2 Kings 17:1-4 ▼

1 In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah, Hoshea the son of Elah became king over Israel in Samaria, and reigned for nine years.

2 He did evil in the sight of the LORD, but not as the kings of Israel who came before him.

3 Shalmaneser [V] king of Assyria came up against him, and Hoshea became his servant and paid him tribute (money).

4 But the king of Assyria discovered a conspiracy in Hoshea, who sent messengers to So, king of Egypt, and offered no tribute to the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year; therefore the king of Assyria arrested him and bound him in prison.