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.

2 KINGS 17:26KJV
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2 Kings 17:26 (KJV)

What does 2 Kings 17:26 mean?

2 Kings 17:26 describes how people relocated to the cities of Samaria told the king of Assyria that they were being attacked by lions because they did not know how to worship the God of that land. They believed the trouble came because they were unfamiliar with the local religious customs.

The verse is set after the Assyrians conquered Israel and moved other nations into Samaria. The new inhabitants, speaking to the Assyrian king, explain that they are suffering attacks from lions. They connect these attacks to their lack of knowledge about the "manner" (customs or laws) of the God worshiped in that region, suggesting a belief that each land had its own deity with specific expectations.

The Hebrew behind 2 Kings 17:26

  • "manner" (מִשְׁפָּט, mishpat): This word often means "judgment," "custom," or "law." Here, it refers to the proper way to worship or serve the God of the land, not just general behavior.
  • "God" (אֱלֹהִים, Elohim): This is a general word for God or gods in Hebrew. The people are not identifying the God of Israel by name (Yahweh), but using a more generic term, reflecting their outsider perspective.
  • "lions" (אֲרָיוֹת, arayot): The mention of lions is literal—wild animals attacking the settlers—but also signals that the people saw these attacks as a sign of divine displeasure.

Why 2 Kings 17:26 matters

  • This verse shows how ancient people often connected disasters or dangers to religious offenses, especially when living in a new land with unfamiliar customs.
  • The verse highlights the Assyrian policy of moving conquered peoples and the resulting mix of beliefs and misunderstandings about local gods.
  • It sets up the following verses, where the king of Assyria tries to solve the problem by sending a priest back to teach the newcomers how to worship the God of Israel, showing a practical response to what was seen as a spiritual problem.