2 Kings 17:1-6

Hoshea Reigns over Israel

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

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

3 ²Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up ³against him, and Hoshea became his servant and paid him tribute.

4 But the king of Assyria found conspiracy in Hoshea, who had sent messengers to So king of Egypt and had offered no tribute to the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year; so the king of Assyria shut him up and bound him in prison *.

5 Then the king of Assyria invaded the whole land and went up to ⁴Samaria and besieged * it three years.

Israel Captive

6 In the ninth year of Hoshea, ⁵the king of Assyria captured Samaria and ⁶carried Israel away into exile to Assyria, and ⁷settled them in Halah and Habor, on the river of ⁸Gozan, and ⁹in the cities of the Medes.

2 Kings 17:1-6 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 2 KINGS 17

This chapter relates the captivity of the ten tribes of Israel, and how it came about, 2Ki 17:1-6, the cause of it, their idolatry, which they persisted in, notwithstanding the remonstrances made against it, 2Ki 17:7-23, in whose stead were placed people from different parts, who exercised a mixed religion, partly Heathenish, and partly Israelitish, 2Ki 17:24.

Cross References

• 1. 2 Kings 15:30
• 2. Hosea 10:14
• 3. 2 Kings 18:9-12
• 4. Hosea 13:16
• 5. Hosea 13:16
• 6. Deuteronomy 28:64; Deuteronomy 29:27, 28
• 7. 2 Kings 18:11; 1 Chronicles 5:26
• 8. Isaiah 37:12
• 9. Isaiah 13:17; Isaiah 21:2