Reading for January 12th

 Read 2 Kings 17.29-41. In verses 29-34a: The newcomers, however, also retained the gods of their homelands and worshipped them along with the Lord. The names of the gods in vv. 30-31 are distortions or misspellings of the names of gods from different parts of the ancient Near East. However, the errors do not seem to be intentional. Rather, they betray an author (probably the deuteronomistic) who is unfamiliar with these  different gods and who also writes at a later date, as indicated by the to this day statement in v. 34a. In verses 34b-40: These verses were added by a later writer who viewed the religion of the Samaritans (residents of the province of Samaria) as illegitimate. Verse 34b, therefore, directly contradicts v. 33. many faithful Jews hated the Samaritans in part because of their religious practice, which mixed elements from other religions into Jewish observances. Samaritans were also regarded as practicing a form of Judaism, however, particularly at later periods. The  animosity between the two groups surfaces in Ezra 4.1-3 and is clearly reflected in stories in the New Testament Gospels (Lk 10. 29-37; Jn 4.7-42). In verse 41: The verse summarizes vv. 29-34a and may have been their original conclusion. It agrees with the viewpoint that the settlers worshipped both the lord and other gods. Comments or Questions..

Reading for January 11th

 Read 2 Kings 17.19-28. In verses 19-20: These verses are also an addition, perhaps part of the addition in vv. 7-18. They make it clear that Judah was guilty of the same offenses as Israel. They were apparently written in exile (after 586 BCE) as indicated in v. 20, where all the descendants of Israel would include both Israel and Judah. In verses 21-23: These verses conclude the theme of the sins of Jeroboam, which refers to the shrines at Dan and Bethel (1 Kings 12.25-33) and which every king of Israel is accused of perpetuating. In verse 24: In addition to deporting the people of Israel, the Assyrians settle captives from other countries in the former land of Israel. They also renamed the area the Assyrian province of Samaria (Samerina). In verses 25-28: A widely accepted idea in the ancient Near East was that each country had its own god and each god its own country. It was therefore considered important by the Assyrians that the people whom they had imported into Israel learn the law of god of the land (v. 26), and the attacks by lions were blamed on the failure to do this. Comments or Questions..

Reading for January 10th

 Read 2 Kings 17.7-18. Many scholars regard these verses as a later addition, in deuteronomistic style, to the initial Deuteronomistic History, since they explain Israel's fall as the result of idolatry, as opposed to the explanation in vv. 21-23, which culminates the theme of the sin of Jeroboam. Pillars and sacred poles (vv. 10, 16) were trappings of the worship of Canaanite gods. The host of heaven (v. 6) refers to astral deities (sun, moon, stars). Making their sons and daughters pass through the fire is child sacrifice. Comments and and Questions..

Reading for January 9th

 Read 2 Kings 17.1-6. In 17.1-41: The fall of Israel. In verse 2: It is not clear why Hoshea judged to be less evil than his predecessors. In verse 4: Hosea 7.11 may reflect the prophet Hosea's judgment of the foolishness of Hoshea's revolt against Assyria. In verse 5: The fact that Samaria held out for three years is a tribute to its defenses. In verse 6: This verse marks the end of the northern kingdom of Israel. The places listed here to which the people of Israel deported were all close to the Assyrian homeland. Comments or Questions..

Reading for January 8th

 Read 2 Kings 16.1-20. In 16.1-20: The reign of Ahaz. In verse 3: Making his son pass through fire is a reference to child sacrifice (see 3.27). In verse 5: This verse refers to the "Syro-Ephraimitic crisis" of 734 BCE. See comments on 15.37. The oracle of Isaiah is Isa 7 is directed to this situation. In verse 6: Judah's problems with Syria and Israel weakened its hold on Elath (see 14.22), and the Edomites took advantage. In verses 7-9: These verses continue with the Syro-Ephraimatic crisis. According to Isa 7, Isaiah counseled Ahaz against seeking the help of the Assyrians. These verses indicate that Ahaz chose to ignore that advice and purchased the aid of Tiglath-pileser against Syria and Israel. This placed Judah in a subject relationship to Assyria that would be the source of future problems. Kir is the place of the Syrians' origin, according to Am 9.7. It is also mentioned as the place of Syrian exile in Am 1.5. It is obviously in Mesopotamia though its exact location is unknown. In verses 10-16: This story is apparently meant as condemnation of Ahaz to illustrate his importation of foreign elements into the worship of the Lord. It maybe, however, that Ahaz intended the new altar to honor the Lord. Uriah the priest is likely the same figure mentioned in Isa 8.2. Ahaz was forced to remove some of the bronze from the temple in order to make his payment of tribute to the Assyrian king. For descriptions of the bronze oxen under the sea and laver stand see 1 Kings 7.23-27. The meaning and nature of the covered portal for use on the sabbath (v. 18) is uncertain.  Comments or Questions..