Useful Bible Studies > 2 Kings Commentary > chapter 17
God had been very patient with the people in northern and central Israel. Their country existed as a separate nation from Judah for about 200 years. Twenty kings had ruled during that time, and they had all been evil men. All that time, most of the people had continued their evil behaviour and they had refused to obey God’s law. They followed false and evil religions and they did not go to pray at the temple, God’s house in Jerusalem.
However, the last king, Hoshea, was less evil than the kings who ruled before him. Hoshea even permitted King Hezekiah of Judah to invite people across Israel to come to the temple for a sacred holiday. So, Hezekiah sent his servants through northern and central Israel to urge the people to turn back to the true God.
This was the last opportunity for many of those people to turn back to God. A few people in northern and central Israel accepted the invitation. However, the people in northern and central Israel had become so evil that most of them merely laughed at this message (2 Chronicles 30:1-11).
Perhaps they did not realise that the time for God’s judgment against them was so soon. If the king and the people had truly turned to God, they might have delayed or even prevented their troubles. However, the fact that the king was less evil than previous kings, could not stop their punishment. As God had warned them many times by his prophets (holy men), they were guilty of many evil deeds. God forgives even wicked people if they truly turn to him (Ezekiel 18:30-32). However, he does not forgive the people who proudly continue their evil behaviour.
Next part: Hoshea tries to oppose Assyria (2 Kings 17:3-4)
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