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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>2 Kings 17:9 The 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.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/2_kings/17-9.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/3/12_2Ki_17_09.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="2 Kings 17:9 - Israel Exiled Because of Idolatry" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="The Israelites secretly did things against the LORD their God that were not right. 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From watchtower to fortified city they built themselves high places in all their towns. <a href="/nlt/2_kings/17.htm">New Living Translation</a> The people of Israel had also secretly done many things that were not pleasing to the LORD their God. They built pagan shrines for themselves in all their towns, from the smallest outpost to the largest walled city. <a href="/esv/2_kings/17.htm">English Standard Version</a> And the people of Israel did secretly against the LORD their God things that were not right. They built for themselves high places in all their towns, from watchtower to fortified city. <a href="/bsb/2_kings/17.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> The 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. <a href="/kjv/2_kings/17.htm">King James Bible</a> And the children of Israel did secretly those things that were not right against the LORD their God, and they built them high places in all their cities, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city. <a href="/nkjv/2_kings/17.htm">New King James Version</a> Also the children of Israel secretly did against the LORD their God things that were not right, and they built for themselves high places in all their cities, from watchtower to fortified city. <a href="/nasb_/2_kings/17.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> And the sons of Israel did things secretly against the LORD their God which were not right. Moreover, they built for themselves high places in all their towns, from watchtower to fortified city. <a href="/nasb/2_kings/17.htm">NASB 1995</a> The sons of Israel did things secretly which were not right against the LORD their God. Moreover, they built for themselves high places in all their towns, from watchtower to fortified city. <a href="/nasb77/2_kings/17.htm">NASB 1977 </a> And the sons of Israel did things secretly which were not right, against the LORD their God. Moreover, they built for themselves high places in all their towns, from watchtower to fortified city. <a href="/lsb/2_kings/17.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> And the sons of Israel did things secretly which were not right against Yahweh their God. Moreover, they built for themselves high places in all their cities, from watchtower to fortified city. <a href="/amp/2_kings/17.htm">Amplified Bible</a> The Israelites ascribed things to the LORD their God which were not true. They built for themselves high places [of worship] in all their towns, from [the lonely] lookout tower to the [populous] fortified city. <a href="/csb/2_kings/17.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> The Israelites secretly did things against the LORD their God that were not right. They built high places in all their towns from watchtower to fortified city. <a href="/hcsb/2_kings/17.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> The Israelites secretly did what was not right against the LORD their God. They built high places in all their towns from watchtower to fortified city. <a href="/asv/2_kings/17.htm">American Standard Version</a> And the children of Israel did secretly things that were not right against Jehovah their God: and they built them high places in all their cities, from the tower of the watchmen to the fortified city; <a href="/cev/2_kings/17.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> Even worse, the Israelites tried to hide their sins from the LORD their God. They built their own local shrines everywhere in Israel--from small towns to large, walled cities. <a href="/erv/2_kings/17.htm">English Revised Version</a> And the children of Israel did secretly things that were not right against the LORD their God, and they built them high places in all their cities, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city. <a href="/gwt/2_kings/17.