Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Kings 17:26
Wherefore they spoke 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.
26. they spake to the king of Assyria ] Whose thoughts on such a matter would be in accord with their own, and who would therefore take steps that the colonists should be instructed in the worship of the local deity, as he and they would consider Jehovah to be.
thou hast removed ] R.V. carried away. For the word in the original is the same which is translated ‘carried away’ above in verse 11, and a different verb from that which is rendered ‘removed’ in verse 18.
the manner of the God of the land ] i.e. The way in which he would desire to be worshipped. This must vary with the various attributes and characteristics which were assigned to the god of the place.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 26. The manner of the God of the land.] mishpat, the judgment; the way in which the God of the land is to be worshipped.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
They spake, i.e. they wrote, or sent messengers to him for relief.
Know not the manner of the God of the land; they supposed the true God to be like one of their topical deities, who had their particular countries and provinces allotted to them.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Wherefore they spake to the king of Assyria,…. In letters, or by messengers they sent unto him:
saying, the nations which thou hast removed; from different places before mentioned:
and placed in the cities of Samaria, know not the manner of the God of the land; taking Jehovah the God of Israel to be a topical deity, limited peculiarly to the land of Israel, whereas he was the God of the whole earth; a like notion obtained among the Syrians, see 1Ki 20:28 now they say they know not his “manner” or “judgment” n, the laws, statutes, ordinances, and judgments, according to which he was worshipped by the people of Israel:
therefore he hath sent lions among them, and, behold, they slay them; they perceived it was not a common case, nor could they impute it to any second cause, as want of food with the lions, c. but the hand of a superior Being was in it: and they could think of no other reason, but
because they know not the manner of the God of the land how he was to be worshipped; and because they did not worship him, and knew not how to do it, it was resented in this manner by him.
n “judicium”, Pagninus, Montanus, &c.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(26) They spake.Rather, men spake, i.e., the prefects of the province.
The manner of the God.The word mishpt, judgment, decision, here means appointed worship or cultus. In the Koran the word din, judgment, is used in a similar way, as equivalent to religion, especially the religion of Islam.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
26. The manner of the God of the land The manner in which he ought to be recognised and worshipped. It was a common doctrine of ancient heathenism that each country had its local deity, its special tutelary god.
Therefore he hath sent lions The idolaters recognise in their distress a divine dispensation.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
2Ki 17:26 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.
Ver. 26. Know not the manner of the god of the land. ] They foolishly thought that each land had its proper god, whenas both they and their posterity worshipped they knew not what; Joh 4:22 worshipped devils. Rev 9:20
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
and placed: 2Ki 17:24
know not: 2Ki 17:27, 1Sa 8:9, 1Sa 10:25, Amo 8:14
Reciprocal: Lev 26:6 – rid Joh 4:20 – fathers
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2Ki 17:26. Wherefore they spake to the king of Assyria, &c. They wrote, or sent messengers to him, to acquaint him with this grievance, setting forth, it is likely, the loss which their infant colony had sustained by the lions, and the continual fear they were in of them; and that they looked upon it as a judgment sent upon them for not worshipping the God of the land, which they could not, because they knew not how. The God of Israel was the God of the whole earth, but they ignorantly call him the God of the land, imagining him to be like one of their local deities, who were supposed to preside only over particular countries or provinces; and apprehending themselves to be within his reach, as being now in the country in which he governed, and therefore concerned to be upon good terms with him. Herein they shamed the Israelites, who were not so ready to hear the voice of Gods judgments as they were, and who had not served the God of that land, though he was the God of their fathers, and their great benefactor, and though they were well instructed in the manner of his worship. In short, these heathen beg to be taught that which Israelites hated to be taught!