2 Kings 17:8 - Exposition

And walked in the statutes of the heathen. The" statutes of the heathen" are their customs and observances, especially in matters of religion. The Israelites had been repeatedly warned not to follow these (see Le 2 Kings 18:3 , 2 Kings 18:30 ; Deuteronomy 12:29-31 ; Deuteronomy 18:9-14 , etc.). Whom the Lord east out from before the children of Israel— i.e. the Canaanitish nations, whose idolatries and other " abominations " were particularly hateful to God (see Le 2 Kings 18:26-29 ; Deuteronomy 20:18 ; Deuteronomy 29:17 ; Deuteronomy 32:16 , etc.)— and of the kings of Israel. The sins and idolatries of Israel had a double origin. The great majority were derived from the heathen nations with whom they were brought into contact, and were adopted voluntarily by the people themselves. Of this kind were the worship at " high places" ( 2 Kings 17:9 ), the " images " and "groves" ( 2 Kings 17:10 ), the causing of their children to "pass through the fire" ( 2 Kings 17:17 ), the employment of divination and enchantments ( 2 Kings 17:17 ), and perhaps the " worship of the host of heaven" ( 2 Kings 17:16 ). A certain number, however, came in from a different source, being imposed upon the people by their kings. To this class belong the desertion of the temple-worship, enforced by Jeroboam (vex. 21), the setting up of the calves at Dan and Bethel ( 2 Kings 17:16 ) by the same, and the Baal and Astarte worship ( 2 Kings 17:16 ), introduced by Ahab. This last and worst idolatry was not established without a good deal of persecution, as we learn from 1 Kings 18:4 . Which they had made.