2 Kings 17:28

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

Then one {H259} of the priests {H3548} whom they had carried away {H1540} from Samaria {H8111} came {H935} and dwelt {H3427} in Bethel {H1008}, and taught {H3384} them how they should fear {H3372} the LORD {H3068}.

Complete Jewish Bible

So one of the cohanim they had carried away captive from Shomron came and lived in Beit-El, and he taught them how they should fear ADONAI.

Berean Standard Bible

Thus one of the priests they had carried away came and lived in Bethel, and he began to teach them how they should worship the LORD.

American Standard Version

So one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and dwelt in Beth-el, and taught them how they should fear Jehovah.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Second Kings 17:28 describes a pivotal moment following the Assyrian conquest and deportation of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, specifically the resettlement of Samaria with foreign peoples. Faced with divine judgment in the form of lion attacks, these new inhabitants attributed their plight to their ignorance of "the manner of the God of the land." In response, the king of Assyria dispatched one of the exiled Israelite priests to Bethel, a historically significant yet religiously compromised site, to instruct the settlers on how they should properly "fear the LORD," thereby introducing them to the God of Israel amidst their existing pagan practices.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is strategically placed within the narrative detailing the tragic fall of the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the subsequent Assyrian policy of population exchange. The preceding verses, [2 Kings 17:24-27](/2_kings/17-24-27 "2 Kings 17:24-27 - Assyrian Resettlement and Lion Attacks"), meticulously describe the arrival of diverse foreign settlers, their importation of various pagan worship practices, and the divine judgment manifested as lion attacks that prompted their appeal to the Assyrian king. Verse 28 marks the Assyrian king's pragmatic, albeit religiously motivated, attempt to address the settlers' spiritual ignorance by sending a priest to teach them about the "god of the land." The verses immediately following, [2 Kings 17:29-41](/2_kings/17-29-41 "2 Kings 17:29-41 - Samaritan Syncretism"), starkly reveal the incomplete and deeply syncretistic nature of the settlers' "conversion," demonstrating that while they gained some knowledge of Yahweh, they did not abandon their ancestral gods, leading to a mixed form of worship that would profoundly characterize the later Samaritans.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Assyrian Empire, under powerful monarchs like Tiglath-Pileser III and Shalmaneser V, systematically employed a deliberate policy of mass deportation and population exchange to control conquered territories and suppress any potential for rebellion. After the fall of Samaria in [2 Kings 17:6](/2_kings/17-6 "2 Kings 17:6 - Fall of Samaria"), the native Israelites were exiled, and foreign peoples from Babylon, Cuthah, Ava, Hamath, and Sepharvaim were forcibly resettled in the depopulated region of Samaria ([2 Kings 17:24](/2_kings/17-24 "2 Kings 17:24 - Foreign Settlers in Samaria")). These new inhabitants brought with them their diverse pagan deities, cultic practices, and polytheistic worldview. The lion attacks described in [2 Kings 17:25](/2_kings/17-25 "2 Kings 17:25 - Lions Attack New Settlers") were perceived by the settlers, through their existing religious framework, as the wrath of the local deity—"the god of the land"—whose "manner" or laws they did not know. The choice of Bethel as the priest's dwelling place is highly significant. While historically revered as the site where Jacob encountered God ([Genesis 28:19](/genesis/28-19 "Genesis 28:19 - Jacob's Dream at Bethel")), it had tragically become a prominent center for idolatry in the Northern Kingdom, established by King Jeroboam I with golden calves ([1 Kings 12:29](/1_kings/12-29 "1 Kings 12:29 - Jeroboam's Idolatry at Bethel")), symbolizing Israel's deep spiritual apostasy.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within 2 Kings and the broader biblical narrative. The foremost theme is the **Fear of the LORD**, which the priest was specifically sent to teach. This concept, far from mere terror, signifies a profound reverence, awe, and obedient submission to God's will, forming the very foundation of true wisdom and knowledge ([Proverbs 1:7](/proverbs/1-7 "Proverbs 1:7 - The Beginning of Knowledge")). Secondly, the passage highlights **Divine Providence Amidst Judgment**. Even as God executes severe judgment upon His covenant people, His sovereign hand orchestrates events, even through a pagan king's decree, to introduce knowledge of Himself to foreign peoples. This underscores God's persistent desire for all nations to know Him, even if their initial motivation is fear-driven. Lastly, the verse subtly but significantly introduces the theme of **Incomplete Conversion and Syncretism**. While an Israelite priest is dispatched to teach about Yahweh, the subsequent verses unequivocally reveal that the settlers did not abandon their own gods but integrated Yahweh worship into their existing polytheistic framework ([2 Kings 17:33](/2_kings/17-33 "2 Kings 17:33 - Syncretistic Worship")), This sets the stage for the mixed religious identity of the Samaritans and serves as a powerful and enduring warning against diluting exclusive devotion to God with other spiritual or worldly allegiances.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Carried away (Hebrew, _gâlâh'_):** This verb signifies "to denude," "to exile," or "to reveal." In this context, it refers to the forced deportation or exile of the Israelite priest from Samaria. The priest's status as an exile underscores the tragic judgment that had befallen the Northern Kingdom, yet paradoxically, it is through this very act of displacement that knowledge of Yahweh is reintroduced to the land.
