Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version 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. New Living Translation 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. English Standard Version 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. Berean Standard Bible and walked in the customs of the nations that the LORD had driven out before the Israelites, as well as in the practices introduced by the kings of Israel. Berean Literal Bible and they had walked in the statutes of the nations whom YHWH had cast out from before the sons of Israel, and of the kings of Israel, which they had made. King James Bible 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. New King James Version 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. New American Standard Bible They also followed the customs of the nations whom the LORD had driven out from the sons of Israel, and in the customs of the kings of Israel which they had introduced. NASB 1995 and walked in the customs of the nations whom the LORD had driven out before the sons of Israel, and in the customs of the kings of Israel which they had introduced. NASB 1977 and walked in the customs of the nations whom the LORD had driven out before the sons of Israel, and in the customs of the kings of Israel which they had introduced. Legacy Standard Bible and walked in the statutes of the nations whom Yahweh had dispossessed from before the sons of Israel, and in the statutes of the kings of Israel which they had made. Amplified Bible and walked in the customs of the [pagan] nations whom the LORD had driven out before the sons (descendants) of Israel, and in the pagan customs of the kings of Israel which they had introduced. Berean Annotated Bible and walked in the customs of the nations that the LORD {YHWH} had driven out before the Israelites (God prevails), as well as in the practices introduced by the kings of Israel. Christian Standard Bible They lived according to the customs of the nations that the LORD had dispossessed before the Israelites and according to what the kings of Israel did. Holman Christian Standard Bible They had lived according to the customs of the nations that the LORD had dispossessed before the Israelites and the customs the kings of Israel had introduced. American Standard Version and walked in the statutes of the nations, whom Jehovah cast out from before the children of Israel, and of the kings of Israel, which they made. Contemporary English Version followed the customs of the nations that the LORD had forced out of Israel, and were just as sinful as the Israelite kings. English Revised Version and walked in the statutes of the nations, whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel, and of the kings of Israel, which they made. GOD'S WORD® Translation and lived by the customs of the nations that the LORD had forced out of the Israelites' way. They also did what their kings wanted them to do. Good News Translation followed the customs of the people whom the LORD had driven out as his people advanced, and adopted customs introduced by the kings of Israel. International Standard Version and because they were following the rules of the nations whom the LORD had expelled before the Israelis and that the kings of Israel had practiced. NET Bible they observed the practices of the nations whom the LORD had driven out from before Israel, and followed the example of the kings of Israel. New Heart English Bible and walked in the statutes of the nations, whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel, and of the kings of Israel, which they made. Webster's Bible Translation 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. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard Bibleand walked in the customs of the nations that the LORD had driven out before the Israelites, as well as in the practices introduced by the kings of Israel. World English Bible and walked in the statutes of the nations whom Yahweh cast out from before the children of Israel, and of the kings of Israel, which they made. Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionand walk in the statutes of the nations that YHWH dispossessed from the presence of the sons of Israel, and of the kings of Israel that they made; Berean Literal Bible and they had walked in the statutes of the nations whom YHWH had cast out from before the sons of Israel, and of the kings of Israel, which they had made. Young's Literal Translation and walk in the statutes of the nations that Jehovah dispossessed from the presence of the sons of Israel, and of the kings of Israel that they made; Smith's Literal Translation And they will go in the laws of the nations which Jehovah dispossessed from the face of the sons of Israel, and the kings of Israel which they made. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd they walked according to the way of the nations which the Lord had destroyed in the sight of the children of Israel and of the kings of Israel: because they had done in like manner. Catholic Public Domain Version And they walked according to the rituals of the nations that the Lord had consumed in the sight of the sons of Israel, and of the kings of Israel. For they had acted similarly. New American Bible they followed the rites of the nations whom the LORD had dispossessed before the Israelites and those that the kings of Israel had practiced. New Revised Standard Version 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 introduced. