2 Kings 17:4

Translations

Modern

But the king of Assyria discovered that Hoshea had conspired to send envoys to King So 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.

Traditional

And 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.

Literal

And the king of Assyria uncovered in Hoshea a conspiracy, in that he had sent messengers to So king of Egypt, and he did not bring up tribute to the king of Assyria as year by year. And the king of Assyria shut him up and bound him in the house of imprisonment.

Latin

Cumque deprehendisset rex Assyriorum Osee, quod rebellare nitens misisset nuntios ad Sua regem Ægypti ne præstaret tributa regi Assyriorum sicut singulis annis solitus erat, obsedit eum, et vinctum misit in carcerem.

Original

Hebrew

English

But the king of Assyria discovered that Hoshea had conspired to send envoys to King So 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.

Notes

2 Kings 17:3–4

King Shalmaneser V took over from his father Tiglath-pileser III in 726 BC. Hoshea might have thought this change in leadership would let Israel break free from Assyrian control. However, by not paying the yearly tribute, he provoked Shalmaneser's retaliation.
send envoys to King So of Egypt: Some scholars think the name So is short for Pharaoh Osorkon IV, who ruled from 730 to 715 BC. Others believe So refers to Pharaoh Piankhy, who ruled from 747 to 716 BC. They see the biblical name So as a Hebrew version of one of Piankhy's titles. Some suggest So is the city of Sais, the capital of Pharaoh Tefnakht, who ruled from 727 to 720 BC. Regardless of who this king was, it is clear Hoshea's hope for Egyptian support was a mistake.

2 Kings 17:1–23

The report of the northern kingdom's fall has two main parts:

Events during the reign of Israel's last king, Hoshea, including the capture of Samaria and the deportation of Israel's people (2 Kings 17:1–6);
The reasons for Israel's fall and Assyria's conquest:
- Israel's many sins (2 Kings 17:7–17) that led to God's judgment (2 Kings 17:18–20), and
- the major sin of Jeroboam I, who started Israel's widespread disobedience to God (2 Kings 17:21–23).

Theme notes and profiles

Assyria The Sovereignty of God

Events

Reign of Hosheac. 730 BC

Related verses

2 Kings 18:21
Look now, you are trusting in Egypt, that splintered reed of a staff that will pierce the hand of anyone who leans on it. Such is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust in him.
Psalm 149:7–8
…to inflict vengeance on the nations and punishment on the peoples,
2 Chronicles 32:11
Is not Hezekiah misleading you to give you over to death by famine and thirst when he says, ‘The LORD our God will deliver us from the hand of the king of Assyria?’
Ezekiel 17:13–19
He took a member of the royal family and made a covenant with him, putting him under oath. Then he carried away the leading men of the land,
2 Kings 24:20
For because of the anger of the LORD, all this happened in Jerusalem and Judah, until He finally banished them from His presence. And Zedekiah also rebelled against the king of Babylon.
2 Kings 24:1
During Jehoiakim’s reign, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon invaded. So Jehoiakim became his vassal for three years, until he turned and rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar.
2 Kings 25:7
And they slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes. Then they put out his eyes, bound him with bronze shackles, and took him to Babylon.
Isaiah 31:1–3
Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in their abundance of chariots and in their multitude of horsemen. They do not look to the Holy One of Israel; they do not seek the LORD.
2 Kings 18:14–15
So Hezekiah king of Judah sent word to the king of Assyria at Lachish, saying, “I have done wrong; withdraw from me, and I will pay whatever you demand from me.” And the king of Assyria exacted from Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold.
Isaiah 30:1–4
“Woe to the rebellious children,” declares the LORD, “to those who carry out a plan that is not Mine, who form an alliance, but against My will, heaping up sin upon sin.

People

Hoshea: The last king of Israel (northern kingdom) So: Egyptian pharaoh to whom King Hoshea sent messengers

Places

Assyria: A powerful ancient empire, often in conflict with Israel Egypt: Ancient nation; Israelites enslaved there; plagues and Exodus

Glossary

Assyria, Assyrians Babylon, Babylonia Book of Micah Hoshea Kings, Books of First and Second Samaritans So Tribe of Dan

Topics

Ambassadors: Hoshea to So Assyria: Israelites Carried Captive Into Assyria: Shalmaneser Assyria: Shalmaneser King of Imprisoned Hoshea Assyria: Shalmaneser King of Was Conspired Against by Hoshea Covenants: The Jews: Frequently Made with Other Nations Hoshea: King of Israel: Conspires Against Assyria and is Imprisoned Kings: Who Reigned Over Israel: Hoshea Prisons used for Confining: Enemies Taken Captive Shalmaneser: Overthrows the Kingdom of Israel So: King of Egypt

2 Kings 17:4

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