The Fall of Samaria

In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah, Hoshea the son of Elah began his nine-year reign over Israel in Samaria (2 Kings 17:1). While he did evil in the sight of the Lord, the text states it was not to the extent of the kings of Israel who preceded him (2 Kings 17:2). During his reign, Shalmaneser king of Assyria campaigned against him, and Hoshea became his vassal, paying him tribute. However, the king of Assyria discovered a conspiracy; Hoshea had sent messengers to So king of Egypt—the text does not say what was communicated—and had ceased paying the annual tribute (2 Kings 17:4).

In response to this treachery, Shalmaneser confined Hoshea and bound him in prison (2 Kings 17:4). The king of Assyria then invaded the entire land and laid siege to Samaria for three years (2 Kings 17:5). 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 towns of the Medes (2 Kings 17:6). The text attributes this disaster to the Israelites' sins against the Lord, including the worship of other gods and following the customs of the nations whom the Lord had driven out before them (2 Kings 17:7-8).

The Israelites had secretly practiced things that were not right, building high places in all their towns and setting up sacred stones and Asherah poles on every high hill (2 Kings 17:9-10). Despite warnings delivered through all his prophets and seers to turn from their evil ways, the people remained stiff-necked (2 Kings 17:13-14). Consequently, the Lord was very angry with Israel and removed them from his presence, leaving only the tribe of Judah (2 Kings 17:18). The king of Assyria later brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sepharvaim to settle in the towns of Samaria to replace the Israelites (2 Kings 17:24).