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> The Israelites secretly did things against the LORD their God that weren't right: They built for themselves illegal places of worship in all of their cities, from the [smallest] watchtower to the [largest] fortified city. <a href="/gnt/2_kings/17.htm">Good News Translation</a> The Israelites did things that the LORD their God disapproved of. They built pagan places of worship in all their towns, from the smallest village to the largest city. <a href="/isv/2_kings/17.htm">International Standard Version</a> The Israelis practiced secret things that were not right, offending the LORD their God. In addition, they built high places for use by all their towns, watchtowers, and fortified cities. <a href="/msb/2_kings/17.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> The 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. <a href="/net/2_kings/17.htm">NET Bible</a> The Israelites said things about the LORD their God that were not right. They built high places in all their cities, from the watchtower to the fortress. <a href="/nheb/2_kings/17.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> The children of Israel did secretly things that were not right against the LORD their God: and they built them high places in all their cities, from the tower of the watchmen to the fortified city; <a href="/wbt/2_kings/17.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> And the children of Israel did secretly things that were not right against the LORD their God, and they built for themselves high places in all their cities, from the tower of the watchmen to the fortified city. <a href="/web/2_kings/17.htm">World English Bible</a> The children of Israel secretly did things that were not right against Yahweh their God; and they built high places for themselves in all their cities, from the tower of the watchmen to the fortified city; <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/2_kings/17.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> and the sons of Israel covertly do things that [are] not right against their God YHWH, and build high places for themselves in all their cities, from a tower of the watchers to the fortified city, <a href="/ylt/2_kings/17.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> and the sons of Israel do covertly things that are not right against Jehovah their God, and build for them high places in all their cities, from a tower of the watchers unto the fenced city, <a href="/slt/2_kings/17.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> And the sons of Israel will cover the words not thus concerning Jehovah their God, and they will build to them heights in all their cities from the tower of those watching even to the fortified city.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/2_kings/17.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> And the children of Israel offended the Lord their God with things that were not right: and built them high places in all their cities from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city. <a href="/cpdv/2_kings/17.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> And the sons of Israel offended the Lord, their God, with deeds that were not upright. And they built for themselves high places in all their cities, from the tower of the watchmen to the fortified city. <a href="/nabre/2_kings/17.htm">New American Bible</a> They adopted unlawful practices toward the LORD, their God. They built high places in all their cities, from guard post to garrisoned town. <a href="/nrsvce/2_kings/17.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> The people of Israel secretly did things that were not right against the LORD their God. They built for themselves high places at all their towns, from watchtower to fortified city;<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/2_kings/17.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> And the children of Israel had spoken words that were not right against the LORD their God, both they and their kings; and they built them temples of idols in all their cities, from the tower of the watchmen to the fortified city. <a href="/hpbt/2_kings/17.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a> And the children of Israel spoke words that are not good against LORD JEHOVAH their God, they and their Kings, and built up for themselves high places in all their cities, from the tower of Watchmen and unto the city fortress<div class="vheading2">OT Translations</div><a href="/jps/2_kings/17.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a> and the children of Israel did impute things that were not right unto the LORD their God, and they built them high places in all their cities, from the tower of the watchmen to the fortified city; <a href="/sep/2_kings/17.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a> and in those of the children of Israel as many as secretly practised customs, not as they should have done, against the Lord their God: <a href="/parallel/2_kings/17-9.