2 Kings 17:25

“And so it was at the beginning of their dwelling there, that they feared not the Lord, etc.] Did not serve him in any manner, but their idols only, which they brought with them; whereas it was usual with Heathens to serve the gods of the country, as they reputed them, where they came, along with their own; but even this those men did not do: therefore the Lord sent lions among them; even into their cities, into which lions sometimes came f206, especially when old, out of the thickets of Jordan and other places where they haunted, (see <244919>Jeremiah 49:19) which slew some of them; this the Lord did to assert his sovereignty, authority, and mighty power, and to let them know that he could…”

“The depopulation of the country, insufficiently remedied by the influx of foreigners, had the natural consequence of multiplying the wild beasts and making them bolder. Probably a certain number had always lurked in the jungle along the course of the Jordan Jeremiah 49:19; Jeremiah 50:44; and these now ventured into the hill country, and perhaps even into the cities. The colonists regarded their sufferings from the lions as a judgment upon them from “the god of the land” (2 Kings 17:26; compare 1 Kings 20:23 note). return to 'Top of Page'”

“Therefore - For their gross neglect, and contempt of God, which was contrary to the principles and practices of the Heathens, who used to worship the gods of the nations where they lived, and gave that honour to their false Gods, which here they denied to the true. Hereby also God asserted his own sovereignty over that land, and made them to understand, that neither the Israelites were cast out, nor they brought in by their valour, or strength, but by God's providence, who as he had cast the Israelites out for their neglect of God's service; so both could, and would in his due time, turn them out also, if they were guilty of the same sins. 4 Kings (2 Kings) 17:28”

“they feared: Kg2 17:28, Kg2 17:32, Kg2 17:34, Kg2 17:41; Jos 22:25; Jer 10:7; Dan 6:26; Jon 1:9 the Lord sent: Kg2 2:24; Kg1 13:24, Kg1 20:36; Jer 5:6, Jer 15:3; Eze 14:15, Eze 14:21 4 Kings (2 Kings) 17:26”