2 Kings 17:16 “They abandoned all the commandments of the LORD their God and made for…”

2 Kings 17:16

They abandoned all the commandments of the LORD their God and made for themselves two cast idols of calves and an Asherah pole. They bowed down to all the host of heaven and served Baal.

Berean Standard Bible

Other translations

King James Version

And they left all the commandments of the LORD their God, and made them molten images, even two calves, and made a grove, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served Baal.

World English Bible

They abandoned all the commandments of the LORD their God, and made molten images for themselves, even two calves, and made an Asherah, and worshiped all the army of the sky, and served Baal.

American Standard Version

And they forsook all the commandments of Jehovah their God, and made them molten images, even two calves, and made an Asherah, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served Baal.

Geneva Bible 1599

Finally they left all the commandements of the Lord their God, and made them molten images, euen two calues, and made a groue, and worshipped all the hoste of heauen, and serued Baal.

Darby Translation

And they forsook all the commandments of Jehovah their God, and made them molten images, two calves, and made an Asherah, and worshipped all the host of the heavens, and served Baal;

Young's Literal Translation

And they forsake all the commands of Jehovah their God, and make to them a molten image — two calves, and make a shrine, and bow themselves to all the host of the heavens, and serve Baal,

Bible in Basic English

And turning their backs on all the orders which the Lord had given them, they made for themselves images of metal, and the image of Asherah, worshipping all the stars of heaven and becoming servants to Baal.

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Cross references

“molten images”

1 Kings 12:28 Exodus 32:4 Exodus 32:8 Psalm 106:18–20 Isaiah 44:9 Isaiah 44:10

1 Kings 12:28 · BSB

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.”

Exodus 32:4 · BSB

He took the gold from their hands, and with an engraving tool he fashioned it into a molten calf. And they said, “These, O Israel, are your gods, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!”

Exodus 32:8 · BSB

How quickly they have turned aside from the way that I commanded them! They have made for themselves a molten calf and have bowed down to it. They have sacrificed to it and said, ‘These, O Israel, are your gods, who brou…

Psalm 106:18–20 · BSB

Then fire blazed through their company; flames consumed the wicked.

Isaiah 44:9 · BSB

All makers of idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless. Their witnesses fail to see or comprehend, so they are put to shame.

Isaiah 44:10 · BSB

Who fashions a god or casts an idol which profits him nothing?

“a grove”

1 Kings 14:15 1 Kings 14:23 1 Kings 15:13 1 Kings 16:33 2 Kings 17:10

1 Kings 14:15 · BSB

For the LORD will strike Israel as a reed is shaken in the water. He will uproot Israel from this good land that He gave their fathers, and He will scatter them beyond the Euphrates, because they have made their Asherah…

1 Kings 14:23 · BSB

They also built for themselves high places, sacred pillars, and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every green tree.

1 Kings 15:13 · BSB

He also removed his grandmother Maacah from her position as queen mother because she had made a detestable Asherah pole. Asa chopped down the pole and burned it in the Kidron Valley.

1 Kings 16:33 · BSB

Then he set up an Asherah pole. Thus Ahab did more to provoke the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger than all the kings of Israel before him.

2 Kings 17:10 · BSB

They set up for themselves sacred pillars and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every green tree.

“worshipped”

Deuteronomy 4:19 Jeremiah 8:2

Deuteronomy 4:19 · BSB

When you look to the heavens and see the sun and moon and stars—all the host of heaven—do not be enticed to bow down and worship what the LORD your God has apportioned to all the nations under heaven.

Jeremiah 8:2 · BSB

They will be exposed to the sun and moon, and to all the host of heaven which they have loved, served, followed, consulted, and worshiped. Their bones will not be gathered up or buried, but will become like dung lying on…

“Baal”

1 Kings 16:31 2 Kings 11:18 1 Kings 22:53 2 Kings 10:18–28

1 Kings 16:31 · BSB

And as if it were not enough for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, he even married Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and he then proceeded to serve and worship Baal.

2 Kings 11:18 · BSB

So all the people of the land went to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They smashed the altars and idols to pieces, and they killed Mattan the priest of Baal in front of the altars. And Jehoiada the priest posted gua…

1 Kings 22:53 · BSB

Ahaziah served and worshiped Baal, provoking the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger, just as his father had done.

2 Kings 10:18–28 · BSB

Then Jehu brought all the people together and said, “Ahab served Baal a little, but Jehu will serve him a lot.

Also

2 Kings 21:3

2 Kings 21:3 · BSB

For he rebuilt the high places that his father Hezekiah had destroyed, and he raised up altars for Baal. He made an Asherah pole, as King Ahab of Israel had done, and he worshiped and served all the host of heaven.

Cross references adapted from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0) and the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

In context

15They rejected His statutes and the covenant He had made with their fathers, as well as the decrees He had given them. They pursued worthless idols and became worthless themselves, going after the surrounding nations that the LORD had commanded them not to imitate.

17They 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.

Read 2 Kings 17