The Assyrian Captivity of Israel

INTRODUCTION: The fall of Samaria and the Assyrian Captivity of Israel are dated at 722 BC. The destruction of Jerusalem and the Babylonian Captivity of Judah are dated at 586 BC, 136 years later. Much of this chapter deals with the sins of the people of Israel that led to their judgment. The last part of the chapter deals with the sins of the people who continue to inhabit the land after the captivity. This chapter actually describes the beginning of the Samaritans who will show up again in the New Testament.

1. THE REIGN OF HOSHEA (2 Kings 17:1-6)
1. The Beginning of His Reign (2 Kings 17:1)
1. Began to reign in the twelfth year of Ahaz of Judah
2. Reigned for nine years in Samaria
2. The Character of His Reign (2 Kings 17:2)
1. Did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord
2. But not as the kings of Israel before him
3. The End of His Freedom (2 Kings 17:3-4)
1. He became a vassal to Assyria (2 Kings 17:3).
1. When Shalmaneser of Assyria came up against him
2. He submitted and gave presents to him.
2. He conspired against Assyria (2 Kings 17:4).
1. He sent messengers to So king of Egypt.
2. He refused to send tribute to Assyria.
3. He was bound in prison by the king of Assyria (2 Kings 17:4; 2 Kings 18:21; Isaiah 30:1-3).
4. The Captivity of Israel (2 Kings 17:5-6)
1. The siege of Samaria (2 Kings 17:5)
1. The king of Assyria came through all the land.
2. He besieged Samaria for three years.
2. The fall of Samaria in the ninth year of Hoshea (2 Kings 17:6a)
3. The captivity of Israel (2 Kings 17:6b)
1. Carried away into Assyria
2. Placed in Halah and Habor
1. By the river Gozan
2. Probably refers to an upper tributary of the Euphrates River. The names point to an area about 100 miles east of the location of ancient Haran.
3. Placed in the cities of the Medes
2. THE SINS OF ISRAEL (2 Kings 17:7-23)
1. The Wickedness of Israel (2 Kings 17:7-12)
1. They sinned against the Lord (2 Kings 17:7a).
2. They feared other gods (2 Kings 17:7b).
3. They walked in the statutes of the heathen (2 Kings 17:8; Leviticus 18:3; Deuteronomy 18:9).
1. Following the ways of those whom the Lord had cast out from before the children of Israel
2. Following the wicked example of the kings of Israel
4. They did secretly those things that were not right against the Lord (2 Kings 17:9a; Ezekiel 8:6-18).
5. They built high places in all their cities (2 Kings 17:9b).
1. From the tower of the watchmen
2. To the fenced city
6. They set up images and groves (2 Kings 17:10).
1. In every high hill
2. Under every green tree
7. They burnt incense in the high places (2 Kings 17:11a).
8. They wrought wicked things to provoke the Lord to anger (2 Kings 17:11b).
9. They served idols against the command of God (2 Kings 17:12).
2. Their Rejection of Gods Word (2 Kings 17:13-17)
1. The Lord testified to them through prophets and seers (2 Kings 17:13).
2. They hardened their necks refusing to believe the Lord (2 Kings 17:14).
3. They rejected Gods statutes (2 Kings 17:15a).
4. They followed vanity (2 Kings 17:15b).
5. They left the commandments of God (2 Kings 17:16-17).
1. They made two calves.
2. They made a grove.
3. They worshipped all the host of heaven.
4. They served Baal.
5. They caused their children to pass through the fire.
6. They used divination and enchantments.
7. They sold themselves to do evil.
3. Gods Rejection of Israel (2 Kings 17:18-23)
1. The Lord removed Israel from the land (2 Kings 17:18).
2. Though Judah followed after Israel (2 Kings 17:19)
3. The Lord rejected Israel and afflicted them (2 Kings 17:20).
4. The Lord rent Israel from Judah (2 Kings 17:21). Note: This refers to the initial dividing of the kingdom under Rehoboam.
5. The Lord removed Israel to Assyria (2 Kings 17:22-23).
3. THE INHABITANTS OF SAMARIA (2 Kings 17:24-41)
1. The People Brought to Samaria (2 Kings 17:24-28)
1. Strangers brought into Samaria (2 Kings 17:24)
2. They feared not the Lord (2 Kings 17:25-26).
1. From the beginning of their dwelling there
2. Resulting in lions slaying some of them
3. They sought to appease the God of Israel (2 Kings 17:27-28).
1. The king of Assyria sent a priest of Israel (2 Kings 17:27).
1. To go and dwell in the land
2. To teach them the way of the God of the land
2. One of the priests of Samaria came (2 Kings 17:28).
1. He made his home in Bethel.
2. He taught them how to fear the Lord.
2. The Compromise of the People (2 Kings 17:29-33)
1. Every nation made their own gods (2 Kings 17:29-31).
1. Babylonians made Succothbenoth (2 Kings 17:30).
2. Cuthites made Nergal (2 Kings 17:30).
3. Hamathites made Ashima (2 Kings 17:30).
4. Avites made Nibhaz and Tartak (2 Kings 17:31).
5. Sepharvites burnt children unto Adrammelech and Anammelech (2 Kings 17:31).
2. They mixed the fear of God with service to other gods (2 Kings 17:32-33).
3. The Disobedience of the People (2 Kings 17:34-41)
1. They continued after their former manners (2 Kings 17:34).
2. They rejected the covenant of God (2 Kings 17:35-40).
3. They feared the Lord and served their graven images (2 Kings 17:41; Zephaniah 1:5).

CONCLUSION: The captivity of Israel sent them into a judgment that continues to this day. Yet, the promise still remains that they will be reunited with Judah and the Lord in the last days.