2 Kings 17:25

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

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.

Complete Jewish Bible:

When they first came to live there, they did not fear ADONAI. Therefore ADONAI sent lions among them, which killed some of them.

Berean Standard Bible:

Now when the settlers first lived there, they did not worship the LORD, so He sent lions among them, which killed some of them.

American Standard Version:

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.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And so it was at the beginning^{H8462} of their dwelling^{H3427} there, that they feared^{H3372} not the LORD^{H3068}: therefore the LORD^{H3068} sent^{H7971} lions^{H738} among them, which slew^{H2026} some of them.

Cross-References (KJV):

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Commentary for 2 Kings 17:25

2 Kings 17:25 is a verse set within the broader context of the Northern Kingdom of Israel's fall to the Assyrians, which occurred around 722 BCE. The Assyrian policy at the time was to deport the conquered peoples and replace them with others from within their empire, in order to prevent rebellion and maintain control over the newly acquired territories.

In this particular verse, the text refers to the new inhabitants who were settled in the cities of Samaria by the Assyrian king after the Israelites were deported. These people, originating from various parts of the Assyrian empire, did not worship the Lord, the God of Israel. Instead, they continued to worship their own gods, which is indicative of their lack of fear or reverence for the Lord. As a result of their disregard for the Lord and His laws, God sent lions among them, which attacked and killed some of the new settlers.

The themes present in this verse include the importance of fearing God, the consequences of disobedience and idolatry, and the sovereignty of the Lord over all nations and peoples. It also illustrates the biblical motif of God using natural or created elements (in this case, lions) to carry out His judgments. This event serves as a warning to those who would ignore the Lord's commands and highlights the expectation that those living in the Promised Land should worship the Lord exclusively. The verse underscores the religious and cultural tensions that arose from the Assyrian resettlement policies and the challenges faced by the displaced peoples in navigating the religious landscape of their new environment.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H8462
   There are 21 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: תְּחִלָּה
   Transliteration: tᵉchillâh
   Pronunciation: tekh-il-law'
   Description: from חָלַל in the sense of opening; a commencement; rel. original (adverb, -ly); begin(-ning), first (time).
   
2. Strong's Number: H3427
   There are 980 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָשַׁב
   Transliteration: yâshab
   Pronunciation: yaw-shab'
   Description: a primitive root; properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry; (make to) abide(-ing), continue, (cause to, make to) dwell(-ing), ease self, endure, establish, [idiom] fail, habitation, haunt, (make to) inhabit(-ant), make to keep (house), lurking, [idiom] marry(-ing), (bring again to) place, remain, return, seat, set(-tle), (down-) sit(-down, still, -ting down, -ting (place) -uate), take, tarry.
   
3. Strong's Number: H3372
   There are 305 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָרֵא
   Transliteration: yârêʼ
   Pronunciation: yaw-ray'
   Description: a primitive root; to fear; morally, to revere; caus. to frighten; affright, be (make) afraid, dread(-ful), (put in) fear(-ful, -fully, -ing), (be had in) reverence(-end), [idiom] see, terrible (act, -ness, thing).
   
4. Strong's Number: H3068
   There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יְהֹוָה
   Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
   Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
   Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה.
   
5. Strong's Number: H7971
   There are 790 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שָׁלַח
   Transliteration: shâlach
   Pronunciation: shaw-lakh'
   Description: a primitive root; to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications); [idiom] any wise, appoint, bring (on the way), cast (away, out), conduct, [idiom] earnestly, forsake, give (up), grow long, lay, leave, let depart (down, go, loose), push away, put (away, forth, in, out), reach forth, send (away, forth, out), set, shoot (forth, out), sow, spread, stretch forth (out).
   
6. Strong's Number: H738
   There are 184 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֲרִי
   Transliteration: ʼărîy
   Pronunciation: ar-ee'
   Description: or (prolonged) [ar-yay']; from אָרָה (in the sense of violence); a lion; (young) lion, [phrase] pierce (from the margin).
   
7. Strong's Number: H2026
   There are 158 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: הָרַג
   Transliteration: hârag
   Pronunciation: haw-rag'
   Description: a primitive root; to smite with deadly intent; destroy, out of hand, kill, murder(-er), put to (death), make (slaughter), slay(-er), [idiom] surely.