2 Kings 17:40

KJV

Howbeit they did not hearken, but they did after their former manner.

KJV (with Strong's)

Howbeit they did not hearken {H8085}, but they did {H6213} after their former {H7223} manner {H4941}.

Complete Jewish Bible

However, they didn't listen, but followed their old [pagan] practices.

Berean Standard Bible

But they would not listen, and they persisted in their former customs.

American Standard Version

Howbeit they did not hearken, but they did after their former manner.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Second Kings 17:40 succinctly captures the persistent spiritual rebellion of the foreign peoples resettled in Samaria by the Assyrians. Despite receiving instruction concerning the Lord, they stubbornly refused to genuinely obey His commands, instead reverting to their deeply ingrained pagan customs and idolatrous practices. This verse underscores the profound human tendency to resist divine truth and cling to familiar, albeit sinful, ways, highlighting the perilous nature of spiritual syncretism and the call for exclusive devotion to God.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within the somber narrative of 2 Kings 17, which details the tragic fall of the Northern Kingdom of Israel due to their persistent idolatry and rejection of God's covenant. After deporting the Israelites, the Assyrian king implemented a policy of population transfer, bringing in various foreign peoples from Babylon, Cuthah, Ava, Hamath, and Sepharvaim to inhabit the desolate cities of Samaria. These new settlers, unfamiliar with the God of Israel, faced problems, notably lion attacks, which they superstitiously interpreted as divine judgment from the "god of the land." In response, the Assyrian king sent one of the exiled Israelite priests back to teach them about the Lord. However, as [2 Kings 17:33](/2_kings/17-33 "2 Kings 17:33 - Mixed Worship") explains, their worship became a syncretic blend: "They feared the Lord, and served their own gods, after the manner of the nations whom they carried away from thence." Verse 40 serves as a powerful summary statement, emphasizing that despite the instruction and the perceived divine warning, their fundamental allegiance remained divided, and their practices unchanged.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Assyrian Empire, particularly under Tiglath-Pileser III and Shalmaneser V, employed a deliberate policy of mass deportation and resettlement to weaken conquered nations and prevent rebellion. By mixing populations, they aimed to destroy national identity and resistance. The foreign settlers brought their diverse religious practices and deities with them. Their encounter with the lions, a common threat in the region, was culturally interpreted as the local deity's displeasure, prompting them to seek appeasement. The Assyrian king's decision to send an Israelite priest was a pragmatic, not theological, move—an attempt to pacify the "god of the land" and stabilize the region. However, the deep-seated cultural and religious traditions of these peoples proved more resilient than the partial instruction they received, leading to the mixed worship condemned by biblical authors.

