Hoshea, son of Elah, was the final monarch to reign over the northern kingdom of Israel. His reign is chronicled in the biblical narrative, primarily in 2 Kings 17. Hoshea ascended to the throne during a tumultuous period marked by political instability and spiritual decline, which ultimately led to the fall of the kingdom.

Reign and Political Context

Hoshea came to power after assassinating his predecessor, King Pekah, as recorded in 2 Kings 15:30: "Then Hoshea son of Elah conspired against Pekah son of Remaliah, attacked and killed him, and reigned in his place." His reign began in the twentieth year of Jotham, king of Judah, and lasted for nine years (2 Kings 17:1).

During Hoshea's rule, the kingdom of Israel was a vassal state under the Assyrian Empire. Initially, Hoshea paid tribute to Shalmaneser V, the king of Assyria, as a means of maintaining peace and stability. However, he later sought to rebel against Assyrian dominance by forming an alliance with Egypt, a decision that proved disastrous for Israel.

Religious and Moral Climate

The spiritual state of Israel during Hoshea's reign was one of apostasy and idolatry. The people continued in the sins of Jeroboam, which included the worship of golden calves and other pagan practices. Despite the warnings of prophets, the nation persisted in its disobedience to the covenant with Yahweh. 2 Kings 17:7-8 states, "All this happened 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. They had walked in the customs of the nations that the LORD had driven out before the Israelites, as well as in the practices introduced by the kings of Israel."

Downfall and Exile

Hoshea's decision to withhold tribute and seek Egyptian support led to the Assyrian invasion. Shalmaneser V responded by besieging 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 marked the end of the northern kingdom, as the Assyrians deported the Israelites to various regions within their empire, effectively scattering the ten tribes.

2 Kings 17:6 records this pivotal moment: "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."

Legacy

Hoshea's reign is often viewed as the culmination of Israel's persistent rebellion against God. The fall of the northern kingdom served as a sobering reminder of the consequences of idolatry and covenant unfaithfulness. Despite the tragic end, the prophetic hope for Israel's restoration and the reunification of God's people remained a theme throughout the biblical narrative, pointing ultimately to the redemptive work of the Messiah.