2 kings 17:34 - To this day they do what they did before. They don’t fear Yahweh, and they do not follow the statutes, or the ordinances, or the law, or the commandment which Yahweh commanded the children of Jacob, whom he named Israel;
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What does "2 kings 17:34" mean?
This verse, 2 Kings 17:34, describes the religious state of the people who were resettled in Samaria after the Assyrian conquest of the northern kingdom of Israel. It highlights a mixture of religious practices and a failure to genuinely worship Yahweh, the God of Israel. Let's break it down:
"To this day they do what they did before." This emphasizes that the people brought to Samaria did not abandon their original religious practices. They continued to worship their own gods and follow their own customs. The phrase "to this day" suggests that the author is writing some time after the resettlement occurred, and this syncretism (mixing of religions) was still ongoing.
"They don’t fear Yahweh..." "Fear" in this context doesn't just mean being scared; it refers to a deep respect, reverence, and obedience to Yahweh as the one true God. This is the core problem. They weren't truly acknowledging Yahweh as their God.
"...and they do not follow the statutes, or the ordinances, or the law, or the commandment which Yahweh commanded the children of Jacob, whom he named Israel." This elaborates on the first point. It clarifies that their failure to fear Yahweh manifests in their failure to adhere to the specific religious laws and instructions that God had given to the Israelites through Moses. "Statutes," "ordinances," "law," and "commandment" are all ways of referring to the Mosaic Law, the body of rules and regulations given to the Israelites to govern their relationship with God and each other. By listing these different terms, the author emphasizes the comprehensiveness of their disobedience.
"...the children of Jacob, whom he named Israel." This serves as a reminder of God's covenant with the Israelites. Referring to them as "the children of Jacob, whom he named Israel" connects these laws and commandments to the lineage and special relationship God had established with the descendants of Jacob (Israel). The mention of Jacob/Israel emphasizes that these laws were specifically meant for God's chosen people.
In essence, the verse describes a situation where people brought to Samaria were superficially acknowledging Yahweh while continuing to worship their own gods and ignoring the laws and commandments that defined true worship of Yahweh. They were practicing a hybrid religion, a syncretic mix that was unacceptable to God. This religious blending is a key factor that distinguishes the Samaritans from the Israelites in later biblical narratives.
2 kings 17:34 - To this day they do what they did before. They don’t fear Yahweh, and they do not follow the statutes, or the ordinances, or the law, or the commandment which Yahweh commanded the children of Jacob, whom he named Israel;
What does "2 kings 17:34" mean?
This verse, 2 Kings 17:34, describes the religious state of the people who were resettled in Samaria after the Assyrian conquest of the northern kingdom of Israel. It highlights a mixture of religious practices and a failure to genuinely worship Yahweh, the God of Israel. Let's break it down:
"To this day they do what they did before." This emphasizes that the people brought to Samaria did not abandon their original religious practices. They continued to worship their own gods and follow their own customs. The phrase "to this day" suggests that the author is writing some time after the resettlement occurred, and this syncretism (mixing of religions) was still ongoing.
"They don’t fear Yahweh..." "Fear" in this context doesn't just mean being scared; it refers to a deep respect, reverence, and obedience to Yahweh as the one true God. This is the core problem. They weren't truly acknowledging Yahweh as their God.
"...and they do not follow the statutes, or the ordinances, or the law, or the commandment which Yahweh commanded the children of Jacob, whom he named Israel." This elaborates on the first point. It clarifies that their failure to fear Yahweh manifests in their failure to adhere to the specific religious laws and instructions that God had given to the Israelites through Moses. "Statutes," "ordinances," "law," and "commandment" are all ways of referring to the Mosaic Law, the body of rules and regulations given to the Israelites to govern their relationship with God and each other. By listing these different terms, the author emphasizes the comprehensiveness of their disobedience.
"...the children of Jacob, whom he named Israel." This serves as a reminder of God's covenant with the Israelites. Referring to them as "the children of Jacob, whom he named Israel" connects these laws and commandments to the lineage and special relationship God had established with the descendants of Jacob (Israel). The mention of Jacob/Israel emphasizes that these laws were specifically meant for God's chosen people.
In essence, the verse describes a situation where people brought to Samaria were superficially acknowledging Yahweh while continuing to worship their own gods and ignoring the laws and commandments that defined true worship of Yahweh. They were practicing a hybrid religion, a syncretic mix that was unacceptable to God. This religious blending is a key factor that distinguishes the Samaritans from the Israelites in later biblical narratives.