They feared the LORD, and served their own gods, after the manner of the nations whom they carried away from thence.
They worshiped the LORD, but they also served their own gods, following the customs of the nations from which they had been brought.
This verse describes people who tried to worship God while also keeping their old religious practices, living with divided loyalty.
📚 Historical Context
In the historical context of 2 Kings 17, the Assyrian empire had conquered the Northern Kingdom of Israel, deporting its people and resettling foreigners from other nations in the land. These newcomers blended the worship of the Lord with their own pagan practices, fearing God superficially while continuing to serve their idols as they had in their original homelands. This syncretism highlighted the spiritual compromise that arose from cultural mixing during the Assyrian exile.
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