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FiLs3w_mMFQ?start=5771" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/2_kings/17.htm">Israel Exiled Because of Idolatry</a> …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. 9<a href="/hebrew/1121.htm" title="1121: ḇə·nê- (N-mpc) -- Son. From banah; a son, in the widest sense (like 'ab, 'ach, etc.).">The Israelites</a> <a href="/hebrew/3478.htm" title="3478: yiś·rā·’êl (N-proper-ms) -- From sarah and 'el; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also of his posterity."></a> <a href="/hebrew/1697.htm" title="1697: də·ḇā·rîm (N-mp) -- Speech, word. From dabar; a word; by implication, a matter or thing; adverbially, a cause."></a> <a href="/hebrew/2644.htm" title="2644: way·ḥap·pə·’ū (Conj-w:: V-Piel-ConsecImperf-3mp) -- To do secretly. An orthographical variation of chaphah; properly, to cover, i.e. to act covertly.">secretly did</a> <a href="/hebrew/5921.htm" title="5921: ‘al- (Prep) -- Properly, the same as al used as a preposition; above, over, upon, or against in a great variety of applications.">things against</a> <a href="/hebrew/3068.htm" title="3068: Yah·weh (N-proper-ms) -- The proper name of the God of Israel. From hayah; self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God.">the LORD</a> <a href="/hebrew/430.htm" title="430: ’ĕ·lō·hê·hem (N-mpc:: 3mp) -- Plural of 'elowahh; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used of the supreme God">their God</a> <a href="/hebrew/834.htm" title="834: ’ă·šer (Pro-r) -- Who, which, that. A primitive relative pronoun; who, which, what, that; also when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.">that were</a> <a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: lō- (Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">not</a> <a href="/hebrew/3651.htm" title="3651: ḵên (Adj-ms) -- So, thus. From kuwn; properly, set upright; hence just; but usually rightly or so.">right.</a> <a href="/hebrew/4026.htm" title="4026: mim·miḡ·dal (Prep-m:: N-msc) -- A tower. Also feminine migdalah; from gadal; a tower; by analogy, a rostrum; figuratively, a bed of flowers.">From watchtower</a> <a href="/hebrew/5341.htm" title="5341: nō·wṣ·rîm (V-Qal-Prtcpl-mp) -- To watch, guard, keep. A primitive root; to guard, in a good sense Or a bad one."></a> <a href="/hebrew/5704.htm" title="5704: ‘aḏ- (Prep) -- As far as, even to, up to, until, while. Properly, the same as ad; as far as, whether of space or time or degree.">to</a> <a href="/hebrew/4013.htm" title="4013: miḇ·ṣār (N-ms) -- Fortification. Also feminine mibtsarah; from batsar; a fortification, castle, or fortified city; figuratively, a defender.">fortified</a> <a href="/hebrew/5892.htm" title="5892: ‘îr (N-fsc) -- Excitement. Or par; or ayar; from uwr a city in the widest sense.">city,</a> <a href="/hebrew/1129.htm" title="1129: way·yiḇ·nū (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp) -- To build. A primitive root; to build.">they built</a> <a href="/hebrew/lā·hem (Prep:: 3mp) -- "></a> <a href="/hebrew/1116.htm" title="1116: bā·mō·wṯ (N-fp) -- A high place. From an unused root; an elevation.">high places</a> <a href="/hebrew/3605.htm" title="3605: bə·ḵāl (Prep-b:: N-msc) -- The whole, all. Or kowl; from kalal; properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every.">in all</a> <a href="/hebrew/5892.htm" title="5892: ‘ā·rê·hem (N-fpc:: 3mp) -- Excitement. Or par; or ayar; from uwr a city in the widest sense.">their cities.</a> 10They set up for themselves sacred pillars and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every green tree.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/2_kings/18-12.htm">2 Kings 18:12</a> This happened because they did not listen to the voice of the LORD their God, but violated His covenant—all that Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded—and would neither listen nor obey. <a href="/2_kings/21-2.htm">2 Kings 21:2-3</a> 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. / For he rebuilt the high places that his father Hezekiah had destroyed, and he raised up altars for Baal. He made an Asherah pole, as King Ahab of Israel had done, and he worshiped and served all the host of heaven. <a href="/2_kings/23-19.htm">2 Kings 23:19</a> Just as Josiah had done at Bethel, so also in the cities of Samaria he removed all the shrines of the high places set up by the kings of Israel who had provoked the LORD to anger. <a href="/2_chronicles/33-9.htm">2 Chronicles 33:9</a> So Manasseh led the people of Judah and Jerusalem astray, so that they did greater evil than the nations that the LORD had destroyed before the Israelites. <a href="/jeremiah/7-9.htm">Jeremiah 7:9-10</a> Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury, burn incense