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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 17:25 Now when the settlers first lived there, they did not worship the LORD, so He sent lions among them, which killed some of them.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/2_kings/17-25.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/1/12_2Ki_17_25.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="2 Kings 17:25 - Israel's Cities Resettled by Foreigners" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Now when the settlers first lived there, they did not worship the LORD, so He sent lions among them, which killed some of them." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/2_kings/17-25.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/2_kings/17-25.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/2_kings/">2 Kings</a> > <a href="/2_kings/17.htm">Chapter 17</a> > Verse 25</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad5.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/2_kings/17-24.htm" title="2 Kings 17:24">◄</a> 2 Kings 17:25 <a href="/2_kings/17-26.htm" title="2 Kings 17:26">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/2_kings/17.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/2_kings/17.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />When they first lived there, they did not worship the LORD; so he sent lions among them and they killed some of the people.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/2_kings/17.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />But since these foreign settlers did not worship the LORD when they first arrived, the LORD sent lions among them, which killed some of them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/2_kings/17.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />And at the beginning of their dwelling there, they did not fear the LORD. Therefore the LORD sent lions among them, which killed some of them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/2_kings/17.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />Now when the settlers first lived there, they did not worship the LORD, so He sent lions among them, which killed some of them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/2_kings/17.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And <i>so</i> it was at the beginning of their dwelling there, <i>that</i> they feared not the LORD: therefore the LORD sent lions among them, which slew <i>some</i> of them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/2_kings/17.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />And it was so, at the beginning of their dwelling there, <i>that</i> they did not fear the LORD; therefore the LORD sent lions among them, which killed <i>some</i> of them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/2_kings/17.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />And at the beginning of their living there, they did not fear the LORD; therefore the LORD sent lions among them that were killing some of them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/2_kings/17.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />At the beginning of their living there, they did not fear the LORD; therefore the LORD sent lions among them which killed some of them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/2_kings/17.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />And it came about at the beginning of their living there, that they did not fear the LORD; therefore the LORD sent lions among them which killed some of them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/2_kings/17.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Now it happened at the beginning of their settlement there, that they did not fear Yahweh; therefore Yahweh sent lions among them which were killing them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/2_kings/17.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Now when they began to live there, they did not fear the LORD; therefore the LORD sent lions among them which killed some of them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/2_kings/17.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />When they first lived there, they did not fear the LORD. So the LORD sent lions among them, which killed some of them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/2_kings/17.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />When they first lived there, they did not fear Yahweh. So the LORD sent lions among them, which killed some of them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/2_kings/17.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And so it was, at the beginning of their dwelling there, that they feared not Jehovah: therefore Jehovah sent lions among them, which killed some of them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/2_kings/17.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />At first these people did not worship the LORD, so he sent lions to attack them, and the lions killed some of them. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/2_kings/17.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And so it was, at the beginning of their dwelling there, that they feared not the LORD: therefore the LORD sent lions among them, which killed some of them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/2_kings/17.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />When they first came to live there, they didn't worship the LORD. So the LORD sent lions to kill some of them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/2_kings/17.