* **Key Themes:** **Persistent Disobedience and Rebellion:** The verse starkly illustrates a deep-seated human refusal to obey God's clear instructions. Despite being taught about the Lord, the new inhabitants of Samaria, much like the Israelites before them, clung to their old, comfortable, and sinful practices. This highlights a universal human tendency to resist spiritual transformation, echoing the repeated cycles of rebellion found throughout Israel's history, as seen in [Judges 2:19](/judges/2-19 "Judges 2:19 - Cycles of Disobedience"). **The Danger of Syncretism:** "They did after their former manner" points to the inherent danger and theological unacceptability of mixing true worship with false practices. This spiritual compromise is a recurring theme throughout biblical history, where attempts to serve God alongside idols are always condemned as an abomination. God demands exclusive worship, as explicitly stated in the first commandment in [Exodus 20:3](/exodus/20-3 "Exodus 20:3 - No Other Gods Before Me"), and reiterated in [Deuteronomy 6:14](/deuteronomy/6-14 "Deuteronomy 6:14 - Warning Against Following Other Gods"). **Spiritual Apathy and Stubbornness:** The phrase "they did not hearken" (from the Hebrew *shama*, meaning to hear and obey) reveals a profound lack of genuine desire to truly listen to and follow God's way. This spiritual apathy led to a stubborn adherence to their own traditions rather than embracing divine truth. This mirrors the spiritual blindness and hardness of heart often described by the prophets, such as in [Jeremiah 7:24](/jeremiah/7-24 "Jeremiah 7:24 - Stubborn Hearts").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Hearken (Hebrew, _shama'_):** This Hebrew verb means far more than simply to hear with the ears; it implies attentive listening with the intent to understand, internalize, and, crucially, obey. When the text states "they did not hearken," it signifies a deliberate and active refusal to comply with God's commands and instructions. It is not a matter of ignorance, but of willful disregard and a hardened heart that rejects divine authority and truth. Their failure to "hearken" indicates a fundamental lack of submission and a preference for their own ways.
* **Former manner (Hebrew, _mishpat rishon_):** This phrase refers to their established customs, laws, judgments, and, most pertinently, their religious practices and rituals from their original homelands. The term "manner" (mishpat) can denote a customary way of doing things, a prescribed rule, or a legal precedent. Here, it underscores the deep-seated nature of their pagan traditions and idolatrous worship, which were ingrained in their cultural identity. Despite being introduced to Yahweh, they clung tenaciously to these old, familiar, and idolatrous "manners," demonstrating a powerful resistance to genuine spiritual change.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Howbeit they did not hearken":** This initial clause serves as a direct indictment of the foreign settlers' response to the instruction they received about the Lord. Despite the perceived divine warning (lion attacks) and the teaching from an Israelite priest, their hearts remained closed. They actively chose not to listen with an obedient ear, indicating a profound spiritual apathy and a willful rejection of Yahweh's exclusive claims. This was not a passive failure to comprehend, but an active refusal to submit to divine truth.
* **"but they did after their former manner":** This contrasting clause reveals the consequence and manifestation of their refusal to hearken. Instead of abandoning their pagan practices and embracing the exclusive worship of Yahweh, they reverted to or maintained their original idolatrous rituals, customs, and ways of life. This demonstrates the powerful pull of ingrained tradition and the absence of genuine spiritual transformation. It signifies a syncretistic approach where they attempted to add Yahweh to their pantheon, rather than replacing their idols with Him, thereby violating the fundamental principle of monotheism.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several potent literary devices to convey its message. A striking **Contrast** is immediately evident, juxtaposing the expected outcome ("they did not hearken") with the actual, rebellious reality ("but they did after their former manner"). This highlights the settlers' stubbornness and the futility of partial instruction without a willing heart. There is also a strong sense of **Irony** present; these foreign peoples, brought into the land after Israel's exile for idolatry, proceed to commit the very same sin of syncretism that led to Israel's downfall. This creates a tragic echo, demonstrating that the problem of human rebellion against God transcends nationality. Furthermore, the phrase "former manner" acts as a **Repetition** or **Echo** of Israel's own persistent idolatry described throughout [2 Kings](/2_kings/17 "2 Kings 17 - Fall of Israel"), where they continuously reverted to their "own ways" despite divine warnings. This thematic resonance underscores the universal human propensity for spiritual stubbornness and the allure of familiar sin.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The theological significance of 2 Kings 17:40 extends far beyond the immediate historical context, serving as a powerful warning against spiritual compromise and the inherent dangers of syncretism. God demands exclusive worship and wholehearted devotion; He cannot be merely one deity among many, nor can His truth be blended with human traditions or false beliefs. This verse underscores the biblical principle that true faith is not merely intellectual assent or superficial religious observance, but active, obedient submission to God's revealed will. The failure to "hearken" signifies a deeper spiritual problem—a hardened heart that prefers the comfort of familiar sin and self-devised worship over the transformative demands of divine truth. It reveals that external instruction alone is insufficient for genuine spiritual change; it requires an internal willingness to abandon old ways and embrace God fully.

* [Deuteronomy 6:14](/deuteronomy/6-14 "Deuteronomy 6:14 - Warning Against Other Gods")
* [Matthew 6:24](/matthew/6-24 "Matthew 6:24 - Serving Two Masters")
* [James 1:22](/james/1-22 "James 1:22 - Doers of the Word")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The stubborn refusal of the Samaritans to abandon their "former manner" resonates deeply with the human condition across all ages. For believers today, this verse serves as a potent reminder of the constant battle against spiritual compromise and the insidious allure of old habits. God calls for exclusive worship and obedience, not a mixture of genuine faith and worldly practices. We cannot truly serve God while also clinging to sinful habits, values that contradict His Word, or cultural norms that undermine biblical truth. This passage challenges us to examine our own lives: are we merely hearing God's Word, or are we truly "hearkening" to it—listening attentively with the intent to obey? Breaking old patterns, whether they are sinful behaviors, ungodly thought processes, or subtle forms of spiritual apathy, requires vigilance, repentance, and a constant reliance on the Holy Spirit. Genuine obedience moves beyond superficial religious observance to a deep, transformative relationship where our lives are intentionally aligned with God's will, putting off the old self and putting on the new.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life am I tempted to "do after my former manner" instead of fully obeying God's Word?**
* **How does this verse challenge my understanding of true "hearkening" to God? Am I merely hearing, or am I actively obeying?**
* **What "idols" or competing loyalties might be subtly influencing my devotion to Christ, leading to a form of spiritual syncretism?**