* **Bethel (Hebrew, _Bêyth-ʼÊl'_):** Meaning "house of God," Bethel was a place of profound historical and spiritual significance in Israel, initially marked by Jacob's encounter with God. However, by the time of the Northern Kingdom, it had become a notorious center of idolatry under Jeroboam I, where golden calves were worshipped. The priest's return to Bethel is laden with irony, as the "house of God" now serves as a base for teaching foreigners about the true God, even as it remained a hub of false worship.
* **Taught (Hebrew, _yârâh'_):** This primitive root means "to flow as water," "to lay or throw," and figuratively, "to point out," or "to teach." It is the root from which "Torah" (instruction/law) is derived. The priest's mission was not merely to convey information but to provide authoritative instruction and direction in the ways of Yahweh, implying a systematic imparting of divine principles, laws, and proper worship practices.
* **Fear (Hebrew, _yârêʼ'_):** In the phrase "fear the LORD," this word encompasses much more than simple terror. It denotes a profound reverence, awe, and respectful submission to God's authority, power, and holiness. This "fear" is the proper response to the living God, leading to obedience, worship, and moral conduct. For the foreign settlers, it implied understanding and adhering to the unique requirements of the God of Israel, distinct from their polytheistic practices.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Then one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and dwelt in Bethel":** This clause reveals the Assyrian king's pragmatic response to the settlers' plea for relief from the lion attacks. The priest, an Israelite exile, was chosen precisely because he possessed the knowledge of Yahweh that the foreign settlers lacked. His relocation to Bethel is profoundly significant. Bethel, once a site of divine revelation for Jacob, had tragically transformed into a primary center of idolatry for the Northern Kingdom. The return of a priest of Yahweh to this compromised site, even under the decree of a pagan king, represents a paradoxical attempt to reintroduce knowledge of the true God to a land now populated by foreigners and deeply steeped in spiritual corruption.
* **"and taught them how they should fear the LORD."**: This is the core purpose of the priest's mission. "To fear the LORD" implies comprehensive instruction in Yahweh's unique character, His exclusive demands (monotheism, covenant law), and the proper forms of worship and conduct required to live in His land. The teaching aimed to transition the settlers from a superstitious fear of an unknown local deity to a reverent understanding and obedient relationship with the one true God, Yahweh. However, as subsequent verses reveal, this teaching was often integrated into their existing pagan frameworks rather than leading to exclusive worship, highlighting the challenges of true conversion.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several impactful literary devices. **Irony** is profoundly evident, as a pagan king, motivated solely by a desire to quell lion attacks and stabilize his conquered territory, unwittingly becomes an instrument for the reintroduction of the worship of Yahweh, the God of Israel, into a land from which His people had been exiled due to their unfaithfulness. There is also significant **Symbolism** in the choice of Bethel. Once a sacred place of divine encounter and later a notorious center of idolatry, Bethel now serves as the location where knowledge of Yahweh is again taught. This symbolically represents a faint glimmer of hope or a divine hand at work, even in the midst of judgment and spiritual decline, attempting to reclaim a place and people for true worship. Furthermore, the verse serves as **Foreshadowing**, subtly hinting at the complex and syncretistic religious identity of the later Samaritans. While the priest teaches them to "fear the LORD," the subsequent narrative immediately reveals that this teaching did not lead to exclusive worship but rather a blending of Yahweh worship with their existing pagan practices, setting the stage for the deep-seated religious tensions between Jews and Samaritans in later biblical history.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This passage powerfully illustrates God's sovereign involvement in history, even through the actions of pagan rulers, to ensure that knowledge of Himself is not entirely extinguished, even in the most unlikely circumstances. It underscores the biblical concept that true worship is rooted in the "fear of the LORD," which is not merely terror but a profound reverence and obedient submission that leads to life. While the immediate context shows a pragmatic, fear-driven motivation for seeking God, it opens the door for divine truth to penetrate foreign lands. The subsequent syncretism, however, serves as a stark warning against partial obedience or attempting to combine the worship of the one true God with other allegiances, emphasizing God's demand for exclusive devotion and the purity of worship.

