2 Kings 17 – NIV & ASCB

New International Version

2 Kings 17:1-41

Hoshea Last King of Israel

1In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah, Hoshea son of Elah became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned nine years. 2He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, but not like the kings of Israel who preceded him.

3Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up to attack Hoshea, who had been Shalmaneser’s vassal and had paid him tribute. 4But the king of Assyria discovered that Hoshea was a traitor, for he had sent envoys to So17:4 So is probably an abbreviation for Osorkon. king of Egypt, and he no longer paid tribute to the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year. Therefore Shalmaneser seized him and put him in prison. 5The king of Assyria invaded the entire land, marched against Samaria and laid siege to it for three years. 6In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria captured Samaria and deported the Israelites to Assyria. He settled them in Halah, in Gozan on the Habor River and in the towns of the Medes.

Israel Exiled Because of Sin

7All this took place because the Israelites had sinned against the Lord their God, who had brought them up out of Egypt from under the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt. They worshiped other gods 8and followed the practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before them, as well as the practices that the kings of Israel had introduced. 9The Israelites secretly did things against the Lord their God that were not right. From watchtower to fortified city they built themselves high places in all their towns. 10They set up sacred stones and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every spreading tree. 11At every high place they burned incense, as the nations whom the Lord had driven out before them had done. They did wicked things that aroused the Lord’s anger. 12They worshiped idols, though the Lord had said, “You shall not do this.”17:12 Exodus 20:4,5 13The Lord warned Israel and Judah through all his prophets and seers: “Turn from your evil ways. Observe my commands and decrees, in accordance with the entire Law that I commanded your ancestors to obey and that I delivered to you through my servants the prophets.”

14But they would not listen and were as stiff-necked as their ancestors, who did not trust in the Lord their God. 15They rejected his decrees and the covenant he had made with their ancestors and the statutes he had warned them to keep. They followed worthless idols and themselves became worthless. They imitated the nations around them although the Lord had ordered them, “Do not do as they do.”

16They forsook all the commands of the Lord their God and made for themselves two idols cast in the shape of calves, and an Asherah pole. They bowed down to all the starry hosts, and they worshiped Baal. 17They sacrificed their sons and daughters in the fire. They practiced divination and sought omens and sold themselves to do evil in the eyes of the Lord, arousing his anger.

18So the Lord was very angry with Israel and removed them from his presence. Only the tribe of Judah was left, 19and even Judah did not keep the commands of the Lord their God. They followed the practices Israel had introduced. 20Therefore the Lord rejected all the people of Israel; he afflicted them and gave them into the hands of plunderers, until he thrust them from his presence.

21When he tore Israel away from the house of David, they made Jeroboam son of Nebat their king. Jeroboam enticed Israel away from following the Lord and caused them to commit a great sin. 22The Israelites persisted in all the sins of Jeroboam and did not turn away from them 23until the Lord removed them from his presence, as he had warned through all his servants the prophets. So the people of Israel were taken from their homeland into exile in Assyria, and they are still there.

Samaria Resettled

24The king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Kuthah, Avva, Hamath and Sepharvaim and settled them in the towns of Samaria to replace the Israelites. They took over Samaria and lived in its towns. 25When they first lived there, they did not worship the Lord; so he sent lions among them and they killed some of the people. 26It was reported to the king of Assyria: “The people you deported and resettled in the towns of Samaria do not know what the god of that country requires. He has sent lions among them, which are killing them off, because the people do not know what he requires.”

27Then the king of Assyria gave this order: “Have one of the priests you took captive from Samaria go back to live there and teach the people what the god of the land requires.” 28So one of the priests who had been exiled from Samaria came to live in Bethel and taught them how to worship the Lord.

29Nevertheless, each national group made its own gods in the several towns where they settled, and set them up in the shrines the people of Samaria had made at the high places. 30The people from Babylon made Sukkoth Benoth, those from Kuthah made Nergal, and those from Hamath made Ashima; 31the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burned their children in the fire as sacrifices to Adrammelek and Anammelek, the gods of Sepharvaim. 32They worshiped the Lord, but they also appointed all sorts of their own people to officiate for them as priests in the shrines at the high places. 33They worshiped the Lord, but they also served their own gods in accordance with the customs of the nations from which they had been brought.