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />When they first settled there, they did not worship the LORD, and so he sent lions, which killed some of them. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/2_kings/17.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />When they first began to live there, the settlers did not fear the LORD, so he sent lions among them, and they killed a few of them. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/2_kings/17.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Now when the settlers first lived there, they did not worship the LORD, so He sent lions among them, which killed some of them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/2_kings/17.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />When they first moved in, they did not worship the LORD. So the LORD sent lions among them and the lions were killing them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/2_kings/17.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />So it was, at the beginning of their dwelling there, that they did not fear the LORD: therefore the LORD sent lions among them, which killed some of them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/2_kings/17.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And so it was at the beginning of their dwelling there, that they feared not the LORD: therefore the LORD sent lions among them, which slew some of them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/2_kings/17.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />So it was, at the beginning of their dwelling there, that they didn’t fear Yahweh. Therefore Yahweh sent lions among them, which killed some of them. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/2_kings/17.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />and it comes to pass, at the commencement of their dwelling there, they have not feared YHWH, and YHWH sends the lions among them, and they are destroying among them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/2_kings/17.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> and it cometh to pass, at the commencement of their dwelling there, they have not feared Jehovah, and Jehovah doth send among them the lions, and they are destroying among them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/2_kings/17.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And it will be in the beginning of their dwelling there, they will not fear Jehovah; and Jehovah will send against them lions, and they will be killing among them.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/2_kings/17.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And when they began to dwell there, they feared not the Lord: and the Lord sent lions among them, which killed them. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/2_kings/17.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And when they had begun to live there, they did not fear the Lord. And the Lord sent lions among them, which were killing them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/2_kings/17.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />When they first settled there, they did not venerate the LORD, so he sent lions among them that killed some of them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/2_kings/17.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />When they first settled there, they did not worship the LORD; therefore the LORD sent lions among them, which killed some of them.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/2_kings/17.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And at the beginning of their dwelling there, they did not reverence the LORD; therefore the LORD sent lions against them, which slew some of them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/2_kings/17.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And from the beginning, when they dwelt there, they were not in awe of LORD JEHOVAH, and LORD JEHOVAH sent lionesses against them, and they were killing among them.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/2_kings/17.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And so it was, at the beginning of their dwelling there, that they feared not the LORD; therefore the LORD sent lions among them, which killed some of them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/2_kings/17.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And it was so at the beginning of their establishment there <i>that</i> they feared not the Lord, and the Lord sent lions among them, and they slew some of them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/2_kings/17-25.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FiLs3w_mMFQ?start=5969" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/2_kings/17.htm">Israel's Cities Resettled by Foreigners</a></span><br><span class="reftext">24</span>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. <span class="reftext">25</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/1961.htm" title="1961: way·hî (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To fall out, come to pass, become, be. A primitive root; to exist, i.e. Be or become, come to pass.">Now</a> <a href="/hebrew/8462.htm" title="8462: biṯ·ḥil·laṯ (Prep-b:: N-fsc) -- A beginning. From chalal in the sense of opening; a commencement; rel. Original.">when the settlers first</a> <a href="/hebrew/3427.htm" title="3427: šiḇ·tām (V-Qal-Inf:: 3mp) -- A primitive root; properly, to sit down; by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry.">lived</a> <a href="/hebrew/8033.htm" title="8033: šām (Adv) -- There, thither. A primitive particle; there then; often thither, or thence.">there,</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.">they did