1. In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah began Hoshea the son of Elah to reign in Samaria over Israel nine years. / 2. And he did {that which was} evil in the sight of the LORD, but not as the kings of Israel that were before him. →

Well folks, this week in 2 Kings 17, we got a real wild ride. Apparently, God was not happy with the people of Israel and Judah so he decided to punish them by exiling them to Assyria. But that's not all! He also made them forget their own language and forced them to adopt the Assyrian language and customs. →

Joe: Alright, so we're talking about 2 Kings 17 now. Let me get this straight, this is the chapter where the Israelites are exiled to Assyria? Bible Expert: That's right, Joe. 2 Kings 17 tells the story of how the northern kingdom of Israel was conquered by the Assyrian Empire and how the people were exiled to Assyria as a result. →

Alex Trebek: So, what do you do for fun? Contestant: I like to read the Bible. Alex Trebek: Oh, okay. So what have you been reading recently? Contestant: Well, I just finished 2 Kings 17. Alex Trebek: [Sighs] Alright, what is 2 Kings 17 about? →

Recruits! Listen up! This is 2 Kings 17. Back in this day, the Northern Kingdom of Israel was a hot mess. The people of Israel had been unfaithful to the Lord and the Lord sent prophets to warn the people to turn back to him. →

Batman: Ah, Robin, the latest chapter of the Bible is 2 Kings 17. Robin: Gosh, Batman, what does it say? Batman: It's a sad story, Robin. In this chapter, the Lord sends Israel into exile for their sins. →

Listen, Jack, here's the deal. We got a story of an ancient people who were literally living a long time ago. They were doing some pretty messed up stuff, like worshipping idols and sacrificing their kids, c'mon, man! So, God decided to teach them a lesson and he sent the Assyrians to kick 'em out. →

This chapter of 2 Kings is very, very sad! The people of Israel, who were once a great nation, have been captivated by the Assyrians and taken from their homeland. This is a HUGE problem and God is not pleased. →

Peter: Alright, so 2 Kings 17. Lois: Okay, let's hear it. Peter: So the Lord was really angry with Israel and he had decided to punish them by uprooting them from their homeland and sending them into exile. →