2 Kings 17:11

And there they burnt incense in all the high places, as [did] the heathen whom the LORD carried away before them; and wrought wicked things to provoke the LORD to anger:

And there they burnt incense {H6999} in all the high places {H1116}, as did the heathen {H1471} whom the LORD {H3068} carried away {H1540} before {H6440} them; and wrought {H6213} wicked {H7451} things {H1697} to provoke the LORD {H3068} to anger {H3707}:

Then they would make offerings on all the high places, like the nations ADONAI had expelled ahead of them, and would do wicked things to provoke the anger of ADONAI;

They burned incense on all the high places like the nations that the LORD had driven out before them. They did wicked things, provoking the LORD to anger.

and there they burnt incense in all the high places, as did the nations whom Jehovah carried away before them; and they wrought wicked things to provoke Jehovah to anger;

Commentary

Historical and Cultural Context

This verse, 2 Kings 17:11, is part of a larger narrative detailing the widespread apostasy and eventual downfall of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Following the division of the kingdom after Solomon's reign, Israel consistently rebelled against God, establishing idolatrous worship practices from its very inception (see 1 Kings 12:28-33). The "high places" (Hebrew: bamot) were elevated sites, often hills or mounds, that were originally intended for legitimate worship, but were tragically corrupted into centers for pagan rituals, including the burning of incense to false gods. This practice was explicitly forbidden by God, who commanded His people to destroy such sites of the Canaanites whom they dispossessed (Deuteronomy 12:2-3).

The comparison to "the heathen whom the LORD carried away before them" is crucial. It highlights Israel's profound failure to learn from history. They adopted the very abominable practices that led to the expulsion of the Canaanites from the land, despite having witnessed God's judgment firsthand. This deliberate imitation of pagan worship marked a serious breach of their covenant with the LORD and was a direct act of defiance, leading to divine anger and ultimately, their own exile to Assyria.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Idolatry and Syncretism: The verse vividly portrays Israel's deep entanglement with idolatry, blending the worship of the true God with pagan practices. The burning of incense on high places was a clear act of worship directed towards false deities, a direct violation of the First Commandment.
  • Disobedience and Rebellion: Israel's actions were not merely mistaken but were a conscious "wrought wicked things to provoke the LORD to anger." This indicates a deliberate rejection of God's laws and a persistent rebellion against His authority, despite repeated warnings from prophets.
  • Divine Anger and Judgment: The phrase "provoke the LORD to anger" underscores the seriousness of their sin. God's anger is not a human emotion of petulance but a righteous indignation against injustice, unholiness, and covenant breaking. This anger ultimately led to the Assyrian captivity, a major theme in 2 Kings 17.
  • Consequences of Sin: The verse serves as a stark reminder that persistent disobedience and idolatry have severe consequences, mirroring the fate of the nations God had previously judged.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew term for "high places" is bamot (בָּמוֹת), referring to elevated cultic sites. Their widespread presence throughout Israel signifies the pervasive nature of idolatry. The phrase "provoke the LORD to anger" uses the Hebrew verb ka'as (כָּעַס), which conveys a sense of deep vexation, grief, or indignation. It implies that God's reaction was not impulsive but a righteous response to deliberate and persistent offense.

Practical Application

For believers today, 2 Kings 17:11 offers several timeless lessons:

  • Beware of Modern Idolatry: While we may not burn incense on physical high places, anything that takes precedence over God in our lives—money, power, success, relationships, or even self—can become an idol. We must regularly examine our hearts to ensure God alone holds the supreme place.
  • The Seriousness of Disobedience: God's character and His commands are unchanging. Deliberate disobedience, especially when it involves turning away from Him, still provokes His righteous displeasure. We are called to love God by obeying His commands.
  • Learning from History: The Bible's historical accounts are not just stories; they are warnings and instructions. Israel's downfall serves as a powerful reminder of the dangers of spiritual compromise and the importance of remaining faithful to God's covenant.
  • God's Holiness: This verse underscores God's absolute holiness and His intolerance for sin. While He is merciful and gracious, He is also a just God who will not condone unrighteousness indefinitely.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 1 Kings 13:1

    ¶ And, behold, there came a man of God out of Judah by the word of the LORD unto Bethel: and Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense.

  • Jeremiah 44:17

    But we will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our own mouth, to burn incense unto the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, as we have done, we, and our fathers, our kings, and our princes, in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem: for [then] had we plenty of victuals, and were well, and saw no evil.

  • 2 Chronicles 28:25

    And in every several city of Judah he made high places to burn incense unto other gods, and provoked to anger the LORD God of his fathers.

  • Psalms 78:56

    Yet they tempted and provoked the most high God, and kept not his testimonies:

  • Psalms 78:58

    For they provoked him to anger with their high places, and moved him to jealousy with their graven images.

  • 2 Kings 21:6

    And he made his son pass through the fire, and observed times, and used enchantments, and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards: he wrought much wickedness in the sight of the LORD, to provoke [him] to anger.
← Back