They attempted to hide their wrongdoing, but they could not hide from God.
“The sons of Israel did things secretly against the LORD their God which were not right. Moreover, they built for themselves high places in all their towns, from watchtower to fortified city.” (v.9) In this verse, we see the Northern Kingdom of Israel persisting in hidden sins, suggesting the people tried to conceal their wrongdoing. Yet God, who sees all, recognized the corruption that extended beyond the public arenas. The phrase about them doing things “secretly” points to an attitude of defiance that overshadowed any desire to remain faithful to the divine instructions given through Moses (Deuteronomy 12:2-4). Much of the context of 2 Kings 17 involves the reign of King Hoshea (732-724 B.C.), the final monarch of the Northern Kingdom before its downfall to the Assyrian Empire in 722 B.C., marking a landmark moment of judgment in Israel’s history.
They also “built for themselves high places in all their towns, from watchtower to fortified city” (v.9), illustrating the pervasive nature of their idol worship. A watchtower was a small structure used mainly for vigilance, while a fortified city was a larger, well-defended settlement with walls and gates. This statement shows that the Israelites set up illicit altars and shrines everywhere, from the smallest outposts to the most substantial urban centers. These high places often became associated with the worship of foreign deities, parallel to the fertility rites and customs central to neighboring nations, an act repeatedly forbidden in the Law.
This immense spread of unauthorized worship signified the collective heart of the people drifting away from the one true God. Despite multiple prophetic warnings, they continued practices that spurred the LORD’s righteous anger. Jesus, in the New Testament, speaks of worshiping God “in spirit and truth” (John 4:24), contrasting sharply with Israel’s widespread, misguided devotions that took place on these high places. Such misplaced worship ultimately brought about the nation’s downfall, serving as a cautionary reminder for all who read this account.
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2 Kings 17:9 meaning
“The sons of Israel did things secretly against the LORD their God which were not right. Moreover, they built for themselves high places in all their towns, from watchtower to fortified city.” (v.9) In this verse, we see the Northern Kingdom of Israel persisting in hidden sins, suggesting the people tried to conceal their wrongdoing. Yet God, who sees all, recognized the corruption that extended beyond the public arenas. The phrase about them doing things “secretly” points to an attitude of defiance that overshadowed any desire to remain faithful to the divine instructions given through Moses (Deuteronomy 12:2-4). Much of the context of 2 Kings 17 involves the reign of King Hoshea (732-724 B.C.), the final monarch of the Northern Kingdom before its downfall to the Assyrian Empire in 722 B.C., marking a landmark moment of judgment in Israel’s history.
They also “built for themselves high places in all their towns, from watchtower to fortified city” (v.9), illustrating the pervasive nature of their idol worship. A watchtower was a small structure used mainly for vigilance, while a fortified city was a larger, well-defended settlement with walls and gates. This statement shows that the Israelites set up illicit altars and shrines everywhere, from the smallest outposts to the most substantial urban centers. These high places often became associated with the worship of foreign deities, parallel to the fertility rites and customs central to neighboring nations, an act repeatedly forbidden in the Law.
This immense spread of unauthorized worship signified the collective heart of the people drifting away from the one true God. Despite multiple prophetic warnings, they continued practices that spurred the LORD’s righteous anger. Jesus, in the New Testament, speaks of worshiping God “in spirit and truth” (John 4:24), contrasting sharply with Israel’s widespread, misguided devotions that took place on these high places. Such misplaced worship ultimately brought about the nation’s downfall, serving as a cautionary reminder for all who read this account.