions among them, which killed some of them. / So they spoke to the king of Assyria, saying, “The peoples that you have removed and placed in the cities of Samaria do not know the requirements of the God of the land. Because of this, He has sent lions among them, which are indeed killing them off.” 2 Kings 17:28-29 Thus one of the priests they had carried away came and lived in Bethel, and he began to teach them how they should worship the LORD. / Nevertheless, the people of each nation continued to make their own gods in the cities where they had settled, and they set them up in the shrines that the people of Samaria had made on the high places. 2 Kings 17:33-34 They worshiped the LORD, but they also served their own gods according to the customs of the nations from which they had been carried away. / To this day they are still practicing their former customs. None of them worship the LORD or observe the statutes, ordinances, laws, and commandments that the LORD gave the descendants of Jacob, whom He named Israel. 2 Kings 17:41 So these nations worshiped the LORD but also served their idols, and to this day their children and grandchildren continue to do as their fathers did. 2 Chronicles 30:6-9 At the command of the king, the couriers went throughout Israel and Judah with letters from the king and his officials, which read: “Children of Israel, return to the LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, so that He may return to those of you who remain, who have escaped the grasp of the kings of Assyria. / Do not be like your fathers and brothers who were unfaithful to the LORD, the God of their fathers, so that He made them an object of horror, as you can see. / Now do not stiffen your necks as your fathers did. Submit to the LORD and come to His sanctuary, which He has consecrated forever. Serve the LORD your God, so that His fierce anger will turn away from you. … Ezra 4:1-2 When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were building a temple for the LORD, the God of Israel, / they approached Zerubbabel and the heads of the families, saying, “Let us build with you because, like you, we seek your God and have been sacrificing to Him since the time of King Esar-haddon of Assyria, who brought us here.” Treasury of Scripture Then the king of Assyria commanded, saying, Carry thither one of the priests whom you brought from there; and let them go and dwell there, and let him teach them the manner of the God of the land. one of the priests Judges 17:13 Then said Micah, Now know I that the LORD will do me good, seeing I have a Levite to my priest. 1 Kings 12:31 And he made an house of high places, and made priests of the lowest of the people, which were not of the sons of Levi. 1 Kings 13:2 And he cried against the altar in the word of the LORD, and said, O altar, altar, thus saith the LORD; Behold, a child shall be born unto the house of David, Josiah by name; and upon thee shall he offer the priests of the high places that burn incense upon thee, and men's bones shall be burnt upon thee. Jump to Previous Assyria Carried Carry Commanded Custom Dwell Exile Law Manner Priests Teach Thence ThitherJump to Next Assyria Carried Carry Commanded Custom Dwell Exile Law Manner Priests Teach Thence Thither2 Kings 17 1. Hoshea the Last King of Israel3. Being subdued by Shalmaneser, he conspires against him with So, king of Egypt 5. Samaria for sinning is led into captivity 24. The strange nations transplanted into Samaria make a mixture of religions. Then the king of Assyria commanded: The king of Assyria at this time was likely Shalmaneser V or Sargon II, who were responsible for the conquest and deportation of the Israelites from the Northern Kingdom. The Assyrian Empire was known for its policy of relocating conquered peoples to prevent rebellion. This command reflects the Assyrian strategy of maintaining control over newly acquired territories by addressing local religious practices. Send back one of the priests you carried off from Samaria: and have him go back to live there: and teach the requirements of the God of the land: Persons / Places / Events 1. King of AssyriaThe ruler who conquered the Northern Kingdom of Israel and deported its people. He is responsible for the resettlement of foreign peoples in Samaria. 2. Samaria The capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, which fell to the Assyrians. It became a melting pot of different cultures and religions after the Assyrian conquest. 