Hoshea

AI summary: Hoshea matters because the cross references present him as the final ruler at the moment Israel's long decline becomes national collapse. He reaches the throne through conspiracy, submits to Assyria, rebels, and then disappears as Samaria is besieged and the people are carried away. His personal reign is less important than what ends under him. Taken together, the material presents Hoshea as the last northern king, a figure whose failure stands at the terminus of Israel's divided-monarchy history.¹

The last king of Israel. He conspired against and slew his predecessor, Pekah (Isa. 7:16), but did not ascend the throne till after an interregnum of warfare of eight years (2 Kings 17:1, 2). Soon after this he submitted to Shalmaneser, the Assyrian king, who a second time invaded the land to punish Hoshea, because of his withholding tribute which he had promised to pay. A second revolt brought back the Assyrian king Sargon, who besieged Samaria, and carried the ten tribes away beyond the Euphrates, B.C. 720 (2 Kings 17:5, 6; 18:9-12). No more is heard of Hoshea. He disappeared like “foam upon the water” (Hos. 10:7; 13:11). ³