The sending of lions demonstrates God’s call to sincere reverence and underscores the peril of disregarding Him.
“At the beginning of their living there, they did not fear the LORD; therefore the LORD sent lions among them which killed some of them.” (v.25) These words describe what happened to the new inhabitants of Samaria after the Assyrians had taken the Israelites captive and brought in settlers from other foreign lands around 722 B.C. Samaria, located in the central region of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, fell to the Assyrian Empire, and its people were deported. As part of their resettlement strategy, the Assyrians brought new groups to dwell in Samaria’s cities. This verse explains that “they did not fear the LORD” (v.25), highlighting their lack of true worship towards the God of Israel. Because they had no reverence for the one true God, “the LORD sent lions among them” (v.25) as an act of both judgment and a call to recognize His sovereignty.
In the broader historical timeline, the conflict began when the Northern Kingdom had repeatedly disobeyed God’s covenant. King Hoshea was reigning over Israel immediately before the Assyrian conquest, from around 732 B.C. to 722 B.C. Once Hoshea’s kingdom fell, the capital of Samaria was overtaken. The Assyrians then populated the land with people from various places, who brought their own customs and worship practices. The verse points to how, in the midst of these foreign idols and rituals, the new inhabitants found themselves in danger because they did not “fear the LORD” (v.25). The sending of lions not only underscores divine displeasure with their idols but also serves as a reminder that the God of Israel is not a local deity but is Lord of all.
This theme resonates with other instances in the Bible that emphasize a proper fear of God, an attitude that Jesus affirms when He teaches reverence for the Father (Matthew 10:28). The new settlers in Samaria needed to understand the importance of putting aside their reliance on false gods to honor the living God. Even in the New Testament, believers are reminded to stand in awe of God’s holiness and majesty. This powerful message demonstrates how divine discipline can point people toward acknowledgment and worship of God as sovereign over nations and circumstances.
Set to dark mode
2 Kings 17:25 meaning
“At the beginning of their living there, they did not fear the LORD; therefore the LORD sent lions among them which killed some of them.” (v.25) These words describe what happened to the new inhabitants of Samaria after the Assyrians had taken the Israelites captive and brought in settlers from other foreign lands around 722 B.C. Samaria, located in the central region of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, fell to the Assyrian Empire, and its people were deported. As part of their resettlement strategy, the Assyrians brought new groups to dwell in Samaria’s cities. This verse explains that “they did not fear the LORD” (v.25), highlighting their lack of true worship towards the God of Israel. Because they had no reverence for the one true God, “the LORD sent lions among them” (v.25) as an act of both judgment and a call to recognize His sovereignty.
In the broader historical timeline, the conflict began when the Northern Kingdom had repeatedly disobeyed God’s covenant. King Hoshea was reigning over Israel immediately before the Assyrian conquest, from around 732 B.C. to 722 B.C. Once Hoshea’s kingdom fell, the capital of Samaria was overtaken. The Assyrians then populated the land with people from various places, who brought their own customs and worship practices. The verse points to how, in the midst of these foreign idols and rituals, the new inhabitants found themselves in danger because they did not “fear the LORD” (v.25). The sending of lions not only underscores divine displeasure with their idols but also serves as a reminder that the God of Israel is not a local deity but is Lord of all.
This theme resonates with other instances in the Bible that emphasize a proper fear of God, an attitude that Jesus affirms when He teaches reverence for the Father (Matthew 10:28). The new settlers in Samaria needed to understand the importance of putting aside their reliance on false gods to honor the living God. Even in the New Testament, believers are reminded to stand in awe of God’s holiness and majesty. This powerful message demonstrates how divine discipline can point people toward acknowledgment and worship of God as sovereign over nations and circumstances.