3. Priests Religious leaders from Israel who were taken captive. One was sent back to teach the new inhabitants about the God of Israel. 4. God of the Land Refers to Yahweh, the God of Israel, whose laws and requirements were to be taught to the new inhabitants of Samaria. 5. Assyrian Resettlement Policy A strategy used by the Assyrians to control conquered territories by relocating different peoples, which led to a mix of religious practices. Teaching Points The Importance of True WorshipUnderstanding and following God's requirements is crucial for true worship. The priest's role was to teach the new inhabitants about Yahweh, emphasizing the need for correct worship practices. Consequences of Disobedience The fall of Samaria serves as a warning about the consequences of turning away from God. It reminds us to remain faithful and obedient to God's commands. Cultural and Religious Syncretism The mixing of different religious practices in Samaria illustrates the dangers of syncretism. Believers are called to maintain the purity of their faith amidst diverse cultural influences. God's Sovereignty Over Nations The events in 2 Kings 17 demonstrate God's control over nations and history. Despite human actions, God's purposes prevail, and He uses even foreign rulers to accomplish His will. The Role of Spiritual Leaders The priest's mission to teach God's requirements highlights the responsibility of spiritual leaders to guide others in understanding and living out their faith. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of 2 Kings 17:27?2. How does 2 Kings 17:27 illustrate God's response to idolatry and disobedience? 3. What role did the exiled priest play in teaching the new inhabitants? 4. How can we ensure we worship God correctly, as seen in 2 Kings 17:27? 5. What lessons from 2 Kings 17:27 apply to modern Christian worship practices? 6. How does this verse connect with the First Commandment in Exodus 20:3? 7. Why did the king of Assyria send a priest back to Samaria in 2 Kings 17:27? 8. How does 2 Kings 17:27 reflect God's response to idolatry? 9. What does 2 Kings 17:27 reveal about the importance of teaching God's laws? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from 2 Kings 17? 11. Who was King Hoshea of Israel? 12. 2 Kings 17:24-29 - Does the portrayal of each nation setting up its own gods align with known cultural assimilation patterns or does it conflict with archaeological findings? 13. 2 Kings 17:28 - How historically credible is the claim that a single Israelite priest could effectively instruct the new inhabitants in proper worship? 14. In Ezra 4:2, if Samaritans were truly offering assistance in rebuilding the temple, why does the broader biblical narrative often portray them as antagonists? What Does 2 Kings 17:27 Mean Then the king of Assyria commanded• The Assyrian king had just resettled conquered peoples into the emptied cities of Samaria (2 Kings 17:24). • When lions began attacking the newcomers, palace officials linked the calamity to ignorance of “the God of the land” (vv. 25-26). • Even a pagan ruler recognized that every territory stands under the authority of its own God—a notion common in the ancient world but, in Israel’s case, actually true because the LORD alone is God over all the earth (Psalm 24:1; Isaiah 37:16). • The episode reminds us that the LORD can use fear and crisis to prompt even unbelievers to seek divine truth, echoing Pharaoh’s reluctant acknowledgments in Exodus 9:27 and Nebuchadnezzar’s admissions in Daniel 4:34-37. Send back one of the priests you carried off from Samaria • Assyria had deported Israel’s people, including priests, in 722 BC (2 Kings 17:6). • A priest familiar with Mosaic worship was now summoned to return. Ironically, the very priesthood that helped lead Israel into sin (2 Kings 17:16-17) was being called upon as the solution. • God often turns the schemes of the wicked back on themselves (Genesis 50:20; Proverbs 21:30), demonstrating His sovereignty even through flawed instruments. Have him go back to live there • The command required the priest to dwell among the mixed population instead of merely giving a one-time lecture. • Presence mattered; teaching had to be lived out daily (Deuteronomy 6:6-9; 1 Timothy 4:12). • By placing a representative of Israel’s faith in Samaria, God left the new settlers without