2 Kings 18:9

¶ And it came to pass in the fourth year of king Hezekiah, which [was] the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, [that] Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against Samaria, and besieged it.

And it came to pass in the fourth {H7243} year {H8141} of king {H4428} Hezekiah {H2396}, which was the seventh {H7637} year {H8141} of Hoshea {H1954} son {H1121} of Elah {H425} king {H4428} of Israel {H3478}, that Shalmaneser {H8022} king {H4428} of Assyria {H804} came up {H5927} against Samaria {H8111}, and besieged {H6696} it.

It was in the fourth year of King Hizkiyahu, which was the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah, king of Isra'el, that Shalman'eser king of Ashur advanced against Shomron and laid siege to it.

In the fourth year of Hezekiah’s reign, which was the seventh year of the reign of Hoshea son of Elah over Israel, Shalmaneser king of Assyria marched against Samaria and besieged it.

And it came to pass in the fourth year of king Hezekiah, which was the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, that Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against Samaria, and besieged it.

Commentary

Context of 2 Kings 18:9

This verse marks a pivotal moment in the history of ancient Israel, setting the stage for the dramatic end of the Northern Kingdom. It precisely dates the beginning of the final siege of Samaria: the fourth year of King Hezekiah of Judah and the seventh year of Hoshea, the last king of Israel. At this point, the powerful Assyrian Empire, under King Shalmaneser, was aggressively expanding its dominion, systematically conquering smaller nations. Samaria, the capital city of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, had long been a center of idolatry and rebellion against God, despite repeated warnings from prophets. This siege was the culmination of Israel's persistent unfaithfulness, leading to their eventual exile, as detailed in the subsequent verses and in 2 Kings 17:6. Meanwhile, King Hezekiah, in the Southern Kingdom of Judah, had just begun his reign, which was characterized by significant religious reforms and a return to the worship of the Lord, starkly contrasting with the spiritual decline of Israel.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment: The siege of Samaria is presented in the biblical narrative as God's righteous judgment upon the Northern Kingdom of Israel for its long history of idolatry, injustice, and persistent disobedience to His covenant. This judgment was forewarned by numerous prophets throughout Israel's history.
  • Fulfillment of Prophecy: This event represents the tragic fulfillment of warnings given to Israel through Moses and later prophets, signifying the consequences of breaking God's covenant. The detailed reasons for Israel's fall are elaborated upon in 2 Kings 17:7-18.
  • Historical Turning Point: The siege and subsequent fall of Samaria marked the definitive end of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, which had existed for over two centuries since the division of the united monarchy after Solomon's reign (1 Kings 12:19).
  • Sovereignty of God: Even through the actions of a foreign, pagan empire like Assyria, the biblical account emphasizes that God was orchestrating events to bring about His purposes and administer justice.

Linguistic Insights

  • Shalmaneser: The name שלמנאסר (*Shalman'eser*) identifies the powerful Assyrian king responsible for initiating the final conquest of Israel. Assyrian records corroborate his reign and military campaigns, underscoring the historical accuracy of the biblical account.
  • Samaria: The capital city of the Northern Kingdom, שֹׁמְרוֹן (*Shomron*), was built by King Omri and became a symbol of Israel's political and religious identity, often associated with its apostasy.
  • Besieged: The Hebrew term וַיָּצַר (*vayyatzar*) signifies a prolonged military encirclement, a common and devastating ancient warfare tactic aimed at cutting off supplies and forcing surrender.

Practical Application

The account of Samaria's fall in 2 Kings 18:9, alongside its explanation in chapter 17, offers timeless lessons for believers today:

  • Consequences of Disobedience: This historical event serves as a stark reminder that persistent rebellion against God's commands eventually leads to severe consequences. While God is patient and merciful, His justice is also unwavering.
  • God's Patience and Justice: The narrative highlights God's immense patience, as He sent numerous prophets to warn Israel and call them to repentance (2 Chronicles 36:15). Yet, it also affirms that His justice will ultimately prevail when warnings are ignored.
  • Trust in God's Sovereignty: Even amidst the rise and fall of earthly empires and geopolitical turmoil, this passage reassures us that God remains sovereign over all nations and events. He works through human history to accomplish His divine will.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Hosea 10:14

    Therefore shall a tumult arise among thy people, and all thy fortresses shall be spoiled, as Shalman spoiled Betharbel in the day of battle: the mother was dashed in pieces upon [her] children.

  • 2 Kings 18:1

    ¶ Now it came to pass in the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, [that] Hezekiah the son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign.

  • 2 Kings 17:3

    Against him came up Shalmaneser king of Assyria; and Hoshea became his servant, and gave him presents.

  • 2 Kings 17:23

    Until the LORD removed Israel out of his sight, as he had said by all his servants the prophets. So was Israel carried away out of their own land to Assyria unto this day.
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