2 Kings 17 · Verse 24

2 Kings 17:24

And the king of Assyria brought men from Babylon, and from Cuthah, and from Ava, and from Hamath, and from Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel: and they possessed Samaria, and dwelt in the cities thereof.

2 Kings 17:24, King James Version

2 Kings 17:24 in other translations

BSB	Then the king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sepharvaim and settled them in the towns of Samaria to replace the Israelites. They took possession of Samaria and lived in its towns.
WEB	The king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, from Cuthah, from Avva, and from Hamath and Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel; and they possessed Samaria and lived in its cities.
ASV	And the king of Assyria brought men from Babylon, and from Cuthah, and from Avva, and from Hamath and Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel; and they possessed Samaria, and dwelt in the cities thereof.
YLT	And the king of Asshur bringeth in from Babylon and from Cutha, and from Ava, and from Hamath, and Sepharvaim, and causeth them to dwell in the cities of Samaria instead of the sons of Israel, and they possess Samaria, and dwell in its cities;
DARBY	And the king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, and from Cuthah, and from Avva, and from Hamath, and from Sepharvaim, and made them dwell in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel; and they possessed Samaria, and dwelt in its cities.
BBE	Then the king of Assyria took men from Babylon and from Cuthah and Avva and Hamath and Sepharvaim, and put them in the towns of Samaria in place of the children of Israel; so they got Samaria for their heritage, living in its towns.
Webster	And the king of Assyria brought men from Babylon, and from Cuthah, and from Ava, and from Hamath, and from Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel: and they possessed Samaria, and dwelt in its cities.

What does 2 Kings 17:24 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 2 Kings 17:24-28

24-28. the king of Assyria brought men from Babylon, etc.--This was not Shalmaneser, but Esar-haddon (Eze 4:2). The places vacated by the captive Israelites he ordered to be occupied by several colonies of his own subjects from Babylon and other provinces. from Cuthah--the Chaldee form of Cush or Susiana, now Khusistan. Ava--supposed to be Ahivaz, situated on the river Karuns, which empties into the head of the Persian Gulf. Hamath--on the Orontes. Sepharvaim--Siphara, a city on the Euphrates above Babylon. placed them in the cities of Samaria, &c.--It must not be supposed that the Israelites were universally removed to a man. A remnant was left, chiefly however of the poor and lower classes, with whom these foreign colonists mingled; so that the prevailing character of society about Samaria was heathen, not Israelite. For the Assyrian colonists became masters of the land; and, forming partial intermarriages with the remnant Jews, the inhabitants became a mongrel race, no longer a people of Ephraim (Is 7:6). These people, imperfectly instructed in the creed of the Jews, acquired also a mongrel doctrine. Being too few to replenish the land, lions, by which the land had been infested (Jud 14:5; 1Sa 17:34; 1Ki 13:24; 20:36; So 4:8), multiplied and committed frequent ravages upon them. Recognizing in these attacks a judgment from the God of the land, whom they had not worshipped, they petitioned the Assyrian court to send them some Jewish priests who might instruct them in the right way of serving Him. The king, in compliance with their request, sent them one of the exiled priests of Israel [2Ki 17:27], who established his headquarters at Beth-el, and taught them how they should fear the Lord. It is not said that he took a copy of the Pentateuch with him, out of which he might teach them. Oral teaching was much better fitted for the superstitious people than instruction out of a written book. He could teach them more effectually by word of mouth. Believing that he would adopt the best and simplest method for them, it is unlikely that he took the written law with him, and so gave origin to the Samaritan copy of the Pentateuch [Davidson, Criticism]. Besides, it is evident from his being one of the exiled priests, and from his settlement at Beth-el, that he was not a Levite, but one of the calf-worshipping priests. Consequently his instructions would be neither sound nor efficient.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 24 The king of Assyria brought men from Babylon - He removed one people entirely, and substituted others in their place; and this he did to cut off all occasion for mutiny or insurrection; for the people being removed from their own land, had no object worthy of attention to contend for, and no patrimony in the land of their captivity to induce them to hazard any opposition to their oppressors. By men from Babylon, we may understand some cities of Babylonia then under the Assyrian empire; for at this time Babylon had a king of its own; but some parts of what was called Babylonia might have been still under the Assyrian government. From Cuthah - This is supposed to be the same as Cush, the Chaldeans and Syrians changing ש shin into ת tau; thus they make כוש Cush into כות Cuth; and אשור Ashshur, Assyria, into אתור Attur. From these came the Scythae; and from these the Samaritans were called Cuthaeans, and their language Cuthite. The original language of this people, or at least the language they spoke after their settlement in Israel, is contained in the Samaritan version of the Pentateuch, printed under the Hebraeo-Samaritan in vol. i. of the London Polyglot. This Cuthah was probably the country in the land of Shinar, first inhabited by Cush. From Ava - The Avim were an ancient people, expelled by the Caphtorim from Hazerim, Deu 2:23. From Hamath - This was Hemath or Emath of Syria, frequently mentioned in the sacred writings. From Sepharvaim - There was a city called Syphera, near the Euphrates; others think the Saspires, a people situated between the Colchians and the Medes, are meant. There is much uncertainty relative to these places: all that we know is, that the Assyrians carried away the Israelites into Assyria, and placed them in cities and districts called Halah and Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes, 2Kgs 17:6; and it is very likely that they brought some of the inhabitants of those places into the cities of Israel.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 2 Kings 17:24-41

