2 Kings 17:26

KJV

Wherefore they spake to the king of Assyria, saying, The nations which thou hast removed, and placed in the cities of Samaria, know not the manner of the God of the land: therefore he hath sent lions among them, and, behold, they slay them, because they know not the manner of the God of the land.

KJV (with Strong's)

Wherefore they spake {H559} to the king {H4428} of Assyria {H804}, saying {H559}, The nations {H1471} which thou hast removed {H1540}, and placed {H3427} in the cities {H5892} of Samaria {H8111}, know {H3045} not the manner {H4941} of the God {H430} of the land {H776}: therefore he hath sent {H7971} lions {H738} among them, and, behold, they slay {H4191} them, because they know {H3045} not the manner {H4941} of the God {H430} of the land {H776}.

Complete Jewish Bible

So they said to the king of Ashur, "The nations you carried away and settled in the cities of Shomron are not familiar with the rules for worshipping the God of the land. Therefore he has sent lions among them; and they are there, killing them; because they're not familiar with the rules for worshipping the God of the land."

Berean Standard Bible

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.”

American Standard Version

Wherefore they spake to the king of Assyria, saying, The nations which thou hast carried away, and placed in the cities of Samaria, know not the law of the god of the land: therefore he hath sent lions among them, and, behold, they slay them, because they know not the law of the god of the land.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
This verse records the plea of the newly settled foreign inhabitants of Samaria to the Assyrian king, explaining the devastating lion attacks they were experiencing. They attribute these attacks to their ignorance of the "manner" or proper customs of the local deity, whom they perceive as the "God of the land," reflecting a pagan worldview of territorial gods requiring specific appeasement. Their distress underscores the immediate, tangible consequences of their spiritual disconnect, even if their understanding of Yahweh was fundamentally flawed.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** 2 Kings 17:26 is situated within the broader narrative of the fall of the Northern Kingdom of Israel and its subsequent depopulation and resettlement by Assyria. Following the capture of Samaria by Shalmaneser V and Sargon II around 722 BC, the Assyrians implemented their standard policy of population exchange to prevent rebellion and assimilate conquered territories. Verses [2 Kings 17:24](/2_kings/17-24 "2 Kings 17:24 - Assyrian Resettlement of Samaria") describe the arrival of these foreign peoples from various regions into the cities of Samaria. The immediate verses [2 Kings 17:25-28](/2_kings/17-25 "2 Kings 17:25 - Lions Sent Among Settlers") detail the problem of the lions and the settlers' proposed solution: sending an Israelite priest to teach them. This verse specifically articulates the settlers' interpretation of their predicament, setting the stage for the syncretistic religious practices that would define the later Samaritan community.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Assyrian Empire, particularly under Tiglath-Pileser III, Shalmaneser V, and Sargon II, employed a brutal but effective policy of mass deportation and population transfer to control conquered lands. After the fall of Samaria in 722 BC, the native Israelites were exiled, and peoples from Babylon, Cuthah, Ava, Hamath, and Sepharvaim were brought in. These new inhabitants were polytheistic, bringing their own pantheon of gods and religious practices. In the ancient Near East, it was a common belief that each land had its own specific deity who governed it and demanded proper worship or "manner" (customs, laws). Afflictions like plagues or wild animal attacks were often interpreted as signs of a deity's displeasure. The appearance of lions, which were a real threat in the region, was thus understood by these foreign settlers as a direct punishment from the "God of the land" for their failure to honor Him according to His specific requirements.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully highlights several critical themes. Firstly, it starkly contrasts the pagan concept of a "God of the land"—a localized, territorial deity who needed to be appeased—with the Israelite understanding of Yahweh as the one true, universal, and sovereign God over all creation and all nations. This distinction is crucial to understanding the biblical worldview (cf. [Psalm 24:1](/psalms/24-1 "Psalm 24:1 - The Earth is the Lord's")). Secondly, the settlers' complaint, "because they know not the manner of the God of the land," underscores the biblical principle that ignorance or rejection of God's ways can lead to severe consequences, even if the recipients do not fully grasp the true nature of the divine judgment. The lions, in this context, serve as a form of divine discipline or judgment, as seen in other biblical warnings (e.g., [Leviticus 26:22](/leviticus/26-22 "Leviticus 26:22 - Consequences of Disobedience")). Finally, this verse lays the groundwork for the pervasive theme of syncretism that characterizes the subsequent religious practices in Samaria, where the foreign peoples would eventually attempt to blend the worship of Yahweh with their own ancestral deities (foreshadowed in [2 Kings 17:33](/2_kings/17-33 "2 Kings 17:33 - The Syncretic Worship of the Samaritans")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Manner (Hebrew, _mishpat'_):** The Hebrew word מִשְׁפַּט (_mishpat_) is rich in meaning, often translated as "judgment," "justice," "ordinance," "custom," or "rule." In this context, it refers not merely to a general understanding of God's character but specifically to the prescribed way of worship, the proper religious customs, laws, or ordinances that the God of that land demanded. It implies a lack of adherence to His required practices and rituals, a failure to observe the specific "rules of engagement" with the local deity. The settlers believed that their affliction was due to their ignorance of these divine protocols.
* **God of the land (Hebrew, _'elohei ha'aretz'_):** This phrase, אֱלֹהֵי הָאָרֶץ (_'elohei ha'aretz_), reflects the polytheistic worldview of the foreign settlers. They conceived of Yahweh as merely one among many territorial deities, a god whose power and authority were confined to the specific geographical region of Israel. This stands in stark contrast to the Israelite understanding of Yahweh as the transcendent, universal, and sole true God, who is not bound by land or nation but is sovereign over all creation. Their perception highlights the fundamental theological chasm between paganism and monotheism.
* **Lions (Hebrew, _'arayot'_):** The Hebrew word אֲרָיוֹת (_'arayot_) denotes lions. In the ancient world, lions were formidable predators, and their presence in settled areas was a serious threat. Biblically, lions can symbolize divine judgment or a curse for disobedience (e.g., [Leviticus 26:22](/leviticus/26-22 "Leviticus 26:22 - Wild Animals as Judgment")). Here, the settlers interpret the lion attacks as a direct act of the "God of the land," a punitive measure for their religious ignorance. The text affirms this as divine intervention, even if the settlers' theological framework for understanding it was incomplete.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Wherefore they spake to the king of Assyria, saying,"**: This opening clause establishes the communication channel and the urgency of the situation. The foreign settlers, facing a dire threat, appeal to their ultimate authority, the Assyrian king, for a solution. It indicates their recognition that the problem transcends their immediate capabilities and requires a higher intervention.
* **"The nations which thou hast removed, and placed in the cities of Samaria,"**: This identifies the complainants and their origin. They are the diverse peoples forcibly relocated by the Assyrian king into the former Israelite territory. This highlights the Assyrian policy of population transfer and sets the stage for the cultural and religious clash that ensues.
* **"know not the manner of the God of the land:"**: This is the core of their complaint and their perceived reason for the affliction. They confess their ignorance of the proper customs, laws, or ordinances required by the local deity. This demonstrates their pagan understanding of territorial gods who demand specific rituals and practices for appeasement and favor.
* **"therefore he hath sent lions among them, and, behold, they slay them,"**: This clause states the consequence they attribute to their ignorance. The "he" refers to the "God of the land." The lions are presented as direct agents of this deity's displeasure, actively inflicting death upon the settlers. The phrase "behold, they slay them" emphasizes the severity and ongoing nature of the attacks.
* **"because they know not the manner of the God of the land."**: This repetition serves as an emphatic reiteration of their core belief. It underscores their conviction that their lack of knowledge regarding the local deity's customs is the singular cause of their suffering. This repetition highlights the central theological problem that the narrative will address: the nature of true worship and the identity of the true God.

