2 Kings 17:20

KJV

And the LORD rejected all the seed of Israel, and afflicted them, and delivered them into the hand of spoilers, until he had cast them out of his sight.

KJV (with Strong's)

And the LORD {H3068} rejected {H3988} all the seed {H2233} of Israel {H3478}, and afflicted {H6031} them, and delivered {H5414} them into the hand {H3027} of spoilers {H8154}, until he had cast {H7993} them out of his sight {H6440}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Yes, ADONAI came to despise all the descendants of Isra'el. He caused them trouble and handed them over to plunderers, until finally he threw them out of his sight.

Berean Standard Bible

So the LORD rejected all the descendants of Israel. He afflicted them and delivered them into the hands of plunderers, until He had banished them from His presence.

American Standard Version

And Jehovah rejected all the seed of Israel, and afflicted them, and delivered them into the hand of spoilers, until he had cast them out of his sight.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Second Kings 17:20 delivers a stark pronouncement of divine judgment upon the Northern Kingdom of Israel, summarizing the culmination of their persistent idolatry and covenant unfaithfulness. It declares that the LORD, in righteous indignation, completely rejected them, subjected them to severe affliction, and ultimately delivered them into the hands of foreign invaders, leading to their exile and removal from the promised land, a definitive act of divine separation due to their unrepentant sin.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse serves as a climactic summary judgment within 2 Kings 17, a chapter dedicated to explaining the downfall and exile of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. It immediately follows a detailed theological explanation in [2 Kings 17:7-18](/2_kings/17-7 "2 Kings 17:7-18 - Israel's Sins and God's Patience") that attributes Israel's destruction not to geopolitical forces alone, but primarily to their persistent sin, idolatry, and rejection of God's covenant. Verse 20 acts as the definitive theological conclusion to this indictment, setting the stage for the subsequent account of the repopulation of Samaria by foreign peoples and the syncretistic religion that emerged. It marks the end of Israel's independent existence as a kingdom and underscores the prophetic warnings that preceded their demise.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The historical backdrop is the relentless rise of the Assyrian Empire in the 8th century BC. Israel, failing to heed prophetic warnings and relying on shifting political alliances rather than God, became a vassal state to Assyria. Their repeated rebellions led to a series of Assyrian campaigns, culminating in the siege and fall of Samaria in 722 BC under Shalmaneser V and Sargon II. The "spoilers" primarily refer to the Assyrians, who not only plundered the land but also implemented a policy of mass deportation, scattering the Israelite population throughout their empire. Culturally, Israel had deeply embraced the pagan practices of the surrounding nations, including Baal worship, Asherah poles, and even child sacrifice, directly violating the Mosaic covenant and the monotheistic worship commanded by Yahweh. This historical reality was understood by the biblical authors as a direct fulfillment of the curses for disobedience outlined in passages like [Deuteronomy 28](/deuteronomy/28 "Deuteronomy 28 - Blessings and Curses for Obedience and Disobedience").
* **Key Themes:** The verse powerfully articulates several critical themes. First, **Divine Judgment** is central, portraying God's active and just response to chronic covenant unfaithfulness. His "rejection" is not arbitrary but a righteous consequence of Israel's persistent rebellion and idolatry, as detailed in [2 Kings 17:7-18](/2_kings/17-7 "2 Kings 17:7-18 - Israel's Sins and God's Judgment"). Second, the **Consequences of Disobedience** are starkly highlighted; the suffering, exile, and national demise were the direct, prophesied outcomes of abandoning the LORD and embracing paganism. This underscores the seriousness of breaking covenant with God. Third, **God's Sovereignty in Discipline** is evident, as He "delivered them into the hand of spoilers," indicating His ultimate control over historical events, even those involving foreign powers, to bring about His purposes, whether for correction or, in this case, for judgment and removal. This demonstrates that even in judgment, God remains sovereign over the nations and the destiny of His people.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Rejected (Hebrew, _ma'as'_):** This verb signifies a strong sense of disdain, abhorrence, or casting off. It implies a deliberate and decisive act of withdrawal of favor, patience, and protective presence. It is not merely a passive turning away but an active renunciation due to extreme offense.
* **Afflicted (Hebrew, _'anah'_):** This word carries the meaning of humbling, oppressing, or bringing low. It describes the practical outworking of God's rejection, manifesting in various forms of hardship, suffering, and subjugation, including economic hardship, military defeat, and social degradation.
* **Cast them out of his sight (Hebrew, _hishlikh mipanav'_):** This is a powerful idiom signifying complete banishment, expulsion, and removal from a place of favor or presence. In this context, it refers to the physical exile from the promised land and the spiritual removal from God's immediate protective and benevolent presence, a reversal of the covenant promise to dwell among His people.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And the LORD rejected all the seed of Israel":** This clause establishes the divine initiative and the comprehensive scope of the judgment. "All the seed of Israel" refers to the entire Northern Kingdom, indicating a national judgment, not merely an isolated incident. God's rejection is the foundational act, stemming from their unfaithfulness.
* **"and afflicted them":** This describes the immediate consequence and manifestation of God's rejection. The affliction encompasses the various hardships and oppressions Israel endured, leading up to and including the Assyrian invasion and conquest.
* **"and delivered them into the hand of spoilers":** This specifies the means by which God's affliction and rejection were executed. The "spoilers" are the Assyrians, God's chosen instrument of judgment. This highlights God's sovereignty, as He actively used a foreign power to fulfill His warnings and bring about His purposes.
* **"until he had cast them out of his sight":** This clause states the ultimate and final outcome of God's judgment. "Casting out of his sight" signifies their complete removal from the land of promise and from God's protective presence, culminating in the Assyrian exile. It emphasizes the finality and severity of their expulsion.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several potent literary devices to convey its somber message. The phrase "**all the seed of Israel**" functions as **Hyperbole**, emphasizing the totality of the national judgment, though a remnant would later return or be preserved. The description of God "casting them out of his sight" is a striking example of **Anthropomorphism**, attributing human-like vision and action to God to convey His decisive and final act of removal. The use of "seed of Israel" to refer to the entire nation is a form of **Metonymy**, where a part (seed) represents the whole (the people descended from Israel). Furthermore, the sequence of divine actions – "rejected," "afflicted," "delivered," "cast out" – demonstrates a powerful **Climax** or escalating series of judgments, building to the ultimate consequence of exile. This progression underscores the severity and finality of God's judgment against a persistently rebellious people.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse is a profound theological statement on divine justice, covenant faithfulness, and the consequences of apostasy. It underscores that God, while merciful and slow to anger, is also a God of perfect holiness and righteousness who will not tolerate persistent, unrepentant rebellion against His covenant. The rejection of Israel serves as a stark reminder that God's promises are conditional upon faithfulness, and His patience has limits. It demonstrates that national identity or past blessings do not exempt a people from the consequences of their sin. The judgment on Israel is not an act of caprice but a just response to centuries of idolatry, injustice, and rejection of prophetic warnings, serving as a powerful example for all generations of the seriousness of sin and the necessity of obedience to God's revealed will.