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd walked in the statutes of the nations whom the LORD had destroyed from before the children of Israel, Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And they walked in the custom of the Gentiles whom LORD JEHOVAH destroyed from before the children of Israel OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917and walked in the statutes of the nations, whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel, and of the kings of Israel, which they practised; Brenton Septuagint Translation and walked in the statutes of the nations which the Lord cast out before the face of the children of Israel, and of the kings of Israel as many as did such things, Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Israel Exiled Because of Idolatry…7All this happened because the people of Israel had sinned against the LORD their God, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. They had worshiped other gods 8and walked in the customs of the nations that the LORD had driven out before the Israelites, as well as in the practices introduced by the kings of Israel. 9The Israelites secretly did things against the LORD their God that were not right. From watchtower to fortified city, they built high places in all their cities.… Cross References walked in the customs of the nations Leviticus 20:23 You must not follow the statutes of the nations I am driving out before you. Because they did all these things, I abhorred them. Leviticus 18:3 You must not follow the practices of the land of Egypt, where you used to live, and you must not follow the practices of the land of Canaan, into which I am bringing you. You must not walk in their customs. Jeremiah 10:2 This is what the LORD says: “Do not learn the ways of the nations or be terrified by the signs in the heavens, though the nations themselves are terrified by them. that the LORD had driven out before the Israelites, Joshua 23:9-13 The LORD has driven out great and powerful nations before you, and to this day no one can stand against you. / One of you can put a thousand to flight, because the LORD your God fights for you, just as He promised. / Therefore watch yourselves carefully, that you love the LORD your God. … Joshua 24:18 And the LORD drove out before us all the nations, including the Amorites who lived in the land. We too will serve the LORD, because He is our God!” Deuteronomy 9:4-5 When the LORD your God has driven them out before you, do not say in your heart, “Because of my righteousness the LORD has brought me in to possess this land.” Rather, the LORD is driving out these nations before you because of their wickedness. / It is not because of your righteousness or uprightness of heart that you are going in to possess their land, but it is because of their wickedness that the LORD your God is driving out these nations before you, to keep the promise He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. as well as in the practices introduced by the kings of Israel 1 Kings 12:28-33 After seeking advice, the king made two golden calves and said to the people, “Going up to Jerusalem is too much for you. Here, O Israel, are your gods, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.” / One calf he set up in Bethel, and the other in Dan. / And this thing became a sin; the people walked as far as Dan to worship before one of the calves. … 1 Kings 13:33-34 Even after these events, Jeroboam did not repent of his evil ways, but again he appointed priests for the high places from every class of people. He ordained anyone who desired to be a priest of the high places. / And this was the sin of the house of Jeroboam that led to its extermination and destruction from the face of the earth. 2 Kings 10:29 but he did not turn away from the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit—the worship of the golden calves at Bethel and Dan. Deuteronomy 18:9 When you enter the land that the LORD your God is giving you, do not imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. Deuteronomy 12:30-31 be careful not to be ensnared by their ways after they have been destroyed before you. Do not inquire about their gods, asking, “How do these nations serve their gods? I will do likewise.” / You must not worship the LORD your God in this way, because they practice for their gods every abomination which the LORD hates. They even burn their sons and daughters in the fire as sacrifices to their gods. 2 Kings 21:2 And he did evil in the sight of the LORD by following the abominations of the nations that the LORD had driven out before the Israelites. 2 Kings 16:3 Instead, he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel and even sacrificed his son in the fire, according to the abominations of the nations that the LORD had driven out before the Israelites. 2 Chronicles 28:3 Moreover, Ahaz burned incense in the Valley of Ben-hinnom and sacrificed his sons in the fire, according to the abominations of the nations that the LORD had driven out before the Israelites. 