2 Kings 17:10

Translations

Modern

They set up for themselves sacred pillars and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every green tree.

Traditional

And they set them up images and groves in every high hill, and under every green tree:

Literal

And they set up for themselves pillars and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every green tree.

Latin

Feceruntque sibi statuas et lucos in omni colle sublimi, et subter omne lignum nemorosum:

Original

Hebrew

English

They set up for themselves sacred pillars and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every green tree.

Notes

2 Kings 17:8–13

Israel committed many sins, including pagan rituals and practices. Whether done openly or in secret, God knew about them all. Israel's kings often started these practices by building pagan shrines, sacred pillars, and Asherah poles. They copied pagan sacrifices and idol worship (2 Kings 10:29; 15:18, 28; 1 Kings 12:28–33; 15:34; 16:30–33).

People from all parts of Israelite society, both royalty and commoners, continued these sins. They ignored warnings from God's prophets, including Isaiah, Hosea, Amos, and Micah.

2 Kings 17:1–23

The report of the northern kingdom's fall has two main parts:

Events during the reign of Israel's last king, Hoshea, including the capture of Samaria and the deportation of Israel's people (2 Kings 17:1–6);
The reasons for Israel's fall and Assyria's conquest:
- Israel's many sins (2 Kings 17:7–17) that led to God's judgment (2 Kings 17:18–20), and
- the major sin of Jeroboam I, who started Israel's widespread disobedience to God (2 Kings 17:21–23).

Theme notes and profiles

Assyria Jeroboam I Apostasy Canaanite Religion Curses and Blessings God’s Anger God’s Judgment of His People Intermarriage and Divorce Invasion Making Sense of the Exile Oppression of God’s People Promised Land Purity and Identity Remember Him The Collapse of Culture The Land The Purpose of the Judgments

Related verses

1 Kings 14:23
They also built for themselves high places, sacred pillars, and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every green tree.
Micah 5:14
I will root out the Asherah poles from your midst and demolish your cities.
2 Kings 16:4
And he sacrificed and burned incense on the high places, on the hills, and under every green tree.
Exodus 34:13
Rather, you must tear down their altars, smash their sacred stones, and chop down their Asherah poles.
Deuteronomy 12:2–3
Destroy completely all the places where the nations you are dispossessing have served their gods—atop the high mountains, on the hills, and under every green tree.
Deuteronomy 16:21
Do not set up any wooden Asherah pole next to the altar you will build for the LORD your God,
Isaiah 57:5
…who burn with lust among the oaks, under every luxuriant tree, who slaughter your children in the valleys, under the clefts of the rocks?
Leviticus 26:1
“You must not make idols for yourselves or set up a carved image or sacred pillar; you must not place a sculpted stone in your land to bow down to it. For I am the LORD your God.

People

Asherah: Canaanite goddess; associated with wooden poles, idolatry

Glossary

Book of Micah Dispersion of the Jews, Diaspora Gods and Goddesses Grove High Place Jeroboam Kings, Books of First and Second Samaritans Tribe of Dan

Topics

Assyria: Israelites Carried Captive Into Babylon: Empire of Samaria Forsaking God: Kingdom of Israel Groves: Worshiped by Israelites Idolatry: Captivity of Israel on Account of Judgments: Delivered: Into the Hands of the Assyrians National Sins: Kingdom of Israel Rulers: Wicked in Permitting Baal-Worship

2 Kings 17:10

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