2 Kings 17:5

• the king of Assyria: Historical records say Shalmaneser V of Assyria, the ruler from 726 to 722 BC, conquered Samaria, but Sargon II (who ruled Assyria from 721 to 705 BC) claimed he captured the city. Sargon might have been the commander when Samaria fell and then became king after Shalmaneser's death during the siege.

• invaded the whole land: The Assyrians would destroy the area around an enemy's main city before attacking it.

• The ninth year of King Hoshea’s reign was 722 BC.

• carried away the Israelites: The Assyrians deported people to prevent future rebellions. Sargon also brought other people to Israel to create a mixed population (see 2 Kings 17:24–25).

• Halah was northeast of Nineveh in Assyria.

• The Habor River is a branch of the Euphrates River in northwestern Assyria.

• Gozan was on the Habor River northeast of Haran (see Genesis 12:4). Assyrian records from the area include names that are clearly Israelite, possibly showing the deportation of Samaria's people.

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

1. 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);

2. 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).