Bible Strands
2 Kings 17:21
When the LORD had torn Israel away from the house of David, they made Jeroboam son of Nebat king, and Jeroboam led Israel away from following the LORD and caused them to commit a great sin.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator records the political and spiritual rupture following Solomon’s reign, describing the moment Israel was severed from David’s dynasty and Jeroboam was enthroned.
The words — The verb קָרַע (ka.Ra') literally means he tore, describing the divine severing of Israel from David’s house, while וַיַּמְלִיכוּ (va.yam.Li.khu) means they made king, recording the human political action that followed.
The thread — This rupture fulfills the covenant warning in 1 Kings 11:11 and the prophetic division promised in 1 Kings 11:31, while Jeroboam’s establishment of rival worship in 1 Kings 12:28 initiates the persistent sin cycle detailed in 2 Kings 17:22.
Why it lands — It demands recognition that political separation from God’s chosen line immediately produces institutionalized rebellion, requiring readers to trace how human leadership decisions directly enable national apostasy.
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
For he rent Israel from the house of David; and they made Jeroboam the son of Nebat king: and Jeroboam drave Israel from following the Lord, and made them sin a great sin.
Cross-references
- 1 Kings 11:11 Then the LORD said to Solomon, “Because you have done this and have not kept My covenant and My statutes, which I have commanded you, I will tear the kingdom away from you and give it to your servant.
- 1 Kings 11:31 and said to Jeroboam, “Take ten pieces for yourself, for this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Behold, I will tear the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and I will give you ten tribes.
- 1 Kings 12:28 After seeking advice, the king made two golden calves and said to the people, “Going up to Jerusalem is too much for you. Here, O Israel, are your gods, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.”
- 1 Kings 14:16 So He will give Israel over on account of the sins Jeroboam has committed and has caused Israel to commit.”
- Isaiah 7:17 The LORD will bring on you and on your people and on the house of your father a time unlike any since the day Ephraim separated from Judah—He will bring the king of Assyria.”
- Genesis 20:9 Then Abimelech called Abraham and asked, “What have you done to us? How have I sinned against you, that you have brought such tremendous guilt upon me and my kingdom? You have done things to me that should not be done.”
- Exodus 32:21 “What did this people do to you,” Moses asked Aaron, “that you have led them into so great a sin?”
- 1 Samuel 2:17 Thus the sin of these young men was severe in the sight of the LORD, for they were treating the LORD’s offering with contempt.
- 1 Samuel 2:24 No, my sons; it is not a good report I hear circulating among the LORD’s people.
- 1 Kings 12:19 So to this day Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David.