Topical Bible: Lion: Sent As Judgment Upon the Samaritans

◄ Lion: Sent As Judgment Upon the Samaritans ►

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In the biblical narrative, lions are often depicted as symbols of strength and power, but they also serve as instruments of divine judgment. One notable instance of this is found in the account of lions being sent as judgment upon the Samaritans, as recorded in the Old Testament.

Biblical Context

The event is detailed in 2 Kings 17, during the period of the Assyrian conquest of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. After the Assyrians captured Samaria, they deported many Israelites and repopulated the land with people from various regions of the Assyrian Empire. This resettlement led to a syncretistic form of worship, as the new inhabitants did not initially fear the LORD, the God of Israel.

Divine Judgment

In response to this lack of reverence and the introduction of foreign religious practices, the LORD sent lions among the people. The Berean Standard Bible records this event in 2 Kings 17:25: "Now when they first lived there, they did not fear the LORD, so He sent lions among them, which killed some of them." This act of sending lions served as a direct judgment from God, highlighting His displeasure with the idolatry and the neglect of His commandments.

Reaction and Resolution

The presence of the lions and the resulting deaths prompted the new inhabitants to seek a solution. They reported the situation to the king of Assyria, who then commanded that one of the exiled Israelite priests be sent back to teach the people how to worship the LORD. As stated in 2 Kings 17:27-28 : "Then the king of Assyria commanded, 'Send back one of the priests you took captive from Samaria, and have him go and live there to teach them the requirements of the God of the land.' So one of the priests who had been exiled from Samaria came to live in Bethel and taught them how they should fear the LORD."

Continued Syncretism

Despite the efforts to instruct the people in the ways of the LORD, the inhabitants of Samaria continued to practice a mixed form of worship. They feared the LORD but also served their own gods, as described in 2 Kings 17:33 : "They feared the LORD, but they also served their own gods according to the customs of the nations from which they had been carried away."

Theological Implications

This episode underscores the seriousness with which God views idolatry and the importance of true worship. The sending of lions as a form of judgment serves as a reminder of God's sovereignty and His expectation that His people honor Him exclusively. The narrative also illustrates the challenges of maintaining pure worship in a context of cultural and religious pluralism, a theme that resonates throughout the biblical text.

Nave's Topical Index

2 Kings 17:25,26
And so it was at the beginning of their dwelling there, that they feared not the LORD: therefore the LORD sent lions among them, which slew some of them.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

The Blessing of Jacob Upon Judah. (Gen. Xlix. 8-10. )
... he would only betray an utter absence of all scientific judgment. ... but especially
on the blessing of Jacob upon Judah. ... a people, like a full-grown lion he rises ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/the blessing of jacob upon.htm

The Dialogue against the Luciferians.
... or Daniel in the lion's den? ... The raven also is sent forth from the ark but does not
return, and ... the end thereof are the ways of death." When our judgment is so ...
/.../the principal works of st jerome/the dialogue against the luciferians.htm

Psalm LXXII.
... And because even here he putteth judgment in a good sense ... even from things earthly,
to wit, stone, lion, lamb, man ... whence also He said, "I am not sent but to ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm lxxii.htm

The First Evangelists
... of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for ... I was delivered out of the
mouth of the lion." 2:Tim ... God, and Jesus Christ whom He has sent, would bring ...
/.../white/the desire of ages/chapter 37 the first evangelists.htm

Epistle Lxxv. To Magnus, on Baptizing the Novatians, and those who ...
... smitten by the majesty of the divine judgment, so that ... on the way by the jaws of
a lion which attacked ... For when first He sent His disciples on the ministry of ...
/.../cyprian/the epistles of cyprian/epistle lxxv to magnus on.htm

Acts xv. 1
... lips," saith it, "they shall seek judgment" (Malachi 3 ... it saith, "Our adversary,
as a roaring lion, walketh about ... Apostles and messengers who were sent to appeal ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/homily xxxii acts xv 1.htm

Acts xi. 19
... lead armies), the champion of single combat, the lion"I am ... "As each had the ability,
they sent." But now ... that they are naked: speak to them of judgment to come ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/homily xxv acts xi 19.htm

Beginning at Jerusalem. --Luke xxiv. 47.
... Therefore, in reason, when mercy is sent down from ... Many, and many more of the Samaritans
believed on ... who shall after this manner execute judgment upon all, and ...
/.../bunyan/jerusalem sinner saved/beginning at jerusalem luke xxiv 47.htm

The Jerusalem Sinner Saved;
... Therefore, in reason, when mercy is sent down from heaven to ... in their own eyes, and
in the judgment of the ... that God is willing to have mercy upon us, incline ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the jerusalem sinner saved.htm

Against vigilantius.
... So that to the day of judgment they are to be ... Vigilantius the live dog be better
than Paul the dead lion? ... with all his heart that money be sent to Jerusalem ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/against vigilantius.htm