#### Literary Devices
The verse effectively employs **Repetition** by stating "because they know not the manner of the God of the land" twice. This rhetorical device emphasizes the settlers' central diagnosis of their problem and their perceived solution. It underscores their pagan worldview, where specific rituals and knowledge are paramount for appeasing a territorial deity. There is also a subtle **Irony** in the verse. While the foreign settlers operate from a polytheistic understanding, their complaint inadvertently acknowledges the active presence and punitive power of Yahweh, the true God of the land, even if they misidentify Him as merely one among many. The lions represent **Divine Retribution**, a physical manifestation of God's judgment, serving as a catalyst for the settlers to seek knowledge of the true God, albeit initially through a flawed theological lens.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse provides a crucial theological insight into the nature of God and the consequences of spiritual ignorance. The foreign settlers' understanding of Yahweh as merely the "God of the land" who sends lions when His "manner" is unknown starkly contrasts with the biblical revelation of Yahweh as the sovereign, universal God who demands exclusive worship and obedience from all peoples. Their predicament highlights that even a pagan acknowledgment of a divine power at work can lead to a search for truth, albeit one initially framed by their own limited theological categories. It underscores that God's justice and sovereignty extend even to those who do not know Him, and that there are indeed consequences for failing to acknowledge and honor the Creator, whether through ignorance or willful rebellion. This sets the stage for the subsequent narrative of syncretism, where the settlers attempt to blend their pagan practices with the worship of Yahweh, a practice explicitly condemned by God throughout Scripture.

