Bible Strands
2 Kings 17:19
and even Judah did not keep the commandments of the LORD their God, but lived according to the customs Israel had introduced.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator records Judah's spiritual condition immediately after Israel's exile, noting that only Judah remained when the northern kingdom was removed from God's presence. The account places Judah in the same category of disobedience as the conquered tribes.
The words — The Hebrew phrase גַּם־ יְהוּדָ֕ה לֹ֣א שָׁמַ֔ר (gam- yehudah lo sha-mar) literally translates to "even Judah did not keep." The verb שָמַר (sha-mar) means to guard or obey, emphasizing that Judah actively failed to maintain the covenant stipulations.
The thread — The text links this behavior to 1 Kings 14:22, which notes Judah's provocation of God, and 2 Kings 16:3, where a king adopts Israel's ways and practices child sacrifice. 2 Chronicles 21:11 further documents Judah's leaders building high places and leading Jerusalem into idolatry.
Why it lands — The passage states that Judah's physical survival did not prevent it from adopting the idolatrous customs that destroyed Israel. It requires the reader to acknowledge that institutional continuity without covenant obedience produces identical judgment.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Also Judah kept not the commandments of the Lord their God, but walked in the statutes of Israel which they made.
Cross-references
- 1 Kings 14:22 And Judah did evil in the sight of the LORD, and by the sins they committed they provoked Him to jealous anger more than all their fathers had done.
- 2 Kings 16:3 Instead, he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel and even sacrificed his son in the fire, according to the abominations of the nations that the LORD had driven out before the Israelites.
- 2 Chronicles 21:11 Jehoram had also built high places on the hills of Judah; he had caused the people of Jerusalem to prostitute themselves and had led Judah astray.
- 2 Chronicles 21:13 but you have walked in the ways of the kings of Israel and have caused Judah and the people of Jerusalem to prostitute themselves, just as the house of Ahab prostituted itself. You have also killed your brothers, your father’s family, who were better than you.
- Jeremiah 3:8 She saw that because faithless Israel had committed adultery, I gave her a certificate of divorce and sent her away. Yet that unfaithful sister Judah had no fear and prostituted herself as well.
- Ezekiel 16:51 Furthermore, Samaria did not commit half the sins you did. You have multiplied your abominations beyond theirs, and all the abominations you have committed have made your sisters appear righteous.
- 2 Kings 8:18 And Jehoram walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, just as the house of Ahab had done. For he married a daughter of Ahab and did evil in the sight of the LORD.
- 2 Kings 8:27 And Ahaziah walked in the ways of the house of Ahab and did evil in the sight of the LORD like the house of Ahab, for he was a son-in-law of the house of Ahab.
- Jeremiah 2:28 But where are the gods you made for yourselves? Let them rise up in your time of trouble and save you if they can; for your gods are as numerous as your cities, O Judah.
- Ezekiel 22:2 “As for you, son of man, will you judge her? Will you pass judgment on the city of bloodshed? Then confront her with all her abominations