Question 1

What does 2 Kings 17:30 mean?

Accepted Answer

2 Kings 17:30 lists the different idols that people from various foreign cities made after being resettled in Samaria. The verse names the gods created by the men of Babylon, Cuth, and Hamath—Succothbenoth, Nergal, and Ashima—showing how these groups brought their own religious practices into Israel. This verse is part of a larger passage describing how, after the fall of the northern kingdom of Israel, the king of Assyria brought people from other nations to live in the land. These newcomers each made their own gods, setting up shrines and idols according to their traditions. The verse highlights the mixing of different religious customs in Samaria, which the biblical writer presents as a problem.

Question 2

Why 2 Kings 17:30 matters

Accepted Answer

2 Kings 17:30 helps explain why the biblical text criticizes the religious practices in Samaria after Israel’s exile, showing that the land became a place of mixed and foreign worship. The verse connects to the broader theme in 2 Kings 17, where the author explains Israel’s downfall as a result of abandoning exclusive worship of the LORD. By naming specific idols and their origins, the verse gives historical detail about the kinds of foreign influences present in Samaria, making the narrative more concrete and specific.

2 Kings 17:30 (KJV)