2 Chronicles 33:2 And he did evil in the sight of the LORD by following the abominations of the nations that the LORD had driven out before the Israelites. Ezekiel 11:12 Then you will know that I am the LORD. For you have neither followed My statutes nor practiced My ordinances, but you have conformed to the ordinances of the nations around you.” Treasury of Scripture 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. walked 2 Kings 16:3,10 But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, yea, and made his son to pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel… 2 Kings 21:2 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, after the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out before the children of Israel. Leviticus 18:3,27-30 After the doings of the land of Egypt, wherein ye dwelt, shall ye not do: and after the doings of the land of Canaan, whither I bring you, shall ye not do: neither shall ye walk in their ordinances… of the kings of Israel Hosea 5:11 Ephraim is oppressed and broken in judgment, because he willingly walked after the commandment. Micah 6:16 For the statutes of Omri are kept, and all the works of the house of Ahab, and ye walk in their counsels; that I should make thee a desolation, and the inhabitants thereof an hissing: therefore ye shall bear the reproach of my people. Jump to Previous Cast Children Customs Driven Drove Followed Heathen Introduced Israel Kings Nations Practices Practised Rules Statutes Walk WalkedJump to Next Cast Children Customs Driven Drove Followed Heathen Introduced Israel Kings Nations Practices Practised Rules Statutes Walk Walked2 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. and walked in the customs of the nations This phrase indicates that the Israelites adopted the practices and traditions of the surrounding pagan nations. Historically, these customs often included idolatry, child sacrifice, and other practices detestable to the LORD. The Israelites were explicitly warned against such assimilation in passages like Deuteronomy 18:9-12, where God commands them not to imitate the detestable ways of the nations they were to dispossess. that the LORD had driven out before the Israelites as well as in the practices introduced by the kings of Israel Persons / Places / Events 1. IsraelitesThe chosen people of God, who were expected to follow His commandments and live according to His statutes. 2. Nations Driven Out Refers to the pagan nations that inhabited the Promised Land before the Israelites, whose practices were abominable to God. 3. Kings of Israel The rulers of the Northern Kingdom, many of whom led the people into idolatry and away from the worship of Yahweh. 4. Promised Land The land given by God to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, which was to be a place of holiness and obedience to God. 5. Pagan Practices The idolatrous and immoral customs of the surrounding nations that were adopted by the Israelites, leading to their downfall. Teaching Points The Danger of Cultural AssimilationThe Israelites' adoption of pagan customs serves as a warning against conforming to worldly practices that contradict God's commands. Leadership and Influence The role of the kings in leading the people astray underscores the importance of godly leadership and the impact it has on a nation's spiritual direction. The Call to Holiness Believers are called to be set apart, living lives that reflect God's holiness and not the sinful practices of the world around them. Consequences of Disobedience The eventual downfall of Israel due to their idolatry and disobedience serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of turning away from God. The Importance of Scripture Regular engagement with God's Word helps believers discern truth from error and remain steadfast in their faith amidst cultural pressures. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of 2 Kings 17:8?2. How did Israel's actions in 2 Kings 17:8 lead to their downfall? 3. What does 2 Kings 17:8 teach about following "practices of the nations"? 4. How can we avoid adopting ungodly cultural practices today? 5. What other scriptures warn against conforming to worldly customs? 6. How can we ensure our practices align with God's commands? 7. Why did Israel adopt the customs of the nations in 2 Kings 17:8? 8. How does 2 Kings 17:8 reflect on Israel's covenant with God? 9. What archaeological evidence supports the events described in 2 Kings 17:8? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from 2 Kings 17? 11. How do we reconcile Psalm 8's depiction of a caring God with other biblical passages that portray divine indifference or harsh judgment toward humans? 12. Why did Israelites request a king? 13. How does Deuteronomy 17:14-20's endorsement of a human king align with 1 Samuel 8's warning against monarchy, and are these texts contradictory? 14. How does the forced labor mentioned in 2 Chronicles 8:7-8 reconcile with biblical portrayals of Solomon's wisdom and godly leadership? What Does 2 Kings 17:8 Mean Walked in the customs of the nations that the LORD had driven out before the Israelites2 Kings 17:8 opens with Israel “walked in the customs of the nations.” Instead of remaining distinct, they copied the very peoples God expelled from Canaan. • God’s command had been crystal clear: “You must not imitate the practices of the land” (Leviticus 18:3; Deuteronomy 12:29-31). • Those pagan customs included idolatry (Deuteronomy 32:17), occult practices (Deuteronomy 18:9-12), and moral perversions (Leviticus 18:24-30). • By following them, Israel reversed the Exodus narrative—re-enslaving themselves to the gods their fathers had defeated (Psalm 106:34-36). This disobedience was not a minor slip; it was covenant treason. As 2 Kings 21:2 later says of Manasseh, “He did evil…imitating the detestable practices of the nations the LORD had driven out.” The