Bible Strands
2 Kings 17:31
the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burned their children in the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech the gods of Sepharvaim.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrative records the religious practices of foreign settlers relocated to Samaria by the Assyrian king, specifically detailing how the Avvites and Sepharvites established their own deities. This follows the account of other resettled groups creating gods for their respective cities in the preceding verse.
The words — The Hebrew text highlights עָשׂוּ ('asu), meaning "they made," describing the Avvites' creation of Nibhaz and Tartak, and שֹׂרְפִים (sorephim), meaning "[were] burning," describing the Sepharvites' child sacrifice to Adrammelech and Anammelech.
The thread — This practice of child sacrifice in fire connects to the broader condemnation of Israel's own sins in 2 Kings 17:17 and the later assassination of Sennacherib by his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer in 2 Kings 19:37. The resettlement context is established in 2 Kings 17:24.
Why it lands — The passage documents the immediate syncretism of displaced populations, showing how foreign religious systems were imported into Samaria alongside nominal worship of the LORD. It demands recognition that religious compromise manifests through the adoption of foreign rites rather than mere absence of faith.
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 the Avites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burnt their children in fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim.
Cross-references
- 2 Kings 17:24 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.
- 2 Kings 17:17 They sacrificed their sons and daughters in the fire and practiced divination and soothsaying. They devoted themselves to doing evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger.
- 2 Kings 19:37 One day, while he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisroch, his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer put him to the sword and escaped to the land of Ararat. And his son Esar-haddon reigned in his place.
- Leviticus 18:21 You must not give any of your children to be sacrificed to Molech, for you must not profane the name of your God. I am the LORD.
- Deuteronomy 12:28 Be careful to obey all these things I command you, so that it may always go well with you and your children after you, because you will be doing what is good and right in the eyes of the LORD your God.
- Deuteronomy 12:31 You must not worship the LORD your God in this way, because they practice for their gods every abomination which the LORD hates. They even burn their sons and daughters in the fire as sacrifices to their gods.
- Ezra 4:9 From Rehum the commander, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their associates—the judges and officials over Tripolis, Persia, Erech and Babylon, the Elamites of Susa,