to Baal, and follow other gods that you have not known, / and then come and stand before Me in this house, which bears My Name, and say, ‘We are delivered, so we can continue with all these abominations’? <a href="/ezekiel/8-9.htm">Ezekiel 8:9-10</a> Then He said to me, “Go in and see the wicked abominations they are committing here.” / So I went in and looked, and engraved all around the wall was every kind of crawling creature and detestable beast, along with all the idols of the house of Israel. <a href="/hosea/8-4.htm">Hosea 8:4</a> They set up kings, but not by Me. They make princes, but without My approval. With their silver and gold they make themselves idols, to their own destruction. <a href="/hosea/13-2.htm">Hosea 13:2</a> Now they sin more and more and make for themselves cast images, idols skillfully made from their silver, all of them the work of craftsmen. People say of them, “They offer human sacrifice and kiss the calves!” <a href="/amos/2-4.htm">Amos 2:4</a> This is what the LORD says: “For three transgressions of Judah, even four, I will not revoke My judgment, because they reject the Law of the LORD and fail to keep His statutes; they are led astray by the lies in which their fathers walked. <a href="/micah/1-5.htm">Micah 1:5</a> All this is for the transgression of Jacob and the sins of the house of Israel. What is the transgression of Jacob? Is it not Samaria? And what is the high place of Judah? Is it not Jerusalem? <a href="/matthew/15-8.htm">Matthew 15:8-9</a> ‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. / They worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrine the precepts of men.’” <a href="/matthew/23-27.htm">Matthew 23:27-28</a> Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of impurity. / In the same way, on the outside you appear to be righteous, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness. <a href="/mark/7-6.htm">Mark 7:6-7</a> Jesus answered them, “Isaiah prophesied correctly about you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. / They worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrine the precepts of men.’ <a href="/luke/11-39.htm">Luke 11:39-42</a> Then the Lord said, “Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. / You fools! Did not the One who made the outside make the inside as well? / But give as alms the things that are within you, and behold, everything will be clean for you. ... <a href="/john/4-22.htm">John 4:22</a> You worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews.</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>And the children of Israel did secretly those things that were not right against the LORD their God, and they built them high places in all their cities, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city.secretly<a href="/deuteronomy/13-6.htm">Deuteronomy 13:6</a> If thy brother, the son of thy mother, or thy son, or thy daughter, or the wife of thy bosom, or thy friend, which is as thine own soul, entice thee secretly, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which thou hast not known, thou, nor thy fathers;<a href="/deuteronomy/27-15.htm">Deuteronomy 27:15</a> Cursed be the man that maketh any graven or molten image, an abomination unto the LORD, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and putteth it in a secret place. And all the people shall answer and say, Amen.<a href="/job/31-27.htm">Job 31:27</a> And my heart hath been secretly enticed, or my mouth hath kissed my hand:from the tower<a href="/2_kings/18-8.htm">2 Kings 18:8</a> He smote the Philistines, even unto Gaza, and the borders thereof, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city.<a href="/hosea/12-11.htm">Hosea 12:11</a> Is there iniquity in Gilead? surely they are vanity: they sacrifice bullocks in Gilgal; yea, their altars are as heaps in the furrows of the fields.<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/2_kings/6-2.htm">Build</a> <a href="/2_kings/16-18.htm">Built</a> <a href="/2_kings/17-8.htm">Children</a> <a href="/2_kings/17-6.htm">Cities</a> <a href="/2_kings/16-20.htm">City</a> <a href="/genesis/31-27.htm">Covertly</a> <a href="/2_kings/10-2.htm">Fenced</a> <a href="/2_kings/10-2.htm">Fortified</a> <a href="/2_kings/16-4.htm">High</a> <a href="/2_samuel/19-19.htm">Impute</a> <a href="/2_kings/17-8.htm">Israel</a> <a href="/2_kings/12-15.htm">Moreover</a> <a href="/2_kings/16-4.htm">Places</a> <a href="/2_kings/16-2.htm">Right</a> <a href="/1_kings/18-4.htm">Secretly</a> <a href="/2_kings/12-8.htm">Themselves</a> <a href="/2_kings/9-17.htm">Tower</a> <a href="/2_kings/17-6.htm">Towns</a> <a href="/2_kings/10-2.htm">Walled</a> <a href="/2_samuel/15-10.htm">Watchers</a> <a href="/1_samuel/14-16.htm">Watchmen</a> <a