Topical Encyclopedia
Historical ContextAssyria was a dominant Mesopotamian empire known for its military prowess and expansionist policies. During the 8th century BC, Assyria reached the height of its power, exerting influence over much of the Near East. The Assyrian kings were known for their campaigns against neighboring nations, including the Kingdom of Israel.
Shalmaneser VShalmaneser V reigned as king of Assyria from 727 to 722 BC. He was the son of Tiglath-Pileser III, a king noted for his administrative reforms and military conquests. Shalmaneser continued his father's policies, focusing on maintaining Assyrian dominance over vassal states, including Israel.
Hoshea, King of IsraelHoshea was the last king of the northern Kingdom of Israel, reigning from approximately 732 to 722 BC. His reign was marked by political instability and shifting allegiances. Initially, Hoshea was a vassal to Assyria, paying tribute to maintain his throne.
Rebellion and ImprisonmentThe biblical account of Hoshea's rebellion against Assyria is recorded in
2 Kings 17:3-6. Hoshea ceased paying tribute to Shalmaneser and sought an alliance with Egypt, hoping to free Israel from Assyrian control. This act of defiance prompted Shalmaneser to take military action against Israel.
The Berean Standard Bible states: "Shalmaneser king of Assyria attacked him, and Hoshea became his vassal and paid him tribute. But the king of Assyria discovered that Hoshea had conspired, sending envoys to So king of Egypt, and that he had not paid tribute to the king of Assyria as in previous years. Therefore, the king of Assyria arrested Hoshea and put him in prison" (
2 Kings 17:3-4).
The Fall of SamariaFollowing Hoshea's imprisonment, Shalmaneser laid siege to Samaria, the capital of Israel. The siege lasted for three years, culminating in the city's capture in 722 BC. This event marked the end of the northern kingdom, as the Assyrians deported many Israelites and resettled the land with foreign populations.
The Berean Standard Bible records: "In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria captured Samaria and deported the Israelites to Assyria. He settled them in Halah, in Gozan on the Habor River, and in the cities of the Medes" (
2 Kings 17:6).
Theological SignificanceThe fall of Samaria and the exile of the Israelites were seen as divine judgment for the nation's persistent idolatry and disobedience to God's covenant. The biblical narrative emphasizes that Israel's downfall was a consequence of turning away from the LORD and embracing the practices of surrounding nations.
The Berean Standard Bible highlights this theme: "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 and had feared other gods" (
2 Kings 17:7).
LegacyShalmaneser's actions against Israel had lasting implications for the history of the region. The Assyrian policy of deportation and resettlement contributed to the cultural and religious syncretism that characterized the area in subsequent centuries. The fall of the northern kingdom served as a somber reminder of the consequences of forsaking the covenant with God.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
2 Kings 17:4And 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.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
Resources
Who was King Hoshea in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWhen and how was Nineveh destroyed? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is British Israelism and is it biblical? | GotQuestions.orgBible Concordance •
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