What does 2 Kings 15:38 Mean?

Context Summary

The dissolution of Israel proceeded rapidly, for nothing could avert the steady advance of the Assyrian. According to the usual policy of Eastern conquerors, the flower of the nation was sent beyond the Euphrates to people the thinly inhabited portions of the Assyrian empire; and when this process was completed, new settlers were brought from Assyria to occupy the depopulated land, 2 Kings 17:24. The cuneiform inscriptions discovered at Nineveh contain remarkable corroborations of the Bible records. This was the first captivity, or exile, of Israel.

The ten tribes never returned to Palestine to any appreciable degree; but their terrible discipline became the enriching of the world. They planted synagogues on foreign soil, and disseminated in many lands the knowledge of Jehovah and their Scriptures. They were represented at Jerusalem by their descendants on the day of Pentecost; and the Apostle John counted their myriads among the redeemed, Revelation 7:1-17. [source]

Chapter Summary: 2 Kings 15

¹  Azariah's good reign
⁵  He dying a leper, is succeeded by Jotham
⁸  Zachariah the last of Jehu's generation, reigning ill, is slain by Shallum
¹³  Shallum, reigning a month, is slain by Nenahem
¹⁶  Menahem strengthens himself by Pul
²¹  Pekahiah succeeds him
²³  Pekahiah is slain by Pekah
²⁷  Pekah is oppressed by Tiglath-pileser, and slain by Hoshea
³²  Jotham's good reign
³⁶  Ahaz succeeds him