Last King of the Northern Kingdom, King Hoshea

King Hoshea, the last monarch of the northern kingdom of Israel, reigned during the nation’s final years before its destruction and exile by Assyria in 722 BC. His story is recorded in 2 Kings 17:1-6 and serves as a profound testimony to the consequences of covenant unfaithfulness. Hoshea’s reign is a poignant illustration of God’s sovereign judgment on sin and His faithfulness to His redemptive purposes despite human rebellion.

Hoshea came to power by assassinating Pekah, his predecessor, and taking the throne (2 Kings 15:30). His reign lasted nine years, but it was marked by increasing instability and a desperate attempt to preserve Israel's independence. Like the kings before him, Hoshea "did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, yet not as the kings of Israel who were before him" (2 Kings 17:2). While he may have introduced some reforms or sought to distance himself from the blatant idolatry of his predecessors, his efforts were insufficient to reverse the nation’s spiritual decline.

Hoshea’s political strategies revealed his reliance on human wisdom rather than trust in the Lord. Early in his reign, he became a vassal of Assyria, paying tribute to Tiglath-Pileser III. However, after Tiglath-Pileser’s death, Hoshea rebelled against Assyria by seeking an alliance with Egypt, a move that violated Israel’s covenant with God. The prophets had repeatedly warned Israel against trusting in foreign alliances (Isaiah 30:1-5; Hosea 7:11-13), but Hoshea’s actions demonstrated his disregard for these warnings.

Shalmaneser V, the new king of Assyria, responded swiftly to Hoshea’s rebellion. He invaded Israel, besieged Samaria for three years, and eventually captured the city. Hoshea was taken prisoner, and the people of Israel were exiled to Assyrian territories, effectively ending the northern kingdom. This event fulfilled God’s covenant warnings of exile for persistent disobedience (Deuteronomy 28:64-68) and confirmed the prophetic judgments pronounced by Hosea, Amos, and others.

From a Reformed perspective, Hoshea’s reign and Israel’s fall reflect the sovereign justice of God. Despite centuries of patience and prophetic warnings, Israel’s persistent idolatry and covenant unfaithfulness led to their judgment. The exile was not a failure of God’s promises but a demonstration of His holiness and faithfulness to His covenant, both in blessing and in curse.

At the same time, the fall of Israel points to the steadfast mercy of God. The prophets declared that God would preserve a remnant and restore His people through His covenant of grace. This restoration would ultimately come through the Messiah, Jesus Christ, who fulfills God’s redemptive plan for both Israel and the nations.

Hoshea’s story is a sobering reminder of the futility of human strategies apart from God and the inevitability of divine judgment for sin. Yet it also points to the hope of redemption in Christ, calling believers to trust in God’s sovereignty, heed His Word, and live in covenant faithfulness through the grace of the gospel.