* [Deuteronomy 28:15-68](/deuteronomy/28-15 "Deuteronomy 28:15-68 - Curses for Disobedience")
* [Jeremiah 7:15](/jeremiah/7-15 "Jeremiah 7:15 - God's Rejection of Shiloh and Judah")
* [Hosea 1:6-9](/hosea/1-6 "Hosea 1:6-9 - Lo-Ruhamah and Lo-Ammi")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The severe judgment pronounced in 2 Kings 17:20 serves as a timeless and sobering warning for all who claim to be God's people. It reminds us that spiritual complacency, syncretism, and persistent disobedience carry profound consequences, not only for individuals but for communities and nations. While we live under the New Covenant of grace, the principles of God's holiness, justice, and the seriousness of sin remain unchanged. This verse calls us to a humble and honest self-examination, prompting us to consider whether there are areas in our lives, or in the life of the church, where we have allowed idolatry (anything that takes God's rightful place), spiritual apathy, or unrepentant sin to take root. It challenges us to actively pursue faithfulness, obedience, and genuine repentance, recognizing that true blessing comes from walking in humble submission to God's commands and cherishing His presence above all else.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does this verse challenge our understanding of God's patience and justice, especially in light of His love and mercy?**
* **In what ways might we, individually or as a community, be prone to spiritual complacency or idolatry today, even subtly?**
* **What specific actions can we take to ensure our lives reflect genuine faithfulness and obedience to God's commands, learning from Israel's tragic example?**

