Hoshea, son of Elah, was the last king of the northern kingdom of Israel, reigning from approximately 732 to 722 BC. His reign is chronicled in the biblical narrative found in 2 Kings 17. Hoshea ascended to the throne after assassinating his predecessor, Pekah, during a time of political instability and external threats from the Assyrian Empire.

Reign and Political Context

Hoshea's reign was marked by the increasing dominance of Assyria over the region. Initially, he became a vassal to Shalmaneser V, king of Assyria, and paid tribute to maintain a semblance of autonomy for Israel. The biblical account in 2 Kings 17:3 states, "Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against him, and Hoshea became his vassal and paid him tribute."

Conspiracy Against Assyria

Despite his subjugation, Hoshea sought to free Israel from Assyrian control. He conspired against Shalmaneser by seeking an alliance with So, king of Egypt, hoping to gain military support to resist Assyrian domination. This act of rebellion is recorded in 2 Kings 17:4: "But the king of Assyria discovered that Hoshea had conspired, for he had sent messengers to So king of Egypt and had not paid tribute to the king of Assyria as he had done year by year. Therefore, the king of Assyria arrested him and put him in prison."

Imprisonment and the Fall of Samaria

Hoshea's conspiracy ultimately failed, leading to his imprisonment by the Assyrians. His capture marked the beginning of the end for the northern kingdom. Shalmaneser V laid siege to Samaria, the capital of Israel, for three years. The city eventually fell in 722 BC, during the reign of Sargon II, Shalmaneser's successor. This event led to the deportation of the Israelites and the dispersion known as the Assyrian Captivity.

Religious and Moral Decline

The biblical narrative attributes the fall of Israel to the nation's persistent idolatry and disobedience to God's commandments. 2 Kings 17:7-8 explains, "All this took place because the Israelites had sinned against the LORD their God, who had brought them up out of the land of Egypt from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. They had worshiped other gods and walked in the customs of the nations that the LORD had driven out before the Israelites."

Hoshea's reign, therefore, is seen as the culmination of a long history of spiritual decline and rebellion against God. Despite his attempts to secure political independence, his failure to lead the nation back to covenant faithfulness resulted in divine judgment and the loss of the northern kingdom.

Legacy

Hoshea's legacy is a somber reminder of the consequences of turning away from God. His reign serves as a historical and theological lesson on the importance of faithfulness to God's covenant and the dangers of political alliances that compromise spiritual integrity. The fall of Israel under Hoshea's leadership underscores the biblical theme of divine justice and the fulfillment of prophetic warnings given by God's messengers throughout Israel's history.2 Kings 17:4
And the king of Assyria found conspiracy in Hoshea: for he had sent messengers to So king of Egypt, and brought no present to the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year: therefore the king of Assyria shut him up, and bound him in prison.
Nave's Topical Index

Who was King Hoshea in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Who was King Pekah in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

When and how was Israel conquered by the Assyrians? | GotQuestions.org

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