What is the meaning of 2 Kings 17:2? And he did evil in the sight of the LORD • The statement is God’s absolute verdict—He alone defines good and evil (Genesis 18:25; Psalm 119:137). • “Evil” for Israel’s kings usually meant idolatry, covenant-breaking, and oppression of the weak (1 Kings 16:30–33; Hosea 4:1–2). • Hoshea chose the same sinful path, ignoring the clear warnings that judgment always follows national disobedience (Deuteronomy 28:15–68; 2 Kings 17:13-15). • God’s sight is the ultimate courtroom; public opinion or political success never override His holy standard (Proverbs 15:3; 1 Samuel 16:7). but not like the kings of Israel who preceded him • The comparison shows degrees of wickedness; earlier rulers such as Jeroboam I institutionalized calf worship (1 Kings 12:28-30), Ahab introduced Baalism (1 Kings 16:31-33), and Pekah filled the land with violence (2 Kings 15:25). • Hoshea seems less aggressive in promoting idolatry; he may have tolerated some return to true worship (2 Kings 17:4 hints he sent messengers to “So, king of Egypt,” possibly seeking help rather than relying solely on pagan alliances). • Yet “not like” does not equal righteousness; partial reform without full repentance still draws God’s judgment (2 Kings 17:7-18). • The phrase underscores God’s meticulous record-keeping—He notes both the relative restraint and the continued rebellion (Romans 2:4-6; Revelation 20:12). summary 2 Kings 17:2 records God’s balanced assessment of Hoshea: his reign was evil because he violated the covenant, yet his sins were not as flagrant as those of earlier northern kings. The verse reminds us that the Lord measures every leader and nation by His unchanging standard. Degrees of sin do not cancel guilt; only wholehearted obedience and trust in Him bring true deliverance. |
    |