מלכים ב, פרק י״ז, פסוק מ׳

A period defined by deep spiritual stubbornness, ignored warnings, and a tight grip on old habits sets the historical stage at this moment. Commentators debate the exact target of this critique, offering two distinct perspectives on who is actually being described.

One approach suggests that the focus is on the foreign nations—often referred to as Samaritans or Cuthites—who were resettled into the land of Israel [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ, אלשיך]. These groups underwent a partial conversion, adopting an outward display of reverence for God. However, they ignored the actual commandments and instead formed a mixed religion, stubbornly continuing to worship idols exactly as they had done in their homelands [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Despite this flawed worship, their guilt was considered lesser than that of the Israelites. Because these foreign nations were never bound by the original covenant and had no divine promise of protection in exchange for obedience, God permitted them to remain in the land. This stands in sharp contrast to the Israelites, who faced exile for similar sins [אלשיך].

Conversely, another school of thought argues that the critique is directed squarely at the Israelites themselves [רלב״ג, מלבי״ם]. From this viewpoint, the narrative highlights the deep closed-mindedness of the people. They turned a deaf ear to the prophets who reprimanded them, persisting in their destructive behaviors just as they had before receiving any warnings [רד״ק]. This deeply rooted devotion to idol worship explains why, many generations later, King Josiah still discovered priests serving at forbidden high places [רלב״ג]. Ultimately, because the Israelites absolutely refused to change and insisted on clinging to their former ways, God abandoned them to the bitter reality of exile, delivering them into the hands of their enemies [מלבי״ם].