Hoshea
Salvation. (1.) The original name of the son of Nun, afterwards called Joshua ( Num. 13:8 , 16 ; Deut. 32:44 ). (2.) 1 Chr. 27:20 . The ruler of Ephraim in David’s time. (3.) The last king of Israel. He conspired against and slew his predecessor, Pekah ( Isa. 7:16 ), but did not ascend the throne till after an interregnum of warfare of eight years ( 2 Kings 17:1 , 2 ). Soon after this he submitted to Shalmaneser, the Assyrian king, who a second time invaded the land to punish Hoshea, because of his withholding tribute which he had promised to pay. A second revolt brought back the Assyrian king Sargon, who besieged Samaria, and carried the ten tribes away beyond the Euphrates, B.C. 720 ( 2 Kings 17:5 , 6 ; 18:9-12). No more is heard of Hoshea. He disappeared like “foam upon the water” ( Hos. 10:7 ; 13:11 ).