not</a> <a href="/hebrew/3372.htm" title="3372: yā·rə·’ū (V-Qal-Perf-3cp) -- To fear, to revere, caus, to frighten. A primitive root; to fear; morally, to revere; caus. To frighten.">worship</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></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/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.">so He</a> <a href="/hebrew/7971.htm" title="7971: way·šal·laḥ (Conj-w:: V-Piel-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To send. A primitive root; to send away, for, or out.">sent</a> <a href="/hebrew/738.htm" title="738: hā·’ă·rā·yō·wṯ (Art:: N-mp) -- A lion. Or earyeh; from 'arah; a lion.">lions</a> <a href="/hebrew/bā·hem (Prep:: 3mp) -- ">among them,</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/1961.htm" title="1961: way·yih·yū (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp) -- To fall out, come to pass, become, be. A primitive root; to exist, i.e. Be or become, come to pass.">which</a> <a href="/hebrew/2026.htm" title="2026: hō·rə·ḡîm (V-Qal-Prtcpl-mp) -- To kill, slay. A primitive root; to smite with deadly intent.">killed some</a> <a href="/hebrew/bā·hem (Prep:: 3mp) -- ">of them.</a> </span><span class="reftext">26</span>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.”…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/leviticus/26-22.htm">Leviticus 26:22</a></span><br />I will send wild animals against you to rob you of your children, destroy your livestock, and reduce your numbers, until your roads lie desolate.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/32-24.htm">Deuteronomy 32:24</a></span><br />They will be wasted from hunger and ravaged by pestilence and bitter plague; I will send the fangs of wild beasts against them, with the venom of vipers that slither in the dust.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/23-28.htm">Exodus 23:28-29</a></span><br />I will send the hornet before you to drive the Hivites and Canaanites and Hittites out of your way. / I will not drive them out before you in a single year; otherwise the land would become desolate and wild animals would multiply against you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/joshua/24-12.htm">Joshua 24:12</a></span><br />I sent the hornet ahead of you, and it drove out the two Amorite kings before you, but not by your own sword or bow.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/17-34.htm">1 Samuel 17:34-36</a></span><br />David replied, “Your servant has been tending his father’s sheep, and whenever a lion or a bear came and carried off a lamb from the flock, / I went after it, struck it down, and delivered the lamb from its mouth. If it reared up against me, I would grab it by its fur, strike it down, and kill it. / Your servant has killed lions and bears; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/2-24.htm">2 Kings 2:24</a></span><br />Then he turned around, looked at them, and called down a curse on them in the name of the LORD. Suddenly two female bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the boys.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/7-18.htm">Isaiah 7:18</a></span><br />On that day the LORD will whistle to the flies at the farthest streams of the Nile and to the bees in the land of Assyria.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/5-6.htm">Jeremiah 5:6</a></span><br />Therefore a lion from the forest will strike them down, a wolf from the desert will ravage them. A leopard will lie in wait near their cities, and everyone who ventures out will be torn to pieces. For their rebellious acts are many, and their unfaithful deeds are numerous.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/14-15.htm">Ezekiel 14:15</a></span><br />Or if I send wild beasts through the land to leave it childless and desolate, with no man passing through it for fear of the beasts,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hosea/13-7.htm">Hosea 13:7-8</a></span><br />So like a lion I will pounce on them; like a leopard I will lurk by the path. / Like a bear robbed of her cubs I will attack them, and I will tear open their chests. There I will devour them like a lion, like a wild beast tearing them apart.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/amos/3-4.htm">Amos 3:4</a></span><br />Does a lion roar in the forest when he has no prey? Does a young lion growl in his den if he has caught nothing?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/24-28.htm">Matthew 24:28</a></span><br />Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/mark/1-13.htm">Mark 1:13</a></span><br />and He was there for forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and the angels ministered to Him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/10-19.htm">Luke 10:19</a></span><br />Behold, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. Nothing will harm you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/28-3.htm">Acts 28:3-6</a></span><br />Paul gathered a bundle of sticks, and as he laid them on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself to his hand. / When the islanders saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “Surely this man is a murderer. Although he was saved from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.” / But Paul shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. ...</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And so it was at the beginning of their dwelling there, that they feared not the LORD: therefore the LORD sent lions among them, which slew some of them.