### FAQ
**Why did the Assyrian king send an Israelite priest to teach them about the Lord?**

Answer: The Assyrian king's motivation was primarily pragmatic and superstitious, not theological. The new foreign settlers in Samaria were experiencing lion attacks, which they interpreted as a sign of divine displeasure from the local deity, "the god of the land." To appease this perceived deity and ensure stability in the newly conquered region, the king was advised to send one of the exiled Israelite priests back to Samaria to teach the settlers the "manner of the god of the land" ([2 Kings 17:26](/2_kings/17-26 "2 Kings 17:26 - The King's Response to the Lions")). This was a common ancient Near Eastern belief that each land had its own patron deity who needed to be honored to prevent calamity. The king's aim was to restore order and prevent further supernatural threats, not to promote genuine worship of Yahweh.

**What does "their former manner" specifically refer to?**

Answer: "Their former manner" refers to the deeply ingrained pagan religious customs, idolatrous practices, and cultural norms that the various foreign peoples (from Babylon, Cuthah, Ava, Hamath, and Sepharvaim, as mentioned in [2 Kings 17:24](/2_kings/17-24 "2 Kings 17:24 - Foreign Settlers")) brought with them from their homelands. These included worshipping their own national deities, often involving idol worship, various rituals, and possibly even child sacrifice (as implied by later verses like [2 Kings 17:31](/2_kings/17-31 "2 Kings 17:31 - Idolatrous Practices")). Despite being introduced to Yahweh, they continued to practice these ancestral traditions alongside their newfound (and superficial) reverence for the God of Israel, resulting in a syncretistic religion that was anathema to the exclusive demands of Yahweh.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The stubborn refusal to "hearken" and the adherence to "former manner" in 2 Kings 17:40 find their ultimate spiritual resolution and contrast in Christ. The Old Testament consistently portrays humanity's inability to truly "hearken" to God's voice and break free from the "former manner" of sin and self-worship through mere instruction or law. This persistent rebellion highlights the need for a radical transformation of the heart, which the Law could not provide. Jesus Christ, however, is the perfect embodiment of "hearkening" to God, perfectly obeying the Father's will even unto death ([Philippians 2:8](/philippians/2-8 "Philippians 2:8 - Obedient to Death")). Through His atoning sacrifice and resurrection, He provides the means for believers to truly "hearken" to God's voice, as His sheep hear His voice and follow Him ([John 10:27](/john/10-27 "John 10:27 - My Sheep Hear My Voice")). Furthermore, in Christ, believers are empowered to shed their "former manner"—the old self, enslaved to sin and dead works ([Ephesians 4:22](/ephesians/4-22 "Ephesians 4:22 - Put Off the Old Self")), and to walk in newness of life ([Romans 6:4](/romans/6-4 "Romans 6:4 - Newness of Life")). The Holy Spirit, given through Christ, enables a genuine transformation of the heart, allowing us to put off the old man and put on the new ([Colossians 3:9-10](/colossians/3-9 "Colossians 3:9-10 - Put Off the Old Self")), finally fulfilling the divine call for exclusive and wholehearted devotion that the Samaritans of 2 Kings 17 so tragically failed to embrace.

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

Deuteronomy 4:28

And there ye shall serve gods, the work of men's hands, wood and stone, which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell.

Jeremiah 13:23

Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? [then] may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.

2 Kings 17:34

Unto this day they do after the former manners: they fear not the LORD, neither do they after their statutes, or after their ordinances, or after the law and commandment which the LORD commanded the children of Jacob, whom he named Israel;

2 Kings 17:12

For they served idols, whereof the LORD had said unto them, Ye shall not do this thing.

2 Kings 17:8

And walked in the statutes of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel, and of the kings of Israel, which they had made.