### FAQ
**Why did God "reject" Israel if He is a God of love?**

Answer: God's rejection of the Northern Kingdom of Israel was not an arbitrary act but a just and sorrowful consequence of their persistent, unrepentant rebellion against His covenant. As detailed in [2 Kings 17:7-18](/2_kings/17-7 "2 Kings 17:7-18 - Israel's Sins and God's Judgment"), Israel had repeatedly violated God's laws, engaged in widespread idolatry (worshiping Baal, Asherah, and even practicing child sacrifice), and ignored the warnings of numerous prophets. God had demonstrated immense patience and offered many opportunities for repentance, but Israel continually hardened their hearts. God's love is intertwined with His holiness and justice; He cannot compromise His righteous character by condoning sin indefinitely. His "rejection" was a judicial act, delivering them to the natural consequences of their choices, fulfilling the curses outlined in [Deuteronomy 28](/deuteronomy/28 "Deuteronomy 28 - Blessings and Curses").

**Does "all the seed of Israel" mean every single person was literally cast out?**

Answer: The phrase "all the seed of Israel" in 2 Kings 17:20 is best understood as a hyperbole or a collective reference to the nation as a corporate entity, specifically the Northern Kingdom. While the Assyrian policy involved widespread deportation, it's unlikely every single Israelite was literally removed from the land. Some likely remained, and others were scattered. The emphasis is on the national judgment and the end of the Northern Kingdom's existence as a distinct political and religious entity in the promised land. Furthermore, God's ultimate covenant promises to Abraham and David were not entirely nullified, as a remnant of Israel (primarily Judah) would later return from exile, and God's redemptive plan would continue through them, ultimately leading to Christ.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The severe judgment on Israel in 2 Kings 17:20, culminating in their "casting out of his sight," finds its ultimate resolution and reversal in Jesus Christ. Where ancient Israel failed in covenant faithfulness, becoming "Lo-Ammi" (not my people) through their rebellion, Jesus perfectly fulfilled the role of the faithful Son and true Israel. His atoning sacrifice on the cross bore the full weight of God's righteous judgment against sin, taking upon Himself the "rejection" and "affliction" that humanity deserved. Through Christ, the curse of being "cast out of his sight" is broken; believers are now brought near to God, reconciled through the blood of the [Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"). The New Covenant, inaugurated by Christ's blood, promises that God's law will be written on hearts, ensuring a lasting relationship of faithfulness (as prophesied in [Jeremiah 31:31-34](/jeremiah/31-31 "Jeremiah 31:31-34 - The New Covenant")). Those who are in Christ are no longer under condemnation ([Romans 8:1](/romans/8-1 "Romans 8:1 - No Condemnation in Christ")) but are adopted as sons and daughters, becoming the true "seed of Abraham" by faith ([Galatians 3:29](/galatians/3-29 "Galatians 3:29 - Heirs According to the Promise")). Thus, the finality of Israel's judgment in 2 Kings 17:20 highlights the profound grace and security found in Christ, who ensures that His redeemed will never be "cast out of His sight."

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

2 Kings 15:29

In the days of Pekah king of Israel came Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, and took Ijon, and Abelbethmaachah, and Janoah, and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali, and carried them captive to Assyria.

Jeremiah 6:30

Reprobate silver shall [men] call them, because the LORD hath rejected them.

2 Kings 13:3

And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he delivered them into the hand of Hazael king of Syria, and into the hand of Benhadad the son of Hazael, all [their] days.

1 Samuel 15:23

For rebellion [is as] the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness [is as] iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from [being] king.

2 Chronicles 28:5

Wherefore the LORD his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria; and they smote him, and carried away a great multitude of them captives, and brought [them] to Damascus. And he was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who smote him with a great slaughter.

2 Chronicles 28:6

¶ For Pekah the son of Remaliah slew in Judah an hundred and twenty thousand in one day, [which were] all valiant men; because they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers.

Jonah 1:10

Then were the men exceedingly afraid, and said unto him, Why hast thou done this? For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them.