excuse (Romans 1:20; Acts 17:26-27). Teach the requirements of the God of the land • “Requirements” points to God’s statutes and ordinances (Deuteronomy 12:1). Assyria wanted practical instruction to appease lions, yet God’s law addressed far more—calling for exclusive worship (Exodus 20:3). • The settlers ended up practicing a hybrid religion—“they feared the LORD, yet served their own gods” (2 Kings 17:33)—foreshadowing later Samaritan syncretism confronted by Jesus (John 4:22). • True worship demands wholehearted obedience, not half-measures (Joshua 24:14-15; James 4:8). summary 2 Kings 17:27 shows a pagan king acknowledging Israel’s God and ordering a deported priest to instruct the new inhabitants of Samaria. The verse highlights God’s sovereignty over nations, His use of crises to expose spiritual need, and the necessity of faithful, lived-out teaching. While Assyria sought mere relief from disaster, the LORD offered comprehensive truth, underscoring that genuine worship cannot be mixed with idolatry. (27) Carry.--Cause to go.Let them go and dwell.--To be corrected after the Syriac and Vulg.: let him go and dwell. Ye brought.--Ye carried away. Verse 27. - Then the King of Assyria commanded, saying, Carry thither one of the priests whom ye brought from thence. It does not appear that this was a suggestion of the colonists. Either it was the king's own idea, or that of one of his advisers. The priests, who ministered at the two national sanctuaries - those of Dan and Bethel - had, as important personages, been all carried off. Though a "remnant" of Israel was left in the land (2 Chronicles 34:9), they were probably of the baser sort (comp. 2 Kings 25:12), or at any rate could not be trusted to know the details and intricacies of the Samaritan ritual. Thus it was necessary to send back a priest. And let them go and dwell there. We should have expected, "Let him go;" but the writer assumes that the priest would have an entourage, assistant-ministers and servants, and so says, "Let them go;" but immediately afterwards, And let him teach - since he alone would be competent - them the manner of the God of the land.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Then the kingמֶֽלֶךְ־ (me·leḵ-) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 4428: A king of Assyria אַשּׁ֜וּר (’aš·šūr) Noun - proper - feminine singular Strong's 804: Ashshur commanded: וַיְצַ֨ו (way·ṣaw) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 6680: To lay charge (upon), give charge (to), command, order “Send back הֹלִ֤יכוּ (hō·lî·ḵū) Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine plural Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk one אֶחָ֤ד (’e·ḥāḏ) Number - masculine singular Strong's 259: United, one, first of the priests מֵהַכֹּֽהֲנִים֙ (mê·hak·kō·hă·nîm) Preposition-m, Article | Noun - masculine plural Strong's 3548: Priest you carried off הִגְלִיתֶ֣ם (hiḡ·lî·ṯem) Verb - Hifil - Perfect - second person masculine plural Strong's 1540: To denude, to exile, to reveal from [Samaria], מִשָּׁ֔ם (miš·šām) Preposition-m | Adverb Strong's 8033: There, then, thither and have him go back וְיֵלְכ֖וּ (wə·yê·lə·ḵū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk to live וְיֵ֣שְׁבוּ (wə·yê·šə·ḇū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 3427: To sit down, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to marry there שָׁ֙מָּה֙ (šām·māh) Adverb | third person feminine singular Strong's 8033: There, then, thither and teach וְיֹרֵ֕ם (wə·yō·rêm) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine plural Strong's 3384: To flow as water, to lay, throw, to point out, to teach the requirements מִשְׁפַּ֖ט (miš·paṭ) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 4941: A verdict, a sentence, formal decree, divine law, penalty, justice, privilege, style of the God אֱלֹהֵ֥י (’ĕ·lō·hê) Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative of the land.” הָאָֽרֶץ׃ (hā·’ā·reṣ) Article | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 776: Earth, land Links 2 Kings 17:27 NIV2 Kings 17:27 NLT 2 Kings 17:27 ESV 2 Kings 17:27 NASB 2 Kings 17:27 KJV 2 Kings 17:27 BibleApps.com 2 Kings 17:27 Biblia Paralela 2 Kings 17:27 Chinese Bible 2 Kings 17:27 French Bible 2 Kings 17:27 Catholic Bible OT History: 2 Kings 17:27 Then the king of Assyria commanded saying (2Ki iiKi ii ki 2 kg 2kg) |
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