</p><p class="hdg">they feared</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/2_kings/17-28.htm">2 Kings 17:28,32,34,41</a></b></br> Then one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and dwelt in Bethel, and taught them how they should fear the LORD… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/joshua/22-25.htm">Joshua 22:25</a></b></br> For the LORD hath made Jordan a border between us and you, ye children of Reuben and children of Gad; ye have no part in the LORD: so shall your children make our children cease from fearing the LORD.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/jeremiah/10-7.htm">Jeremiah 10:7</a></b></br> Who would not fear thee, O King of nations? for to thee doth it appertain: forasmuch as among all the wise <i>men</i> of the nations, and in all their kingdoms, <i>there is</i> none like unto thee.</p><p class="hdg">the Lord sent</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/2_kings/2-24.htm">2 Kings 2:24</a></b></br> And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the LORD. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_kings/13-24.htm">1 Kings 13:24</a></b></br> And when he was gone, a lion met him by the way, and slew him: and his carcase was cast in the way, and the ass stood by it, the lion also stood by the carcase.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_kings/20-36.htm">1 Kings 20:36</a></b></br> Then said he unto him, Because thou hast not obeyed the voice of the LORD, behold, as soon as thou art departed from me, a lion shall slay thee. And as soon as he was departed from him, a lion found him, and slew him.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/2_samuel/21-10.htm">Beginning</a> <a href="/2_kings/14-28.htm">Causing</a> <a href="/ruth/1-22.htm">Commencement</a> <a href="/2_kings/16-9.htm">Death</a> <a href="/1_samuel/6-5.htm">Destroying</a> <a href="/2_kings/6-1.htm">Dwelling</a> <a href="/2_kings/17-7.htm">Fear</a> <a href="/2_kings/17-7.htm">Feared</a> <a href="/2_kings/15-37.htm">First</a> <a href="/2_kings/16-9.htm">Killed</a> <a href="/1_kings/10-20.htm">Lions</a> <a href="/2_kings/16-9.htm">Slew</a> <a href="/2_kings/10-29.htm">Worship</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/1_chronicles/16-7.htm">Beginning</a> <a href="/1_chronicles/21-14.htm">Causing</a> <a href="/ezra/4-6.htm">Commencement</a> <a href="/2_kings/19-7.htm">Death</a> <a href="/2_kings/19-11.htm">Destroying</a> <a href="/2_kings/17-29.htm">Dwelling</a> <a href="/2_kings/17-28.htm">Fear</a> <a href="/2_kings/17-32.htm">Feared</a> <a href="/1_chronicles/1-10.htm">First</a> <a href="/2_kings/19-37.htm">Killed</a> <a href="/1_chronicles/12-8.htm">Lions</a> <a href="/2_kings/19-37.htm">Slew</a> <a href="/2_kings/17-28.htm">Worship</a><div class="vheading2">2 Kings 17</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/2_kings/17-1.htm">Hoshea the Last King of Israel</a></span><br><span class="reftext">3. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/2_kings/17-3.htm">Being subdued by Shalmaneser, he conspires against him with So, king of Egypt</a></span><br><span class="reftext">5. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/2_kings/17-5.htm">Samaria for sinning is led into captivity</a></span><br><span class="reftext">24. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/2_kings/17-24.htm">The strange nations transplanted into Samaria make a mixture of religions.</a></span><br></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><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <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> <br /><br /> </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><b>Now when the settlers first lived there</b><br>This phrase refers to the new inhabitants of Samaria after the Assyrian conquest. The Assyrians had a policy of relocating conquered peoples to prevent rebellion, and they brought people from various regions to settle in the land of Israel. This relocation is documented in <a href="/2_kings/17-24.htm">2 Kings 17:24</a>, where it mentions people from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sepharvaim. The settlers were unfamiliar with the land and its religious traditions, which sets the stage for the events that follow.<p><b>they did not worship the LORD</b><br>The settlers did not know or follow the worship practices of Yahweh, the God of Israel. This lack of worship is significant because it highlights the spiritual decline that had occurred in Israel, leading to its downfall. The Israelites had been warned repeatedly by prophets to turn from idolatry and return to the worship of the LORD (Yahweh), as seen in passages like <a href="/2_kings/17-13.htm">2 Kings 17:13-15</a>. The settlers' ignorance of the LORD's worship underscores the loss of spiritual heritage and the consequences of Israel's disobedience.<p><b>so He sent lions among them</b><br>The sending of lions can be seen as a divine judgment or warning. In the ancient Near East, wild animals were often viewed as instruments of divine retribution. The presence of lions would have been a terrifying and unmistakable sign to the settlers that something was amiss. This act of sending lions is reminiscent of other biblical instances where God uses nature to communicate His displeasure or to bring about repentance, such as the plagues in Egypt (Exodus 7-11).<p><b>which killed some of them</b><br>The death of some settlers by lions served as a direct consequence of their failure to worship the LORD. This event would have been a powerful motivator for the settlers to seek understanding of the local deity and His requirements. It reflects the biblical principle that disobedience to God can lead to physical and spiritual consequences, as seen in <a href="/deuteronomy/28.htm">Deuteronomy 28</a>, where blessings and curses are outlined based on Israel's obedience or disobedience to God's commands.