Bible Figure
Hoshea
Hoshea son of Elah was the last king of the northern kingdom of Israel. His reign ended with the Assyrian conquest of Samaria and the exile of much of Israel's population.
Biography
Hoshea came to power after killing Pekah and initially served as a vassal of Assyria. Later he withheld tribute and sought assistance from Egypt. The Assyrian king arrested Hoshea and invaded the land, while Samaria endured a three-year siege before falling. Second Kings 17 then gives an extended theological explanation of the northern kingdom's destruction: Israel had worshiped other gods, rejected God's statutes, followed idols, practiced forbidden rites, and ignored repeated prophetic warnings. The population was deported to Assyrian territories, and other peoples were settled in the cities of Samaria.
Biblical Significance
Hoshea's reign marks the end of the northern monarchy. The biblical account interprets Israel's fall not merely as geopolitical defeat but as the long-delayed consequence of persistent covenant rebellion despite prophetic warnings.