href="/numbers/23-14.htm">Watchmen's</a> <a href="/matthew/21-33.htm">Watchtower</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/2_kings/19-32.htm">Build</a> <a href="/2_kings/21-3.htm">Built</a> <a href="/2_kings/17-22.htm">Children</a> <a href="/2_kings/17-24.htm">Cities</a> <a href="/2_kings/18-8.htm">City</a> <a href="/genesis/31-27.htm">Covertly</a> <a href="/2_kings/18-8.htm">Fenced</a> <a href="/2_kings/18-8.htm">Fortified</a> <a href="/2_kings/17-10.htm">High</a> <a href="/psalms/32-2.htm">Impute</a> <a href="/2_kings/17-13.htm">Israel</a> <a href="/2_kings/18-25.htm">Moreover</a> <a href="/2_kings/17-11.htm">Places</a> <a href="/2_kings/18-3.htm">Right</a> <a href="/job/4-12.htm">Secretly</a> <a href="/2_kings/17-10.htm">Themselves</a> <a href="/2_kings/18-8.htm">Tower</a> <a href="/2_kings/17-24.htm">Towns</a> <a href="/2_kings/18-8.htm">Walled</a> <a href="/2_kings/18-8.htm">Watchers</a> <a href="/2_kings/18-8.htm">Watchmen</a> <a href="/2_kings/18-8.htm">Watchmen's</a> <a href="/2_kings/18-8.htm">Watchtower</a><div class="vheading2">2 Kings 17</div>1. <a href="/2_kings/17-1.htm">Hoshea the Last King of Israel</a> 3. <a href="/2_kings/17-3.htm">Being subdued by Shalmaneser, he conspires against him with So, king of Egypt</a> 5. <a href="/2_kings/17-5.htm">Samaria for sinning is led into captivity</a> 24. <a href="/2_kings/17-24.htm">The strange nations transplanted into Samaria make a mixture of religions.</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/2_kings/17.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/2_kings/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/2_kings/17.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div>The Israelites secretly did things against the LORD their God that were not right. This phrase highlights the Israelites' disobedience and idolatry, which they attempted to conceal. The secrecy suggests a recognition of wrongdoing, yet a willful persistence in sin. This behavior is reminiscent of Adam and Eve hiding from God in <a href="/genesis/3-8.htm">Genesis 3:8</a>. The Israelites' actions violated the covenant established at Sinai (Exodus 19-24), where they were commanded to worship the LORD alone. Their secretive actions reflect a heart turned away from God, as seen in <a href="/jeremiah/17-9.htm">Jeremiah 17:9</a>, which speaks of the deceitfulness of the heart. This disobedience ultimately led to the Assyrian exile, fulfilling the warnings given in <a href="/deuteronomy/28-15.htm">Deuteronomy 28:15-68</a>.From watchtower to fortified city, This phrase indicates the widespread nature of the Israelites' idolatry, covering the entire land from rural outposts to major urban centers. Watchtowers were used for agricultural oversight and defense, while fortified cities were centers of power and security. The phrase suggests that no part of the land was free from idolatry, echoing the pervasive sin described in <a href="/genesis/6-5.htm">Genesis 6:5</a>. The geographical spread of idolatry underscores the systemic nature of Israel's rebellion against God, which was not limited to isolated incidents but was a national issue.they built high places in all their cities. High places were elevated sites used for worship, often associated with pagan rituals and deities. Despite God's command to destroy such places (<a href="/deuteronomy/12-2.htm">Deuteronomy 12:2-3</a>), the Israelites constructed them throughout their cities, indicating a direct violation of divine law. These high places became centers of syncretism, where the worship of Yahweh was mixed with Canaanite practices, as seen in <a href="/1_kings/14-23.htm">1 Kings 14:23</a>. The construction of high places reflects a departure from centralized worship in Jerusalem, as prescribed in <a href="/deuteronomy/12-5.htm">Deuteronomy 12:5-14</a>, and symbolizes the spiritual adultery of Israel. This idolatry is a type of the ultimate rejection of God, which finds its resolution in Christ, who is the true temple and the fulfillment of all worship (<a href="/john/2-19.htm">John 2:19-21</a>).<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/t/the_israelites.htm">The Israelites</a> The chosen people of God, who were expected to follow His commandments and live according to His statutes. In this context, they are engaging in secretive and sinful practices. 2. <a href="/topical/t/the_lord_their_god.htm">The LORD their God</a> The covenant God of Israel, who delivered them from Egypt and gave them the Law through Moses. He is the one against whom the Israelites are sinning. 3. <a href="/topical/h/high_places.htm">High Places</a> Elevated sites often used for idol worship and pagan rituals, contrary to the worship of Yahweh, which was to be centralized in Jerusalem. 