What does 2 Kings 17:23 mean?
"Until the LORD removed Israel out of his sight, as he had said by all his servants the prophets. So was Israel carried away out of their own land to Assyria unto this day." - 2 Kings 17:23
2 Kings 17:23 - "Until the LORD removed Israel out of his sight, as he had said by all his servants the prophets. So was Israel carried away out of their own land to Assyria unto this day."
2 Kings 17:23 in the King James Version reads, "Until the Lord removed Israel out of his sight, as he had said by all his servants the prophets. So was Israel carried away out of their own land to Assyria unto this day."
This verse is part of the historical account of the downfall of the northern kingdom of Israel. The book of 2 Kings chronicles the history of the kingdoms of Israel and Judah from the reign of Solomon to the fall of Jerusalem. In this particular verse, the focus is on the consequences of Israel's disobedience to God, which ultimately led to their exile.
The theme of disobedience and its consequences is a central focus of the entire book of 2 Kings. The author repeatedly highlights how the Israelites turned away from God, worshiped idols, and engaged in wickedness. As a result, God's judgment fell upon them, leading to their eventual defeat and exile. This verse serves as a stark reminder of the importance of obedience and the severe consequences of turning away from God.
The context of 2 Kings 17:23 is the period of Israel's history when they were ruled by a series of wicked kings who led the nation into idolatry and sin. This verse comes at the end of a description of the fall of the northern kingdom of Israel at the hands of the Assyrians. The author of 2 Kings attributes the fall of Israel to their persistent disobedience to God and their refusal to listen to the warnings of the prophets sent to call them back to faithfulness.
The symbolism in this verse lies in the portrayal of Israel's exile as a direct result of their spiritual unfaithfulness. The phrase "carried away out of their own land to Assyria" symbolizes the devastating consequences of turning away from God. In the biblical narrative, the promised land of Canaan is a symbol of God's presence and blessing. Therefore, the exile to Assyria represents a severing of this relationship and a loss of the cherished covenantal connection with God.
Furthermore, the verse emphasizes the fulfillment of the prophetic warnings given by God's servants. The prophets had consistently warned Israel of the consequences of their actions and urged them to repent, but their words fell on deaf ears. The fulfillment of these prophecies serves as a sobering reminder of the reliability and trustworthiness of God's word. It underscores the seriousness of God's warnings and the certainty of His judgments when His people persist in disobedience.
Moreover, the phrase "Until the Lord removed Israel out of his sight" speaks to the profound truth that God cannot coexist with unrepentant sin. The exile of Israel from their land serves as a powerful metaphor for the separation between God and His people when they turn away from Him. It demonstrates the tragic outcome of forsaking the relationship with God and choosing to walk in rebellion.
In conclusion, 2 Kings 17:23 serves as a poignant reminder of the dire consequences of disobedience and the faithfulness of God in fulfilling His word. It highlights the historical and spiritual significance of Israel's exile and underscores the importance of obedience and faithfulness in maintaining a relationship with God. This verse challenges readers to consider the state of their own hearts and to heed the warnings of God's word, knowing that the consequences of disobedience are as real today as they were in ancient Israel.
2 Kings 17:23 Artwork
2 Kings 17:23 - "Until the LORD removed Israel out of his sight, as he had said by all his servants the prophets. So was Israel carried away out of their own land to Assyria unto this day."
2 Kings 23:23 - "But in the eighteenth year of king Josiah, wherein this passover was holden to the LORD in Jerusalem."
2 Kings 17:2 - "And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, but not as the kings of Israel that were before him."
2 Kings 19:17 - "Of a truth, LORD, the kings of Assyria have destroyed the nations and their lands,"
2 Kings 8:23 - "And the rest of the acts of Joram, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?"
2 Kings 23:22 - "Surely there was not holden such a passover from the days of the judges that judged Israel, nor in all the days of the kings of Israel, nor of the kings of Judah;"
2 Kings 23:28 - "Now the rest of the acts of Josiah, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?"
Generate Image of Valley of Hinnom With 2 kings 23 verse 10 quoeted within it
2 Kings 3:23 - "And they said, This is blood: the kings are surely slain, and they have smitten one another: now therefore, Moab, to the spoil."
1 Kings 17:2 - "And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying,"
2 Kings 23:17 - "Then he said, What title is that that I see? And the men of the city told him, It is the sepulchre of the man of God, which came from Judah, and proclaimed these things that thou hast done against the altar of Beth-el."
2 Kings 23:1 - "And the king sent, and they gathered unto him all the elders of Judah and of Jerusalem."
Genesis 17-23
Genesis 23-17
2 Kings 21:23 - "¶ And the servants of Amon conspired against him, and slew the king in his own house."
2 Kings 17:40 - "Howbeit they did not hearken, but they did after their former manner."
2 Kings 21:17 - "¶ Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and all that he did, and his sin that he sinned, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?"
2 Kings 9:23 - "And Joram turned his hands, and fled, and said to Ahaziah, There is treachery, O Ahaziah."
2 Kings 23:37 - "And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his fathers had done."
2 Kings 17:8 - "And walked in the statutes of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel, and of the kings of Israel, which they had made."
2 Samuel 23:23 - "He was more honourable than the thirty, but he attained not to the first three. And David set him over his guard."
2 Kings 23:32 - "And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his fathers had done."
2 Kings 23:21 - "¶ And the king commanded all the people, saying, Keep the passover unto the LORD your God, as it is written in the book of this covenant."
2 Kings 17:19 - "Also Judah kept not the commandments of the LORD their God, but walked in the statutes of Israel which they made."
2 Kings 17:17 - "And they caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire, and used divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger."
1 Kings 17:23 - "And Elijah took the child, and brought him down out of the chamber into the house, and delivered him unto his mother: and Elijah said, See, thy son liveth."
2 Kings 17:12 - "For they served idols, whereof the LORD had said unto them, Ye shall not do this thing."
2 Kings 24:17 - "¶ And the king of Babylon made Mattaniah his father's brother king in his stead, and changed his name to Zedekiah."
2 Kings 23:7 - "And he brake down the houses of the sodomites, that were by the house of the LORD, where the women wove hangings for the grove."
2 Kings 17:3 - "Against him came up Shalmaneser king of Assyria; and Hoshea became his servant, and gave him presents."