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_israelites.htm">The Israelites</a></b><br>The original inhabitants of the land who were exiled due to their disobedience to God.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_samaritans.htm">The Samaritans</a></b><br>A mixed population settled in the land of Israel by the Assyrian king after the Israelites were exiled.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_lord.htm">The LORD (Yahweh)</a></b><br>The God of Israel, who is central to the account and whose fear and worship are required.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/l/lions.htm">Lions</a></b><br>Sent by God as a form of judgment against the new inhabitants for not fearing Him.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/a/assyrian_empire.htm">Assyrian Empire</a></b><br>The ruling power that conquered Israel and resettled the land with people from other nations.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_fearing_the_lord.htm">The Importance of Fearing the LORD</a></b><br>The fear of the LORD is foundational to a right relationship with Him. The new inhabitants' lack of fear led to divine judgment.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty_in_judgment.htm">God's Sovereignty in Judgment</a></b><br>God is sovereign and uses various means, including nature, to execute His judgment. This reminds us of His control over all creation.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/consequences_of_disobedience.htm">Consequences of Disobedience</a></b><br>Disobedience to God and neglecting His commands have serious consequences, as seen in the sending of lions.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_call_to_true_worship.htm">The Call to True Worship</a></b><br>The account challenges us to examine our worship and ensure it aligns with God's requirements, not just cultural or inherited practices.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_desire_for_all_to_know_him.htm">God's Desire for All to Know Him</a></b><br>Even in judgment, there is an implicit call for the new inhabitants to recognize and fear the LORD, pointing to God's desire for all nations to know Him.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_2_kings_17.htm">Top 10 Lessons from 2 Kings 17</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/2_kings_17_25__lions_targeting_settlers.htm">2 Kings 17:25 – How plausible is the account of lions specifically targeting the new settlers for religious reasons? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_does_'like_a_roaring_lion'_mean.htm">What does "Like a Roaring Lion" mean?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/jeremiah_5_6__are_wild_animal_attacks_credible.htm">Jeremiah 5:6 – How is this threat of wild animals attacking people scientifically or historically credible, given the period's recorded encounters with such creatures? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_2_kings_17_28_historically_credible.htm">2 Kings 17:28 – How historically credible is the claim that a single Israelite priest could effectively instruct the new inhabitants in proper worship? </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>(25) <span class= "bld">The Lord sent</span> (the) <span class= "bld">lions.</span>--In the interval between the Assyrian depopulation and the re-peopling of the land, the lions indigenous to the country had multiplied naturally enough. Their ravages were understood by the colonists as a token of the wrath of the local deity on account of their neglect of his worship. The sacred writer endorses this interpretation of the incident, probably remembering <a href="/leviticus/26-22.htm" title="I will also send wild beasts among you, which shall rob you of your children, and destroy your cattle, and make you few in number; and your high ways shall be desolate.">Leviticus 26:22</a>. (Comp. <a href="/exodus/23-29.htm" title="I will not drive them out from before you in one year; lest the land become desolate, and the beast of the field multiply against you.">Exodus 23:29</a>; <a href="/ezekiel/14-15.htm" title="If I cause noisome beasts to pass through the land, and they spoil it, so that it be desolate, that no man may pass through because of the beasts:">Ezekiel 14:15</a>.)<p><span class= "bld">Which slew.</span>--The form of the verb implies a state of things which lasted some time. Literally, <span class= "ital">and they were killing among them.</span><p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/2_kings/17.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 25.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">And so it was at the beginning of their dwelling there, that they feared not the Lord.</span> They were ignorant, <span class="accented">i.e.</span>, of Jehovah, and paid him no religious regard. They brought with them their own forms of heathenism (see vers. 30, 31). <span class="cmt_word">Therefore the Lord sent lions among them.</span> Lions are not now found in Palestine, nor indeed in any part of Syria, though they are numerous in Mesopotamia; but anciently they appear to have been tolerably common in all parts of the Holy Land (see the comment on 1 Kings 13:24). We may gather from what is said here that, though new settlers had been brought into the country by the Assyrians, yet still there had been a considerable decrease in the population, which had been favorable to the lions multiplying. The new settlers, it is to be noted, were placed in the towns (ver. 24); and it is probable that many of the country districts lay waste and desolate. Still, the writer views the <span class="accented">great</span> increase in the number of the lions as a Divine judgment, which it may have been, though based upon a natural circumstance. <span class="cmt_word">Which slew some of them.