* [Deuteronomy 28:15](/deuteronomy/28-15 "Deuteronomy 28:15 - Consequences of Disobedience")
* [Psalm 115:3](/psalms/115-3 "Psalm 115:3 - Our God is in the heavens")
* [Romans 1:20-21](/romans/1-20 "Romans 1:20-21 - God's Invisible Attributes Clearly Perceived")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The distress of the Samarian settlers, driven by their fear of the "God of the land" and the lions He sent, serves as a powerful reminder of the human need to understand and properly relate to the divine. For us today, it challenges us to move beyond a superficial or transactional view of God—one where we merely seek to appease Him to avoid trouble—to a genuine, deep relationship rooted in truth. We are called not merely to "know about" God, but to "know" Him intimately, to understand His "manner"—His character, His commands, and His will—as revealed in His Word. This means rejecting any form of spiritual syncretism, where we attempt to blend Christian faith with worldly values or practices. True peace and blessing do not come from superstitious appeasement or partial obedience, but from wholeheartedly seeking to know and follow the sovereign Lord of all the earth, allowing His truth to transform every area of our lives.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How might we, in our modern context, unknowingly adopt a "God of the land" mentality, limiting God's sovereignty or tailoring our worship to fit our own cultural norms rather than biblical truth?**
* **What are contemporary "lions" or consequences that might arise when individuals or communities fail to truly know and obey God's "manner" as revealed in Scripture?**
* **In what ways might we be tempted towards syncretism in our own lives, blending biblical truth with secular philosophies or practices, and what are the dangers of doing so?**
* **How can a deeper understanding of God's true character and universal sovereignty lead to more authentic worship and obedience in our daily lives?**

### FAQ
**Why did God send lions among the foreign settlers in Samaria?**

Answer: The text indicates that God sent lions among the new inhabitants of Samaria because they "knew not the manner of the God of the land." While the settlers interpreted this through their polytheistic lens of a territorial deity, the biblical narrative presents it as divine judgment or discipline. God, as the true sovereign over the land of Israel, used the lions to prompt these foreign peoples to acknowledge His presence and power. It was a means of demonstrating His authority and the consequences of spiritual ignorance or disregard for His rightful claim over the land and its inhabitants, ultimately leading them to seek knowledge of Yahweh.

**What does "know not the manner of the God of the land" truly mean in this context?**

Answer: The phrase "know not the manner of the God of the land" (Hebrew: _lo' yad'u mishpat 'elohei ha'aretz_) refers to the settlers' ignorance of the proper customs, laws, and ordinances required for the worship and appeasement of Yahweh, whom they perceived as the local deity. It's not just a lack of intellectual understanding but a failure to adhere to the prescribed religious practices and ethical standards that God had established for the land of Israel. Their pagan worldview meant they expected a specific "code of conduct" for this particular god, and they believed their suffering was a result of not knowing or following it.

**How does this event relate to the later Samaritan religion?**

Answer: This event is foundational to the development of the Samaritan religion. Following the lion attacks and their plea, the Assyrian king sent one of the exiled Israelite priests back to Samaria to teach the new inhabitants "the manner of the God of the land" ([2 Kings 17:27-28](/2_kings/17-27 "2 Kings 17:27 - Priest Sent to Samaria")). However, these foreign peoples did not abandon their own gods. Instead, they began to "fear the Lord, and served their own gods" ([2 Kings 17:33](/2_kings/17-33 "2 Kings 17:33 - The Syncretic Worship of the Samaritans")), resulting in a syncretistic religion. They adopted some Yahwistic practices while retaining their polytheistic traditions, leading to the distinct and often contentious Samaritan faith that is later seen in the New Testament (e.g., [John 4:9](/john/4-9 "John 4:9 - Jews Have No Dealings with Samaritans")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The narrative of the foreign settlers in Samaria, plagued by lions because they "know not the manner of the God of the land," powerfully foreshadows the universal need for a true revelation of God and the proper way to approach Him. In the Old Testament, the "manner" of God was often tied to specific laws, rituals, and a particular land. However, this system, though divinely ordained, pointed to a greater fulfillment. Jesus Christ is the ultimate revelation of God's "manner"—He is the very embodiment of God's character, His will, and His way. He declares, "[I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me](/john/14-6 "John 14:6 - Jesus is the Way, Truth, and Life")". The problem of the Samaritans was their syncretistic attempt to blend their own traditions with a partial understanding of Yahweh. Christ, however, offers a complete and exclusive truth, calling for worship "[in spirit and in truth](/john/4-24 "John 4:24 - God is Spirit, and Those Who Worship Him Must Worship in Spirit and Truth")", transcending geographical boundaries and ritualistic limitations. The "lions" of judgment that afflicted the ignorant settlers find their ultimate resolution in Christ, who bore the full weight of God's judgment for sin, so that all who believe in Him might be reconciled to God and "[know the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent](/john/17-3 "John 17:3 - Eternal Life is Knowing God and Jesus Christ")". He is the true "King of all lands," whose dominion is not limited by territory but extends to every heart that acknowledges His universal sovereignty and embraces His saving grace.

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.