34To this day they persist in their former practices. They neither worship the Lord nor adhere to the decrees and regulations, the laws and commands that the Lord gave the descendants of Jacob, whom he named Israel. 35When the Lord made a covenant with the Israelites, he commanded them: “Do not worship any other gods or bow down to them, serve them or sacrifice to them. 36But the Lord, who brought you up out of Egypt with mighty power and outstretched arm, is the one you must worship. To him you shall bow down and to him offer sacrifices. 37You must always be careful to keep the decrees and regulations, the laws and commands he wrote for you. Do not worship other gods. 38Do not forget the covenant I have made with you, and do not worship other gods. 39Rather, worship the Lord your God; it is he who will deliver you from the hand of all your enemies.”

40They would not listen, however, but persisted in their former practices. 41Even while these people were worshiping the Lord, they were serving their idols. To this day their children and grandchildren continue to do as their ancestors did.

Asante Twi Contemporary Bible

2 Ahemfo 17:1-41

Hosea Di Ɔhene Wɔ Israel

1Ela babarima Hosea hyɛɛ aseɛ dii ɔhene wɔ Israel no, na ɔhene Ahas nso adi ɔhene wɔ Yuda mfirinhyia dumienu. Ɔdii ɔhene wɔ Samaria mfeɛ nkron. 2Ɔyɛɛ bɔne wɔ Awurade ani so, nanso na ne bɔne no nnɔɔso sɛ Israel ahemfo a wɔdii adeɛ ansa na ɔrebɛdi adeɛ no.

3Asiriahene Salmaneser kɔɔ ɔhene Hosea so, kɔdii ne so nkonim enti, ɔhyɛɛ Israel ma wɔtuaa apeatoɔ a emu yɛ duru maa Asiria. 4Afei, ɔhene Hosea bisaa mmoa firii Misraimhene a wɔfrɛ no So nkyɛn, sɛ ɔmmoa no na ɔntete ne ho mfiri Asiriahene tumi ase. Ɔbɔɔ pɔ tiaa Asiriahene. Ɛberɛ a Asiriahene hunuu ɛpɔ bɔne a wabɔ no, ɔkyeree no de no too afiase wɔ nʼatuateɛ ho.

5Na Asiriahene ko faa asasetam no nyinaa, na ɔtuaa Samaria mfeɛ mmiɛnsa. 6Akyire yi, ɔhene Hosea ahennie mfeɛ nkron mu no, Samaria hwee ase, ma wɔtwaa Israelfoɔ asuo kɔɔ Asiria. Wɔbɔɔ wɔn atenaseɛ wɔ Halah nkuro wɔ asuo Habor a ɛwɔ Gosan a ɛfra Media nkuropɔn no mu no so.

Asiria Di Samaria So

7Saa amanehunu yi baa Israelman so, ɛfiri sɛ, nnipa no somm anyame foforɔ, yɛɛ bɔne tia Awurade, wɔn Onyankopɔn a ɔyii wɔn firii wɔn nkoasom mu wɔ Misraim. 8Wɔsuasuaa abosonsom aman nneyɛɛ a enti Awurade pamoo wɔn firii asase a ɛda wɔn anim no so, ne ɔsom a Israel ahemfo de aba no. 9Na Israelfoɔ no nso nam esum ase, ayɛ nneɛma pii a na ɛnsɔ Awurade wɔn Onyankopɔn ani. Wɔsisii abosonnan maa wɔn ho wɔ wɔn nkuro nyinaa so, ɛfiri wɔn nkuro akɛseɛ a wɔatwa afasuo afa ho, kɔsi nkuraaseɛ. 10Wɔsisii afadum kronkron ne Asera afɔrebukyia wɔ kokoɔ biara so ne dua biara a ɛyɛ frɔmm ase. 11Wɔhyee nnuhwam wɔ asɔreeɛ hɔ, te sɛ deɛ aman a Awurade apamo wɔn afiri asase a ɛda wɔn anim no so no yɛeɛ pɛ. Enti, Israelfoɔ yɛɛ bɔne bebree hyɛɛ Awurade abufuo. 12Aane, Awurade kɔkɔbɔ pɔtee ne ne ntimu no nyinaa akyi, wɔsomm ahoni. 13Awurade somaa nʼadiyifoɔ ne ademuhunufoɔ ntoatoasoɔ ma wɔkɔbɔɔ Israel ne Yuda kɔkɔ sɛ, “Monnane mfiri mo akwammɔne nyinaa ho. Monyɛ ɔsetie mma mʼahyɛdeɛ ne me mmara, deɛ mehyɛɛ mo agyanom sɛ wɔnni so no nyinaa, deɛ menam mʼasomfoɔ adiyifoɔ no so de maa mo no.”

