2 Kings 17:5

_THEN THE KING OF ASSYRIA CAME UP THROUGHOUT ALL THE LAND, AND WENT UP TO SAMARIA, AND BESIEGED IT THREE YEARS._ Then the king of Assyria came up throughout all the land. This was the third and final expedition of Shalmaneser against the whole of Syria, and it seems to have been after the lapse of a year or two from his second expedition. What new offence had excited his wrath has not been recorded; but as a determined resistance was made by his refractory vassal, Shalmaneser prepared for a regular siege of Samaria, which, through the stubborn valour of the Israelites themselves, or with the aid of Egyptian troops, lasted for nearly three years. At length the city capitulated; or, if Josephus is correct ('Antiquities,' b. 9:, ch. 14:), was taken by storm. But the glory of this conquest was not enjoyed by Shalmaneser, who had been suddenly recalled by the outbreak of a domestic revolutio...

1-6 When the measure of sin is filled up, the Lord will forbear no longer. The inhabitants of Samaria must have endured great affliction. Some of the poor Israelites were left in the land. Those who were carried captives to a great distance, were mostly lost among the nations....

Verse 2 Kings 17:5. _BESIEGED IT THREE YEARS._] It must have been well fortified, well provisioned, and well defended, to have held out so long....

ALL THE LAND - The second invasion of Shalmaneser (723 B.C., his fifth year), is here contrasted with the first, as extending to the whole country, whereas the first had afflicted only a part. THREE YEARS - From the fourth to the sixth of Hezekiah, and from the seventh to the ninth of Heshea; two years, therefore, according to our reckoning, but three, according to that of the Hebrews. This was a long time for so small a place to resist the Assyrians but Samaria was favorably situated on a steep hill; probably Sabaco made some attempts to relieve his vassal; the war with Tyre must have distracted Shalmaneser; and there is reason to believe that before the capture was effected a revolt had broken out at Nineveh which must have claimed Shalmaneser’s chief attention, though it did not induce him to abandon his enterprise....

EXPOSITION 2 KINGS 17:1 THE REIGN OF HOSHEA OVER ISRAEL. DESTRUCTION OF THE ISRAELITE KINGDOM, AND THE GROUNDS OF IT RE-PEOPLING OF THE KINGDOM BY ASSYRIAN COLONISTS. 2 KINGS 17:1 REIGN OF HOSHEA. Hoshea, the last King of Israel, had a short reign of nine years only, during two of which

THEN THE KING OF ASSYRIA CAME UP THROUGHOUT ALL THE LAND,.... Of Israel, there being none to oppose his march; Hoshea not daring to come out, and meet him and fight him: AND WENT UP TO SAMARIA, AND BESIEGED IT THREE YEARS; so long the city held out against him, see 2 Kings 18:9....

7. ASSYRIA CONQUERS ISRAEL AND THE CAPTIVITY CHAPTER 17 _ 1. Hoshea, Israel's last king (2 Kings 17:1)_ 2. Shalmaneser imprisons Hoshea (2 Kings 17:3) 3. Israel carried into captivity (2 Kings 17:5) 4. Retrospect and Israel's sins (2 Kings 17:7) 5. The colonization of Samaria (2 Kings 17:24) Israel's last king was Hoshea. His name means “deliverance.” It indicates what might have been had he and the people repented of their sins. The record of his character is brief. “And he did that which was

REIGN OF HOSHEA AND DESTRUCTION OF SAMARIA. Hoshea has been previously mentioned (2 Kings 15:30). According to the inscription of Tiglath-pileser, Hoshea was put on the throne by the Assyrians. Shalmaneser V (pp. 59, 70) reigned from 727 to 722 B.C., and the fall of Samaria was in 722. So, king of Egypt (2 Kings 17:4), has been identified with Sabako, the founder of the 25th Dynasty. Our narrative presents considerable historical difficulties. Shalmaneser is said (2 Kings 17:3) to have attacked Hoshea because he refused tribute, and to have shut him up in prison. Then (2 Kings 17:5) the king came and besieged Samaria for three years, and i

THE KING OF AASYRIA. Shalmaneser (2 Kings 17:3), who commenced the siege, but died before Sargon, his successor, captured Samaria in 611 B.C. THREE YEARS. From 613-611....

_throughout all the land_ It seems to have been the usual plan of invaders to overrun the places more easily conquerable before they assailed the chief stronghold. _besieged it three years_ Samaria from its position on a hill and from the pains bestowed on its building must have been a city of considerable strength for those days. It seems from the records that the city was not taken by the Assyrians during the reign of Shalmaneser, but in the beginning of the reign of Sargon his successor. See Smith, _Assyrian Canon_, p. 201. In view of this statement the language of the Bible is very remarkable. At the beginning of this chapter the movements are ascribed to Shalmaneser, but in verse 6 it is only said -the king of Assyria took Samaria". And when the subject is mentioned again 2 Kings 18:9-10, though stating that -Shalmaneser came up against Samaria and besieged it", he