same verdict applies here. In the practices introduced by the kings of Israel The verse then shifts from foreign influence to home-grown corruption: “as well as in the practices introduced by the kings of Israel.” • Jeroboam I set the pattern with golden calves in Bethel and Dan (1 Kings 12:28-31). • Subsequent northern kings entrenched that idolatry, while Ahab added Baal worship (1 Kings 16:30-33). • Hosea labeled the calf in Samaria “this thing of Egypt” (Hosea 8:5-6), revealing a recycled paganism dressed in Israelite language. • 2 Kings 17:19-22 confirms Judah later copied these same “practices,” showing how royal policy can corrupt an entire nation. What started as political convenience became spiritual bondage. The kings’ innovations looked religious—shrines, festivals, priests—but they violated the first two commandments (Exodus 20:3-5). Amos warned, “I despise your feasts” (Amos 5:21-26), because man-made worship, however sincere, is rebellion when it contradicts God’s revealed pattern. summary 2 Kings 17:8 indicts Israel on two fronts: they embraced the pagan customs God had expelled and adopted the counterfeit worship their own kings invented. External pressure and internal policy joined forces to drag the nation into apostasy. The result was exile (2 Kings 17:6), proving that God’s Word is not merely advice but the unbreakable standard by which He governs His people. Remaining faithful to Scripture keeps believers distinct from culture and protected from misguided leadership, ensuring that worship stays centered on the living God rather than on human tradition. (8) Statutes of the heathen . . . and of the kings of Israel.--The national guilt was twofold. It comprised: (1) idolatry in the strict sense--i.e., worship of other gods than Jehovah; (2) a heathenish mode of worshipping Jehovah Himself--namely, under the form of a bullock, as Jeroboam I. had ordained. The term "statutes" means religious rules or ordinances. (Comp. Exodus 12:14, "statutes;" Leviticus 20:23, "manners;" 1Kings 3:3, "ordinance.")Which they had made--i.e., the statutes which the kings of Israel had made. (Comp. 2Kings 17:19 b.) Verse 8. - And walked in the statutes of the heathen. The" statutes of the heathen" are their customs and observances, especially in matters of religion. The Israelites had been repeatedly warned not to follow these (see Leviticus 18:3, 30; Deuteronomy 12:29-31; Deuteronomy 18:9-14, etc.). Whom the Lord east out from before the children of Israel - i.e. the Canaanitish nations, whose idolatries and other "abominations" were particularly hateful to God (see Leviticus 18:26-29; Deuteronomy 20:18; Deuteronomy 29:17; Deuteronomy 32:16, etc.) - and of the kings of Israel. The sins and idolatries of Israel had a double origin. The great majority were derived from the heathen nations with whom they were brought into contact, and were adopted voluntarily by the people themselves. Of this kind were the worship at "high places" (ver. 9), the "images" and "groves" (ver. 10), the causing of their children to "pass through the fire" (ver. 17), the employment of divination and enchantments (ver. 17), and perhaps the "worship of the host of heaven" (ver. 16). A certain number, however, came in from a different source, being imposed upon the people by their kings. To this class belong the desertion of the temple-worship, enforced by Jeroboam (vex. 21), the setting up of the calves at Dan and Bethel (ver. 16) by the same, and the Baal and Astarte worship (ver. 16), introduced by Ahab. This last and worst idolatry was not established without a good deal of persecution, as we learn from 1 Kings 18:4. Which they had made.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew and they had walkedוַיֵּֽלְכוּ֙ (way·yê·lə·ḵū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk in the customs בְּחֻקּ֣וֹת (bə·ḥuq·qō·wṯ) Preposition-b | Noun - feminine plural construct Strong's 2708: Something prescribed, an enactment, statute of the nations הַגּוֹיִ֔ם (hag·gō·w·yim) Article | Noun - masculine plural Strong's 1471: A foreign nation, a Gentile, a troop of animals, a flight of locusts whom אֲשֶׁר֙ (’ă·šer) Pronoun - relative Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that the LORD יְהוָ֔ה (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel had driven out הוֹרִ֣ישׁ (hō·w·rîš) Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 3423: To occupy, to seize, to rob, to inherit, to expel, to impoverish, to ruin before מִפְּנֵ֖י (mip·pə·nê) Preposition-m | Noun - common plural construct Strong's 6440: The face the Israelites, בְּנֵ֣י (bə·nê) Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 1121: A son as well as in the practices אֲשֶׁ֥ר (’ă·šer) Pronoun - relative Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that introduced עָשֽׂוּ׃ (‘ā·śū) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural Strong's 6213: To do, make by the kings וּמַלְכֵ֥י (ū·mal·ḵê) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 4428: A king of Israel. יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (yiś·rā·’êl) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc Links 2 Kings 17:8 NIV2 Kings 17:8 NLT 2 Kings 17:8 ESV 2 Kings 17:8 NASB 2 Kings 17:8 KJV 2 Kings 17:8 BibleApps.com 2 Kings 17:8 Biblia Paralela 2 Kings 17:8 Chinese Bible 2 Kings 17:8 French Bible 2 Kings 17:8 Catholic Bible OT History: 2 Kings 17:8 And walked in the statutes (2Ki iiKi ii ki 2 kg 2kg) |
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