2 kings 17:28 - So one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and lived in Bethel, and taught them how they should fear Yahweh.
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What does "2 kings 17:28" mean?
This verse, 2 Kings 17:28, is part of a larger narrative in 2 Kings 17 that explains the mixed religious practices of the people who inhabited the land of Israel after the Assyrian conquest of the Northern Kingdom of Israel (including Samaria) in 722 BCE. Here's a breakdown of the verse's meaning and its context:
Context: The Assyrians had deported many Israelites and brought in people from other conquered territories to resettle the land. These new settlers didn't know how to appease the God of the land, Yahweh, and as a result, were experiencing attacks by lions (seen as divine punishment).
"So one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and lived in Bethel...": This refers to an Israelite priest who had been deported from Samaria by the Assyrians. This priest, recognizing the problem with the lions, was sent back (presumably at the request of the new settlers or perhaps by the Assyrian authorities who wanted peace and order). He settles in Bethel, a significant religious site in the former Northern Kingdom of Israel.
"...and taught them how they should fear Yahweh.": The priest's primary role was to instruct the new inhabitants in the proper way to worship and revere Yahweh. This likely included:
Rituals and Sacrifices: Explaining the appropriate sacrifices and offerings to Yahweh.
Festivals and Holy Days: Introducing the important festivals and holy days related to Yahweh worship.
Commandments: Teaching the basic commandments and laws associated with the worship of Yahweh.
The Importance of "Fear": The word "fear" in this context doesn't necessarily mean being afraid. It carries a deeper meaning of reverence, respect, and acknowledging the power and authority of Yahweh. It encompasses obedience and the proper performance of religious duties.
Mixed Results: The overall narrative in 2 Kings 17 makes it clear that the people didn't fully abandon their own gods and religious practices. They incorporated the worship of Yahweh alongside their existing beliefs, leading to a syncretistic (mixed) religious system. This is summarized in verse 41: "So these nations feared Yahweh, and served their own graven images; their children also, and their children’s children, as did their fathers, so do they unto this day."
In summary, this verse describes an attempt to introduce the worship of Yahweh to the new inhabitants of the land after the Assyrian conquest. A deported Israelite priest was sent to teach them the proper way to "fear" (revere and worship) Yahweh. However, the broader context indicates that this effort resulted in a hybrid religion where Yahweh worship was combined with the worship of other gods.
This situation had a lasting impact on the region and contributed to the later animosity between the Samaritans (descendants of these mixed populations) and the Jews who returned from exile in Babylon.
2 kings 17:28 - So one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and lived in Bethel, and taught them how they should fear Yahweh.
What does "2 kings 17:28" mean?
This verse, 2 Kings 17:28, is part of a larger narrative in 2 Kings 17 that explains the mixed religious practices of the people who inhabited the land of Israel after the Assyrian conquest of the Northern Kingdom of Israel (including Samaria) in 722 BCE. Here's a breakdown of the verse's meaning and its context:
Context: The Assyrians had deported many Israelites and brought in people from other conquered territories to resettle the land. These new settlers didn't know how to appease the God of the land, Yahweh, and as a result, were experiencing attacks by lions (seen as divine punishment).
"So one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and lived in Bethel...": This refers to an Israelite priest who had been deported from Samaria by the Assyrians. This priest, recognizing the problem with the lions, was sent back (presumably at the request of the new settlers or perhaps by the Assyrian authorities who wanted peace and order). He settles in Bethel, a significant religious site in the former Northern Kingdom of Israel.
"...and taught them how they should fear Yahweh.": The priest's primary role was to instruct the new inhabitants in the proper way to worship and revere Yahweh. This likely included:
Rituals and Sacrifices: Explaining the appropriate sacrifices and offerings to Yahweh.
Festivals and Holy Days: Introducing the important festivals and holy days related to Yahweh worship.
Commandments: Teaching the basic commandments and laws associated with the worship of Yahweh.
The Importance of "Fear": The word "fear" in this context doesn't necessarily mean being afraid. It carries a deeper meaning of reverence, respect, and acknowledging the power and authority of Yahweh. It encompasses obedience and the proper performance of religious duties.
Mixed Results: The overall narrative in 2 Kings 17 makes it clear that the people didn't fully abandon their own gods and religious practices. They incorporated the worship of Yahweh alongside their existing beliefs, leading to a syncretistic (mixed) religious system. This is summarized in verse 41: "So these nations feared Yahweh, and served their own graven images; their children also, and their children’s children, as did their fathers, so do they unto this day."
In summary, this verse describes an attempt to introduce the worship of Yahweh to the new inhabitants of the land after the Assyrian conquest. A deported Israelite priest was sent to teach them the proper way to "fear" (revere and worship) Yahweh. However, the broader context indicates that this effort resulted in a hybrid religion where Yahweh worship was combined with the worship of other gods.
This situation had a lasting impact on the region and contributed to the later animosity between the Samaritans (descendants of these mixed populations) and the Jews who returned from exile in Babylon.