* [Deuteronomy 6:4-5](/deuteronomy/6-4-5 "Deuteronomy 6:4-5 - The Shema and Love for God")
* [Proverbs 9:10](/proverbs/9-10 "Proverbs 9:10 - Fear of the LORD is the Beginning of Wisdom")
* [John 4:22-24](/john/4-22-24 "John 4:22-24 - True Worshipers")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The account in 2 Kings 17:28 offers profound and enduring lessons for contemporary believers. It reminds us that God's persistent desire for humanity to know and worship Him extends even to those who initially seek Him out of fear, pragmatic necessity, or incomplete understanding. We are challenged to deeply consider the nature and depth of our own "fear of the LORD"—is it a superficial acknowledgment, or a deep, reverent awe that profoundly shapes every aspect of our lives, leading to genuine obedience and exclusive devotion? The warning against syncretism is particularly relevant today, as cultural pressures, personal preferences, and the allure of worldly ideologies often tempt us to dilute biblical truth with philosophies or practices that compromise God's absolute claims. True faith demands an uncompromised commitment to God's revealed Word and a decisive rejection of anything that diminishes His supreme authority and unique claim on our lives. This passage calls us to a rigorous self-examination, prompting us to ask whether our worship is truly pure and undivided, reflecting a holistic "fear of the LORD" that encompasses both reverent awe and wholehearted obedience.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does your understanding of "fearing the LORD" go beyond mere terror to encompass reverence, awe, and obedience in your daily life?**
* **In what subtle or overt ways might you be tempted to practice "syncretism" in your own faith, blending biblical truth with worldly values, cultural norms, or personal preferences?**
* **How can we, like the exiled priest, be faithful instruments of God's truth and grace, even when people's initial motivations for seeking God may be imperfect, self-serving, or rooted in fear?**

### FAQ

**Why did the Assyrian king send back an Israelite priest to teach the foreign settlers?**

Answer: The Assyrian king's decision was a pragmatic response to a perceived problem that threatened the stability of his newly conquered territory. After the foreign settlers were brought into Samaria, they experienced attacks from lions ([2 Kings 17:25](/2_kings/17-25 "2 Kings 17:25 - Lions Attack New Settlers")). In their polytheistic worldview, they interpreted these attacks as divine judgment from "the god of the land" (Yahweh), whose customs and laws they did not know. They believed that by learning "the manner of the God of the land," they could appease Him and stop the attacks. The king, likely wanting to stabilize the region, prevent further unrest, and ensure the productivity of his new subjects, acceded to their request. He sent back an exiled Israelite priest who would possess the necessary knowledge of Yahweh's ways. This action was not born of faith in Yahweh on the king's part, but rather out of political expediency and a desire to maintain order and control within his empire.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While 2 Kings 17:28 describes an incomplete and ultimately syncretistic attempt to "fear the LORD" under the Old Covenant, it powerfully foreshadows the ultimate and perfect teaching of God's way found in Jesus Christ. The priest sent to Bethel could only offer a partial understanding of the Law and the requirements of Yahweh, leading to a mixed worship that failed to truly transform hearts or secure exclusive devotion. In stark contrast, Jesus, the [Great High Priest](/hebrews/4-14 "Hebrews 4:14 - Jesus, Our Great High Priest") and the [Word made flesh](/john/1-14 "John 1:14 - The Word Became Flesh"), perfectly reveals the Father and truly teaches humanity how to "fear the LORD" in spirit and truth. He does not merely instruct in external rituals or laws but inaugurates a new covenant where God's law is written not on tablets of stone but on the heart ([Jeremiah 31:33](/jeremiah/31-33 "Jeremiah 31:33 - The New Covenant")), enabling genuine reverence and obedience from within. The "fear of the LORD" in the Old Testament, often associated with a dread of divine judgment and the consequences of disobedience, finds its ultimate fulfillment in Christ, where believers are brought into a relationship of loving awe and filial reverence, freed from the fear of condemnation through His atoning sacrifice ([Romans 8:15](/romans/8-15 "Romans 8:15 - Spirit of Adoption")). He is the one who truly takes away the sin of the world, making true worship possible, not out of fear of lions or temporal calamities, but out of grateful love and profound reverence for the [Lamb of God](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God") who gave His life for us.

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

1 Kings 12:29

And he set the one in Bethel, and the other put he in Dan.

1 Kings 12:32

And Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like unto the feast that [is] in Judah, and he offered upon the altar. So did he in Bethel, sacrificing unto the calves that he had made: and he placed in Bethel the priests of the high places which he had made.

Isaiah 29:13

Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near [me] with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:

Matthew 15:14

Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.