14Nanso, Israelfoɔ no antie. Na wɔyɛɛ asoɔden sɛ wɔn agyanom, na wɔannye Awurade, wɔn Onyankopɔn, anni. 15Wɔpoo ne mmara ne nʼapam a ɔne wɔn agyanom yɛeɛ no. Na wɔamfa ne kɔkɔbɔ no anyɛ hwee. Wɔsomm abosomhuhuo, ma wɔdanee nnipa teta. Wɔhwɛɛ aman a atwa wɔn ho ahyia no nhwɛsoɔ so, nam so yɛɛ asoɔden maa Awurade nhyɛ a ɔhyɛɛ sɛ wɔnnsuasua wɔn no.

16Wɔantie Awurade wɔn Onyankopɔn nhyɛ no nyinaa, na wɔyɛɛ nantwie mma mmienu ahoni a wɔaguo. Wɔsii Asera afɔrebukyia, somm Baal ne ewiem atumfoɔ nyinaa. 17Na mpo, wɔde wɔn ankasa mmammarima ne wɔn mmammaa bɔɔ afɔdeɛ wɔ ogya mu. Wɔkɔɔ abisa, wɔyɛɛ abayisɛm, nam so tɔn wɔn ho maa bɔne, de hyɛɛ Awurade abufuo.

18Na ɛsiane sɛ Awurade bo fuiɛ enti, ɔpepaa wɔn firii nʼanim. Yuda abusuakuo17.18 Anafoɔ Ahemman no nso yɛ Simeon ne Benyamin asefoɔ nanso Yuda nko ara ne abusuakuo a na wɔdi no nokorɛ (hwɛ 1 Ah 11.31-32). nko ara na ɛkaa wɔn wɔ asase no so. 19Na mpo, nnipa a wɔwɔ Yuda anni Awurade, wɔn Onyankopɔn, ahyɛdeɛ so. Wɔfaa ɛkwan bɔne a Israel faa so no so. 20Ɛno enti, Awurade poo Israel asefoɔ nyinaa. Ɔde wɔn maa wɔn atamfoɔ, nam so twee wɔn aso, kɔsii sɛ wɔsɛee wɔn.

21Na ɛberɛ a Awurade tee Israel firii Dawid ahemman ho no, wɔfaa Nebat babarima Yeroboam, de no dii wɔn so ɔhene. Na Yeroboam maa Israelfoɔ gyaee Awurade akyidie, ma wɔyɛɛ bɔne kɛseɛ. 22Na Israelfoɔ no kɔɔ so nantee Yeroboam akwammɔne no so. Wɔannyae ahonisom ho bɔneyɛ no, 23kɔsii sɛ, ne korakora, Awurade pepaa wɔn firii hɔ, sɛdeɛ nʼadiyifoɔ hyɛɛ ho nkɔm sɛ ɛbɛba no. Enti, wɔtwaa Israel asuo kɔɔ Asiria asase so baabi a wɔte bɛsi ɛnnɛ yi.

