Bible Strands
2 Kings 17:25
Now when the settlers first lived there, they did not worship the LORD, so He sent lions among them, which killed some of them.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator records the immediate aftermath of the Assyrian king's deportation policy, which relocated foreign populations to repopulate Samaria. This account establishes the historical moment before the settlers will formally petition the Assyrian monarch for religious instruction.
The words — The phrase בִּתְחִלַּת שִׁבְתָּם שָׁם (bi'tchilat shivtam sham) translates literally to "at the beginning of their dwelling there," marking the initial settlement period. The verb יָרְאוּ (yare'u) means "they feared" or "they revered," noting the settlers' initial absence of proper reverence toward Yahweh.
The thread — The lion attacks are directly cited by the settlers in 2 Kings 17:26 as evidence of their ignorance regarding the land's God. The narrative later tracks how this initial failure persisted as the groups blended Yahweh worship with idolatry in 2 Kings 17:32, 17:34, and 17:41.
Why it lands — The text states that the settlers faced lethal judgment because they did not know or fear Yahweh. It asks the reader to acknowledge that religious ignorance in a specific covenant context produces concrete historical consequences.
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
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.
Cross-references
- 2 Kings 17:32 So the new residents worshiped the LORD, but they also appointed for themselves priests of all sorts to serve in the shrines of the high places.
- 2 Kings 17:34 To this day they are still practicing their former customs. None of them worship the LORD or observe the statutes, ordinances, laws, and commandments that the LORD gave the descendants of Jacob, whom He named Israel.
- 2 Kings 17:41 So these nations worshiped the LORD but also served their idols, and to this day their children and grandchildren continue to do as their fathers did.
- Joshua 22:25 For the LORD has made the Jordan a border between us and you Reubenites and Gadites. You have no share in the LORD!’ So your descendants could cause ours to stop fearing the LORD.
- 1 Kings 13:24 As he went on his way, a lion met him on the road and killed him, and his body was left lying in the road, with the donkey and the lion standing beside it.
- 1 Kings 20:36 Then the prophet said to him, “Because you have not obeyed the voice of the LORD, as soon as you depart from me a lion will kill you.” And when he left, a lion found him and killed him.
- 2 Kings 2:24 Then he turned around, looked at them, and called down a curse on them in the name of the LORD. Suddenly two female bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the boys.
- 2 Kings 17:28 Thus one of the priests they had carried away came and lived in Bethel, and he began to teach them how they should worship the LORD.
- Jeremiah 5:6 Therefore a lion from the forest will strike them down, a wolf from the desert will ravage them. A leopard will lie in wait near their cities, and everyone who ventures out will be torn to pieces. For their rebellious acts are many, and their unfaithful deeds are numerous.
- Jeremiah 10:7 Who would not fear You, O King of nations? This is Your due. For among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their kingdoms, there is none like You.