4. <a href="/topical/w/watchtower.htm">Watchtower</a> A small, often isolated structure used for surveillance and protection, indicating that idol worship was pervasive even in remote areas. 5. <a href="/topical/f/fortified_city.htm">Fortified City</a> A city with defensive structures, suggesting that idol worship was widespread and not limited to rural or isolated areas.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/t/the_danger_of_secret_sin.htm">The Danger of Secret Sin</a> Secret sins are often the most dangerous because they can lead to a hardened heart and a seared conscience. We must be vigilant in examining our lives for hidden sins and bring them into the light through confession and repentance. <a href="/topical/t/the_pervasiveness_of_idolatry.htm">The Pervasiveness of Idolatry</a> Idolatry can infiltrate every aspect of life, from the most isolated areas to the most fortified places. We must guard our hearts against modern forms of idolatry, such as materialism, power, and self-worship. <a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_obedience.htm">The Importance of Obedience</a> God desires obedience over sacrifice. The Israelites' disobedience in building high places shows a disregard for God's commands. We must strive to obey God's Word fully, not just in areas that are convenient or visible to others. <a href="/topical/c/community_accountability.htm">Community Accountability</a> The widespread nature of the Israelites' sin suggests a lack of accountability within the community. As believers, we should hold each other accountable and encourage one another to live according to God's standards.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_2_kings_17.htm">Top 10 Lessons from 2 Kings 17</a> <a href="/q/how_does_1_sam_9_12-14_fit_israel's_rituals.htm">How does the mention of a “high place” in 1 Samuel 9:12–14 align with historical evidence that such rituals were either encouraged or condemned at different periods in Israel’s history? </a> <a href="/q/ezekiel_6_2-3__literal_mountains'_fate.htm">In Ezekiel 6:2–3, how can an address to literal mountains make sense, and is there any historical or archaeological record of a catastrophe specifically targeting these mountains? </a> <a href="/q/evidence_of_private_shrines_like_micah's.htm">Are there historical or archaeological indications that support—or contradict—the existence of a private shrine and idol-based worship like Micah’s described in Judges 17?</a> <a href="/q/does_solomon's_sacrifice_conflict_with_bans.htm">Does Solomon’s sacrifice at high places (1 Kings 3:2–3) conflict with scriptural bans on worship outside the central sanctuary? </a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/2_kings/17.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(9) Did secretly.--The literal sense is covered. In this connection it is natural to remember that Heb. verbs of covering and hiding are often used in the sense of dealing perfidiously or deceitfully. (Comp. m?'al, l Chron. 10:13, with me'il, "mantle;" and b?gad, "to deal treacherously," <a href="/hosea/5-7.htm" title="They have dealt treacherously against the LORD: for they have begotten strange children: now shall a month devour them with their portions.">Hosea 5:7</a>, with beged, "garment.") The form in the text (the pihel of 'h?ph?) is only found here.They built them high places.--First, the institution of unlawful places of worship.From the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city.--The towers are such as are mentioned in <a href="/2_chronicles/26-10.htm" title="Also he built towers in the desert, and dig many wells: for he had much cattle, both in the low country, and in the plains: farmers also, and vine dressers in the mountains, and in Carmel: for he loved husbandry.">2Chronicles 26:10</a>. Here, and in <a href="/2_kings/18-8.htm" title="He smote the Philistines, even to Gaza, and the borders thereof, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city.">2Kings 18:8</a>, these solitary buildings, tenanted by a few herdsmen, are contrasted with the embattled cities which protected multitudes. Wherever men were, whether in small or large numbers, these high places were established.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/2_kings/17.