The terror of the Almighty will sometimes produce a forced or feigned submission in unconverted men; like those brought from different countries to inhabit Israel. But such will form unworthy thoughts of God, will expect to please him by outward forms, and will vainly try to reconcile his service with the love of the world and the indulgence of their lusts. May that fear of the Lord, which is the beginning of wisdom, possess our hearts, and influence our conduct, that we may be ready for every change. Wordly settlements are uncertain; we know not whither we may be driven before we die, and we must soon leave the world; but the righteous hath chosen that good part which shall not be taken from him.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

2 Kings 17:24 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיָּבֵ֣אvai.ya.Ve'and he brought [people]H935

מֶֽלֶךְ\־Me.lekh-[the] king ofH4428

אַשּׁ֡וּר'a.ShurAssyriaH804

מִבָּבֶ֡לmi.ba.Velfrom BabylonH894

וּ֠מִכּוּ֠תָהu.Mi.ku.tahand from Cuthah <towards>H3575

וּמֵעַוָּ֤אu.me.'a.Va'and from AvvaH5755

וּמֵֽחֲמָת֙u.me.cha.Matand from HamathH2574

וּסְפַרְוַ֔יִםu.se.far.Va.yimand SepharvaimH5617

וַיֹּ֙שֶׁב֙vai.Yo.shevand he caused [them] to dwellH3427

בְּעָרֵ֣יbe.'a.Reiin [the] cities ofH5892

שֹֽׁמְר֔וֹןsho.me.RonSamariaH8111

תַּ֖חַתTa.chatin place ofH8478

בְּנֵ֣יbe.Nei[the] people ofH1121

יִשְׂרָאֵ֑לYis.ra.'ElIsraelH3478

וַיִּֽרְשׁוּ֙vai.yir.Shuand they took possession ofH3423

אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853

שֹׁ֣מְר֔וֹןsho.me.RonSamariaH8111

וַיֵּֽשְׁב֖וּvai.ye.she.Vuand they dweltH3427

בְּעָרֶֽיהָ\׃be.'a.Rei.hain cities itsH5892

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 2 Kings 17:24

2 Kings 18:34
Where are the gods of Hamath, and of Arpad? where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivah? have they delivered Samaria out of mine hand?
2 Kings 17:30-31
And the men of Babylon made Succoth–benoth, and the men of Cuth made Nergal, and the men of Hamath made Ashima, And the Avites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burnt their children in fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim.
Matthew 10:5
These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:
2 Kings 19:13
Where is the king of Hamath, and the king of Arpad, and the king of the city of Sepharvaim, of Hena, and Ivah?
2 Kings 18:31
Hearken not to Hezekiah: for thus saith the king of Assyria, Make an agreement with me by a present, and come out to me, and then eat ye every man of his own vine, and every one of his fig tree, and drink ye every one the waters of his cistern:
2 Chronicles 33:11
Wherefore the Lord brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, which took Manasseh among the thorns, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon.
2 Kings 17:6
In the ninth year of Hoshea the king of Assyria took Samaria, and carried Israel away into Assyria, and placed them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.
Isaiah 10:9
Is not Calno as Carchemish? is not Hamath as Arpad? is not Samaria as Damascus?
1 Kings 8:65
And at that time Solomon held a feast, and all Israel with him, a great congregation, from the entering in of Hamath unto the river of Egypt, before the Lord our God, seven days and seven days, even fourteen days.
Isaiah 37:13
Where is the king of Hamath, and the king of Arphad, and the king of the city of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivah?
Ezra 4:2-10
Then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and said unto them, Let us build with you: for we seek your God, as ye do; and we do sacrifice unto him since the days of Esar–haddon king of Assur, which brought us up hither. But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto the Lord God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia hath commanded us. Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building, And hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia. …
Isaiah 36:19
Where are the gods of Hamath and Arphad? where are the gods of Sepharvaim? and have they delivered Samaria out of my hand?

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

A.M. 3326. B.C. 678. the king.
Ezr 4:2-10
Babylon.
30; 2Ch 33:11
Ava.
31; 18:31; Isa 37:13
Ivah. Hamath.
19:13; Isa 10:9; 36:19
in the cities thereof.
6; Mt 10:5

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

2 Kings 17:23
Until the Lord removed Israel out of his sight, as he had said by all his servants the prophets. So was Israel carried away out of their own land to Assyria unto this day.
2 Kings 17:24
And the king of Assyria brought men from Babylon, and from Cuthah, and from Ava, and from Hamath, and from Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel: and they possessed Samaria, and dwelt in the cities thereof.
2 Kings 17:25
And so it was at the beginning of their dwelling there, that they feared not the Lord: therefore the Lord sent lions among them, which slew some of them.

Read all of 2 Kings 17

2 Kings 17:24 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Y trajo el rey de Asiria gente de Babilonia, y de Cutha, y de Ava, y de Hamath, y de Sepharvaim, y púsolos en las ciudades de Samaria, en lugar de los hijos de Israel; y poseyeron á Samaria, y habitaron en sus ciudades.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Et le roi d’Assyrie fit venir des gens de Babel, et de Cuth, et d’Avva, et de Hamath, et de Sepharvaïm, et les fit habiter dans les villes de la Samarie, à la place des fils d’Israël; et ils possédèrent la Samarie, et habitèrent dans ses villes.
German Elberfelder 1871	Und der König von Assyrien brachte Leute aus Babel und aus Kutha und aus Awa und aus Hamath und aus Sepharwaim, und ließ sie an Stelle der Kinder Israel in den Städten Samarias wohnen; und sie nahmen Samaria in Besitz und wohnten in seinen Städten.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Adduxit autem rex Assyriorum de Babylone, et de Cutha, et de Avah, et de Emath, et de Sepharvaim: et collocavit eos in civitatibus Samariæ pro filiis Israël: qui possederunt Samariam, et habitaverunt in urbibus ejus.