Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Kings 17:14
Notwithstanding they would not hear, but hardened their necks, like to the neck of their fathers, that did not believe in the LORD their God.
14. hardened their necks ] R.V. neck. The original has the singular, the people being regarded as one body. Israel throughout the Scripture is constantly reproached as a ‘stiffnecked’ people. Cf. Exo 32:9; Exo 33:3; Deu 10:16; Act 7:51 and parallel passages.
that did not believe ] R.V. who believed not. The relative is thus connected a little more clearly with its proper antecedent ‘fathers’.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
To harden or stiffen the neck is a common Hebrew expression significative of unbending obstinacy and determined self-will. See the marginal references.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Hardened their necks, i.e. refused to submit their neck to the yoke of Gods precepts; a metaphor from stubborn oxen, that make their necks hard, or stiff, and will not bow to the yoke: See Poole “Deu 31:27“.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Notwithstanding, they would not hear,…. Their instructions, advice, and admonitions, and obey them:
but hardened their necks, like to the neck of their fathers, that did not believe in the Lord their God: as Terah and Nahor, who were idolaters; or rather, their fathers in the wilderness, that made and served the calf, and those that rebelled against Moses and Aaron; it is a metaphor taken from oxen, that will not submit their necks to the yoke, but draw back from it, or cast it off, see Ac 7:51.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(14) Notwithstanding . . . hear.Rather, and they hearkened not.
Necks.Heb., neck. (Comp. Deu. 10:16; Jer. 17:23; 2Ch. 36:13.)
Like to the neck.LXX. and Syriac, more than the neck. One letter different in the Hebrew.
Did not believe in the Lord their God.The reference is not to intellectual but to moral unbelief, evincing itself as disobedience. Vulg., qui volerunt obediren. They did not render the obedience of faith. (Comp. the use of in the Greek Testament.)
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
2Ki 17:14 Notwithstanding they would not hear, but hardened their necks, like to the neck of their fathers, that did not believe in the LORD their God.
Ver. 14. But hardened their necks. ] Adding to their sinews of iron (natural impudency), brows of brass, notorious impudency in sin. Isa 48:8
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
like to. Supply Figure of speech Ellipsis (App-6), “as their fathers’ neck [was stiffened]”.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
but hardened: Deu 31:27, 2Ch 36:13, Pro 29:1, Isa 48:4, Jer 7:26, Rom 2:4, Rom 2:5, Heb 3:7, Heb 3:8
did not believe: Deu 1:32, Psa 78:22, Psa 78:32, Psa 106:24, Heb 3:12
Reciprocal: Exo 16:28 – General Deu 9:13 – stiffnecked Neh 9:16 – hardened Psa 78:8 – as their Psa 78:10 – General Isa 5:24 – cast away Isa 65:3 – A people Jer 3:7 – Turn thou Jer 25:5 – Turn Jer 34:14 – but Dan 5:20 – hardened Dan 9:6 – have we Hos 9:17 – because Hos 11:5 – because Mat 21:34 – he sent Act 19:9 – divers
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2Ki 17:14. Notwithstanding, they would not hear, but hardened their necks Refused to submit their necks to the yoke of Gods precepts: a metaphor taken from stubborn oxen that will not bow to the yoke. Like to the neck of their fathers In the wilderness; that did not believe in the Lord their God This was the original and primary cause of all their sins and sufferings, their unbelief; this formerly prevented their fathers from entering Canaan, and now turned them out of it: they did not truly believe in Gods power, and love, and faithfulness; did not receive his truths, though attested by signs and wonders innumerable; did not credit his threatenings, nor rely on his promises. The testimony of the prophets, therefore, was without effect, with respect to the nation in general, and their endeavours to reclaim them were exerted in vain. And God was compelled, humanly speaking, in vindication of his own infinite perfections, the injured rights of his moral government, and the cause of truth and righteousness, to execute the frequently-denounced vengeance, and send wrath upon them to the uttermost.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
17:14 Notwithstanding they would not hear, but hardened their necks, like to the neck of their {f} fathers, that did not believe in the LORD their God.
(f) So that to allege the authority of our fathers or great antiquity, except we can prove that they were godly, is but to declare that we are the children of the wicked.