Hoshea: The Last King of Israel

Hoshea's Reign and Downfall

• Hoshea was the 19th and last king of Israel, ruling for 9 years and sinning against the Lord.
• He initially surrendered to emperor Shalmaneser of Assyria, paying him tribute every year.
• However, Hoshea later sought the help of the King of Egypt and stopped paying tribute to Assyria.
• When Shalmaneser discovered this, he arrested Hoshea and put him in prison.

The Capture of Samaria and Israelites

• In 721 BC, the Assyrian emperor captured Samaria and took the Israelites to Assyria as prisoners.
• The Israelites were exiled and settled in different places.

Reasons for the Fall of Samaria

• The Israelites sinned against the Lord by disobeying his commandments.
• They put up pagan Gods and worshipped them, leading to the downfall of Samaria.

Resettlement of Samaria

• The Assyrian emperor took people from the cities of Babylon, Cuth, Ivvah, Hamath, and Sepharvaim.
• These people were settled in the cities of Samaria in place of the exiled Israelites.

Consequences of the Fall

• Israel, the northern country, was totally destroyed by 721 BC.
• The Israelites also lost their racial purity as a result of the Assyrian invasion.