And they left all the commandments of the LORD their God, and made them molten images, even two calves, and made a grove, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served Baal.
2 KINGS 17:16KJVWhat does 2 Kings 17:16 mean?
2 Kings 17:16 describes how the people of Israel abandoned all the commandments of the LORD their God and turned to idol worship, making metal images of two calves, setting up a sacred pole or grove, worshipping the stars and heavenly bodies, and serving the god Baal. The verse lists the specific ways Israel rejected their covenant with God and embraced practices from surrounding nations.
This verse is part of a historical account explaining why the northern kingdom of Israel fell to Assyria. The writer is summarizing Israel’s repeated disobedience and idolatry, showing that the people deliberately chose to forsake the LORD (the God who brought them out of Egypt) and instead followed forbidden religious customs. The details highlight the seriousness and variety of their unfaithfulness.
The Hebrew behind 2 Kings 17:16
- "left" (עָזַב,
azav): This word means to abandon or forsake. Here, it emphasizes a complete turning away from God’s commandments, not just neglect but an intentional rejection. - "images" (מַסֵּכָה, massekhah): This refers to cast metal idols, specifically the two calves. The use of this word points to a deliberate act of creating physical objects for worship, which was strictly forbidden in Israel’s law.
- "grove" (אֲשֵׁרָה, asherah): This term often means a wooden pole or object associated with the worship of the goddess Asherah. It signals that Israel was adopting Canaanite religious practices.
- "host" (צָבָא, tsava’): This word means army or host, and here it refers to the “host of heaven”—the sun, moon, and stars. The verse notes that Israel was worshipping celestial bodies, a practice common in neighboring cultures but condemned in Israelite law.
Why 2 Kings 17:16 matters
- This verse clarifies that Israel’s downfall was not due to a single act but a pattern of abandoning God’s ways for a variety of idolatries, showing a deep and repeated rejection.
- The mention of specific idols and practices (calves, Asherah, worship of the stars, Baal) connects Israel’s actions to the broader context of ancient Near Eastern religions, helping readers see how Israel was influenced by its neighbors.
- The verse serves as a summary statement in the narrative, explaining the theological reason for Israel’s exile and loss of their land, which is a major theme in the surrounding chapters.