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 9. - And the children of Israel did secretly those things that were not right against the Lord their God. Most of the evil practices of the Israelites were open and flagrant, but some sought the veil of secrecy, as the use of divination and enchantments (ver. 17). It is doubtful, however, whether the Hebrew words have the signification assigned to them in the Authorized Version. They may mean no more than that the Israelites made their evil deeds a barrier between themselves and God. And they built them high places in an their cities (comp. <a href="/1_kings/14-23.htm">1 Kings 14:23</a>). "In all their cities" is probably rhetorical; but the gist of the charge is that, instead of keeping to the one temple and one altar commanded by God for the conservation of their belief in his unity, the Israelites "erected places of worship all over the country, after the fashion of the heathen" (Bahr), and so at once depraved their own faith, and ceased to be a perpetual protest to the surrounding nations. From the tower of the watchman to the fenced city; i.e. from the smallest and most solitary place of human abode to the largest and most populous (comp. <a href="/2_kings/18-8.htm">2 Kings 18:8</a>). The expression was no doubt proverbial, and (as used here) is a strong hyperbole. <a href="/commentaries/2_kings/17-9.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div>The Israelites בְנֵֽי־ (ḇə·nê-) Noun - masculine plural construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1121.htm">Strong's 1121: </a> A son secretly did וַיְחַפְּא֣וּ (way·ḥap·pə·’ū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_2644.htm">Strong's 2644: </a> To cover, to act covertly things against עַל־ (‘al-) Preposition <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5921.htm">Strong's 5921: </a> Above, over, upon, against the LORD יְהוָ֖ה (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3068.htm">Strong's 3068: </a> LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel their God אֱלֹהֵיהֶ֑ם (’ĕ·lō·hê·hem) Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_430.htm">Strong's 430: </a> gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative that [were] אֲשֶׁ֣ר (’ă·šer) Pronoun - relative <a href="/hebrew/strongs_834.htm">Strong's 834: </a> Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that not לֹא־ (lō-) Adverb - Negative particle <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> Not, no right. כֵ֔ן (ḵên) Adjective - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3651.htm">Strong's 3651: </a> So -- thus From watchtower מִמִּגְדַּ֥ל (mim·miḡ·dal) Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_4026.htm">Strong's 4026: </a> A tower, a rostrum, a, bed of flowers to עַד־ (‘aḏ-) Preposition <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5704.htm">Strong's 5704: </a> As far as, even to, up to, until, while fortified מִבְצָֽר׃ (miḇ·ṣār) Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_4013.htm">Strong's 4013: </a> A fortification, castle, fortified city, a defender city, עִ֥יר (‘îr) Noun - feminine singular construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5892.htm">Strong's 5892: </a> Excitement they built וַיִּבְנ֨וּ (way·yiḇ·nū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1129.htm">Strong's 1129: </a> To build high places בָּמוֹת֙ (bā·mō·wṯ) Noun - feminine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1116.htm">Strong's 1116: </a> An elevation in all בְּכָל־ (bə·ḵāl) Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3605.htm">Strong's 3605: </a> The whole, all, any, every their cities. עָ֣רֵיהֶ֔ם (‘ā·rê·hem) Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5892.htm">Strong's 5892: </a> Excitement <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/2_kings/17-9.htm">2 Kings 17:9 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/2_kings/17-9.htm">2 Kings 17:9 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/2_kings/17-9.htm">2 Kings 17:9 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/2_kings/17-9.htm">2 Kings 17:9 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/2_kings/17-9.htm">2 Kings 17:9 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/2_kings/17-9.htm">2 Kings 17:9 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/2_kings/17-9.htm">2 Kings 17:9 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/2_kings/17-9.htm">2 Kings 17:9 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/2_kings/17-9.htm">2 Kings 17:9 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/2_kings/17-9.htm">2 Kings 17:9 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/2_kings/17-9.htm">OT History: 2 Kings 17:9 The children of Israel did secretly things (2Ki iiKi ii ki 2 kg 2kg) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/2_kings/17-8.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="2 Kings 17:8"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="2 Kings 17:8" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/2_kings/17-10.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="2 Kings 17:10"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="2 Kings 17:10" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>