But even the people of Judah refused to obey the commands of the Lord their God, for they followed the evil practices that Israel had introduced.
Parallel translations
- WEB Also Judah didn’t keep the commandments of Yahweh their God, but walked in the statutes of Israel which they made.
- KJV Also Judah kept not the commandments of the LORD their God, but walked in the statutes of Israel which they made.
- BSB and even Judah did not keep the commandments of the LORD their God, but lived according to the customs Israel had introduced.
- NKJV Also Judah did not keep the commandments of the Lord their God, but walked in the statutes of Israel which they made.
- NASB Judah did not keep the commandments of the Lord their God either, but they followed the customs which Israel had introduced.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Even Judah failed to keep God's commandments and followed Israel's practices. The southern kingdom is warned by its sister's fall.
Overview
The narrator pauses to indict Judah as well, noting that it too walked in the corrupt ways of Israel. This sober aside warns that Judah is not immune and foreshadows its own later exile to Babylon. It guards readers against self-righteousness, reminding them that all have sinned and stand in need of God's mercy.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- 2 Kgs 16:3But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, yes, and made his son to pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the nations whom Yahweh cast out from before the children of Israel.
- 1 Kgs 14:22–23Judah did that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight, and they provoked him to jealousy with their sins which they committed, above all that their fathers had done.
- 2 Chr 21:11Moreover he made high places in the mountains of Judah, and made the inhabitants of Jerusalem play the prostitute, and led Judah astray.
- 2 Chr 21:13but have walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and have made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to play the prostitute like Ahab’s house did, and also have slain your brothers of your father’s house, who were better than yourself,
- Ezek 16:51–52Neither has Samaria committed half of your sins; but you have multiplied your abominations more than they, and have justified your sisters by all your abominations which you have done.
- Jer 3:8–11I saw when, for this very cause, that backsliding Israel had committed adultery, I had put her away and given her a bill of divorce, yet treacherous Judah, her sister, had no fear; but she also went and played the prostitute.
- 2 Kgs 8:27He walked in the way of Ahab’s house, and did that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight, as did Ahab’s house; for he was the son-in-law of Ahab’s house.
- Ezek 22:2–16“You, son of man, will you judge? Will you judge the bloody city? Then cause her to know all her abominations.
- 2 Kgs 8:18He walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as did Ahab’s house; for he married Ahab’s daughter. He did that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight.
- Jer 2:28“But where are your gods that you have made for yourselves? Let them arise, if they can save you in the time of your trouble: for you have as many gods as you have towns, O Judah.
- Ezek 23:4–13Their names were Oholah the elder, and Oholibah her sister. They became mine, and they bore sons and daughters. As for their names, Samaria is Oholah, and Jerusalem Oholibah.
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Christ at the center
Amid the long decline toward exile, the promise to David's house refuses to die; the flickering lamp kept burning anticipates the coming King who will not fail or be cut off.
How 2 Kings 17:19 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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