Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Kings 17:32
So they feared the LORD, and made unto themselves of the lowest of them priests of the high places, which sacrificed for them in the houses of the high places.
32. So they feared the Lord ] i.e. In the way in which their ideas of the worship of the local divinity demanded. This they did, says Bp Hall, ‘not for devotion, but for impunity. Vain politicians to think to satisfy God by patching up religions What a prodigious mixture was here, true with false, Jewish with paganish, divine with devilish No beggar’s cloak is more pieced than the religion of these new inhabitants of Israel. I know not how their bodies sped for the lions. I am sure their souls fared the worse for this medley. Above all things God hates a mongrel devotion. If we be not all Israel, it were better to be all Asshur. It cannot so much displease God to be unknown or neglected as to be consorted with idols’.
and made unto themselves of the lowest of them priests ] R.V. and made unto them from among themselves priests. See note on 1Ki 12:31. The word represented by ‘lowest’ means an ‘end’ or ‘extremity’, but the idea of the phrase is that the choice of these priests was made anywhere, from the whole mass of the nation, from all that was comprised in it between one extremity and the other. This was distinctly contrary to what the Jews had been taught, that the priests were to come exclusively from one tribe, and the high priests from a special family.
houses of the high places ] Hence it seems that not an altar only, bat a temple of some kind was erected on the high places.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Of the lowest of them – Rather, from all ranks. See marginal reference note.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 32. Of the lowest of them priests] One priest was not enough for this motley population; and, as the priesthood was probably neither respectable nor lucrative, it was only the lowest of the people who would enter into the employment.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Of the lowest of them priests of the high places: See Poole “1Ki 12:31“.
Which sacrificed for them, to wit, unto the true God; for as to the worship of their own gods, they needed no instruction, and would not permit a person of another religion to minister therein.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
So they feared the Lord,…. Worshipped the God of Israel in the manner they were taught:
and made unto themselves of the lowest of them priests of the high places, which sacrificed for them in the houses of the high places; these were made after the manner of Jeroboam’s priests, 1Ki 12:31, and were to sacrifice to the God of Israel in the high places, and temples built there; for otherwise they had, no doubt, priests of their own to sacrifice to their gods, and which they brought with them.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(32) They feared.They were fearing. (See Note on 2Ki. 17:25; 2Ki. 17:28, supra.)
Of the lowest of them.Rather, of all orders, or promiscuously. (Comp. 1Ki. 12:31.) This is another indication that it was Jeroboams mode of worship which was now restored.
Which sacrificed.Heb., and they used to do. The verb do is used in the sense of sacra facere, just like the Greek – .
Priests of the high places.Rather, bmh-priests (omit the). Bamah-priests are opposed to the priests of Jehovahs Temple.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
32. The lowest of them priests As Jeroboam had done. See note on 1Ki 12:31. This fact further argues (compare note on 2Ki 17:28) that the priest who taught these nations the fear of Jehovah was one of Jeroboam’s order.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
2Ki 17:32 So they feared the LORD, and made unto themselves of the lowest of them priests of the high places, which sacrificed for them in the houses of the high places.
Ver. 32. So they feared the Lord. ] They did, and they did not; 2Ki 17:34 they feared him for his lions, as the old Romans served their Veioves, that they might not hurt them, and their gods Rubigus, Orbona, Febris, &c., for the same reason. a So the poor Indians do at this day worship the devil, that he may not whip them.
a Rosin., Ant., ii. 21.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
lowest. Compare 1Ki 12:31.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
made unto themselves: 1Ki 12:31, 1Ki 13:33
the houses: 2Ki 17:29, 2Ki 23:19, 1Ki 13:31
Reciprocal: 2Ki 17:25 – they feared 2Ki 17:41 – these nations Jon 1:9 – and I
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2Ki 17:32. So they feared the Lord Worshipped him externally in that way which the Israelites had used: having and serving gods of their own besides. And made unto themselves of the lowest of them priests, &c. See note on 1Ki 12:31. Which sacrificed in the high places Unto the true God; for as to the worship of their own gods, they needed no instruction, and would not permit a person of another religion to minister therein.