Amamfrafoɔ Kɔtena Israel

24Na Asiriahene twee nnipa akuakuo firii Babilonia, Kuta ne Awa, Hamat ne Sefarwaim, de wɔn bɛduaa Samaria nkuro so, ma wɔsii Israelfoɔ ananmu. Enti Asiriafoɔ no faa Samaria ne Israel nkuro a ɛkeka ho no. 25Nanso, ɛsiane sɛ saa ahɔhoɔ atutenafoɔ yi ansom Awurade ɛberɛ a wɔduruu hɔ ara pɛ no enti, Awurade maa agyata kɔɔ wɔn mu, kɔkunkumm wɔn mu bi. 26Enti, wɔde nkra kɔmaa Asiriahene sɛ, “Nnipa a woabɔ wɔn atenaseɛ wɔ Israel nkuro so no nnim sɛdeɛ wɔsom asase no so Onyankopɔn. Wasoma agyata akɔ wɔn mu, akɔsɛe wɔn, ɛfiri sɛ, wɔansom no anisɔ mu.”

27Ɛnna Asiriahene nso hyɛɛ sɛ, “Soma asɔfoɔ a wɔatwa wɔn asuo no mu baako firi Samaria, na ɔnsane nkɔ Israel. Ma ɔnkyerɛ ahɔhoɔ no ɛkwan a wɔfa so som asase no so Onyankopɔn.” 28Enti, asɔfoɔ a wɔatwa wɔn asuo afiri Samaria no mu baako sane kɔɔ Bet-El, kɔkyerɛɛ ahɔhoɔ no kwan a wɔfa so som Awurade.

29Nanso, saa ahɔhoɔ akuakuo ahodoɔ yi kɔɔ so somm wɔn ankasa anyame. Kuro biara a wɔtete mu no, wɔde wɔn ahoni kɔsisii abosonnan a Israelfoɔ no asisi no mu. 30Wɔn a wɔfiri Babilonia no somm wɔn nyame Sukot-Benot ahoni. Wɔn a wɔfiri Kut somm wɔn nyame Nergal. Na wɔn a wɔfiri Hamat somm Asima. 31Awifoɔ somm wɔn anyame Nibhas ne Tartak. Na mpo, nnipa a ɛfiri Sefarwain hyee wɔn ankasa mma sɛ afɔrebɔdeɛ, de maa Adramelek ne Anamelek. 32Saa ahɔhoɔ yi somm Awurade deɛ, nanso wɔyii asɔfoɔ bi firii wɔn mu a, na wɔbɔ afɔdeɛ wɔ abosonnan mu. 33Na wɔsom Awurade deɛ, nanso wɔkɔɔ so faa amanneɛ kwan a wɔn aman a wɔfiri so fa so som no so.

34Na yei da so kɔ so wɔ wɔn mu de bɛsi ɛnnɛ. Na wɔda so yɛ kane nnebɔne no a anka ɛsɛ sɛ wɔsom Awurade, di ne mmara, ne nkyerɛkyerɛ ne ahyɛdeɛ a ɔde maa Yakob a ɔsesaa ne din ma ɛbɛyɛɛ Israel asefoɔ no so. 35Nanso, na Awurade ne Yakob asefoɔ ayɛ apam, ahyɛ wɔn sɛ, “Monnsom anyame foforɔ, monnkoto wɔn, na monnsom wɔn, na mommmɔ afɔdeɛ mmma wɔn. 36Awurade a ɔnam nsɛnkyerɛnneɛ akɛseɛ ne tumi so yii mo firii Misraim no nko ara na monsom no. Ɔno nko ara na ɛsɛ sɛ mosom no, na mokoto no, na mobɔ afɔdeɛ ma no. 37Monhwɛ yie, na monni mmara, nkyerɛkyerɛ ne ahyɛdeɛ a ɔtwerɛ maa mo no so. Ɛnsɛ sɛ mosom anyame foforɔ biara. 38Mommma mo werɛ mfiri apam a me ne mo yɛeɛ no, na monnsom anyame foforɔ biara. 39Monsom Awurade, mo Onyankopɔn nko ara. Ɔno na ɔbɛgye mo afiri mo atamfoɔ nyinaa nsam.”

40Nanso, nnipa no antie, kɔɔ so faa wɔn akwan dada no so. 41Enti, ɛberɛ a ahɔhoɔ yi resom Awurade no, berɛ korɔ no ara mu, na wɔresom wɔn ahoni. Na ɛbɛsi ɛnnɛ, wɔn asefoɔ yɛ ade korɔ no ara.