The Hebrew word Nêrᵉgal, represented by H5370, is defined as a Cuthite deity of foreign origin. It appears only 1 time in 1 unique verse in the entire biblical text, marking it as a highly specific term for a foreign god.
The single appearance of H5370 is found in 2 Kings 17:30, which lists the idols created by different groups of people whom the king of Assyria had resettled in Samaria. The text states that "the men of Cuth made Nergal." This occurred after the children of Israel were exiled from the land, and these foreign peoples were brought in to possess the cities of Samaria 2 Kings 17:24. The context is one of judgment and the subsequent introduction of pagan worship into the land formerly inhabited by God's people.
Several related words provide the context for the worship of Nêrᵉgal:
- H3575 Kûwth (Cuth or Cuthah): This word identifies the origin of the people who worshiped Nêrᵉgal. It is described as a province of Assyria from which people were brought to settle in Samaria 2 Kings 17:30.
- H6213 ʻâsâh (to do or make): This primitive root describes the action taken by the men of Cuth. They did not just worship, but actively made an image or idol of their deity, Nêrᵉgal 2 Kings 17:30.
- H582 ʼĕnôwsh (a man in general): This term identifies the worshippers as "the men of Cuth," emphasizing that it was these mortal, foreign people who established this idolatry 2 Kings 17:30.
- H807 ʼAshîymâʼ (Ashima): The name of another foreign deity made by the men of Hamath. Its inclusion in the same verse shows that the worship of Nêrᵉgal was part of a broader pattern of idolatry being established by various transplanted groups 2 Kings 17:30.
The theological weight of H5370 is found entirely in its unique context, serving as a specific example of paganism.
- Marker of Idolatry: Nêrᵉgal is mentioned specifically to document the introduction of foreign gods into the land promised to Israel. It stands as a direct contrast to the worship of the one true God.
- Result of Judgment: The presence of Nêrᵉgal worship in Samaria is a direct consequence of Israel's unfaithfulness and subsequent exile. The void left by the exiled Israelites was filled by foreigners and their false gods 2 Kings 17:24.
- Syncretistic Worship: The list of various peoples making their own gods, including Nêrᵉgal, illustrates the fragmented and false religious landscape that took root in Samaria following the fall of the northern kingdom.
In summary, H5370 is not a broad theological term but a specific, historical one. As Nêrᵉgal, it names a foreign idol whose singular mention in scripture serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of disobedience. Its importance lies in its role within the narrative of 2 Kings, illustrating the replacement of true worship with pagan practices in the land of Samaria after the Assyrian conquest.
TRV