</span> (For the great boldness of the Palestinian lion, see <a href="/1_kings/13-24.htm">1 Kings 13:24</a>; <a href="/1_kings/20-36.htm">1 Kings 20:36</a>; <a href="/proverbs/22-13.htm">Proverbs 22:13</a>; <a href="/isaiah/31-4.htm">Isaiah 31:4</a>; <a href="/isaiah/38-13.htm">Isaiah 38:13</a>; <a href="/jeremiah/5-6.htm">Jeremiah 5:6</a>, etc.) <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/2_kings/17-25.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">Now</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיְהִ֗י</span> <span class="translit">(way·hî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1961.htm">Strong's 1961: </a> </span><span class="str2">To fall out, come to pass, become, be</span><br /><br /><span class="word">when [the settlers] first</span><br /><span class="heb">בִּתְחִלַּת֙</span> <span class="translit">(biṯ·ḥil·laṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8462.htm">Strong's 8462: </a> </span><span class="str2">A commencement, rel, original</span><br /><br /><span class="word">lived</span><br /><span class="heb">שִׁבְתָּ֣ם</span> <span class="translit">(šiḇ·tām)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3427.htm">Strong's 3427: </a> </span><span class="str2">To sit down, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to marry</span><br /><br /><span class="word">there,</span><br /><span class="heb">שָׁ֔ם</span> <span class="translit">(šām)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8033.htm">Strong's 8033: </a> </span><span class="str2">There, then, thither</span><br /><br /><span class="word">they did not</span><br /><span class="heb">לֹ֥א</span> <span class="translit">(lō)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb - Negative particle<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> </span><span class="str2">Not, no</span><br /><br /><span class="word">worship</span><br /><span class="heb">יָרְא֖וּ</span> <span class="translit">(yā·rə·’ū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3372.htm">Strong's 3372: </a> </span><span class="str2">To fear, to revere, caus, to frighten</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the LORD,</span><br /><span class="heb">יְהוָ֑ה</span> <span class="translit">(Yah·weh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3068.htm">Strong's 3068: </a> </span><span class="str2">LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel</span><br /><br /><span class="word">so He</span><br /><span class="heb">יְהוָ֤ה</span> <span class="translit">(Yah·weh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3068.htm">Strong's 3068: </a> </span><span class="str2">LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel</span><br /><br /><span class="word">sent</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיְשַׁלַּ֨ח</span> <span class="translit">(way·šal·laḥ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7971.htm">Strong's 7971: </a> </span><span class="str2">To send away, for, out</span><br /><br /><span class="word">lions among them,</span><br /><span class="heb">הָ֣אֲרָי֔וֹת</span> <span class="translit">(hā·’ă·rā·yō·wṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_738.htm">Strong's 738: </a> </span><span class="str2">A lion</span><br /><br /><span class="word">which</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיִּֽהְי֥וּ</span> <span class="translit">(way·yih·yū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1961.htm">Strong's 1961: </a> </span><span class="str2">To fall out, come to pass, become, be</span><br /><br /><span class="word">killed [some]</span><br /><span class="heb">הֹרְגִ֖ים</span> <span class="translit">(hō·rə·ḡîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2026.htm">Strong's 2026: </a> </span><span class="str2">To smite with deadly intent</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of them.</span><br /><span class="heb">בָּהֶֽם׃</span> <span class="translit">(bā·hem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition | third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/.htm">Strong's Hebrew</a> </span><span class="str2"></span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/2_kings/17-25.htm">2 Kings 17:25 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/2_kings/17-25.htm">2 Kings 17:25 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/2_kings/17-25.htm">2 Kings 17:25 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/2_kings/17-25.htm">2 Kings 17:25 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/2_kings/17-25.htm">2 Kings 17:25 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/2_kings/17-25.htm">2 Kings 17:25 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/2_kings/17-25.htm">2 Kings 17:25 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/2_kings/17-25.htm">2 Kings 17:25 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/2_kings/17-25.htm">2 Kings 17:25 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/2_kings/17-25.htm">2 Kings 17:25 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/2_kings/17-25.htm">OT History: 2 Kings 17:25 So it was at the beginning (2Ki iiKi ii ki 2 kg 2kg) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/2_kings/17-24.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="2 Kings 17:24"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="2 Kings 17:24" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/2_kings/17-26.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="2 Kings 17:26"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="2 Kings 17:26" /></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>