Bible Strands
2 Kings 17:1
In the twelfth year of the reign of Ahaz over Judah, Hoshea son of Elah became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria nine years.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator records a chronological transition in the divided monarchy, marking Hoshea’s accession as king of Israel during the twelfth year of Ahaz’s reign over Judah. This synchronism anchors a political shift at a moment preceding national collapse.
The words — בִּ/שְׁנַת (bi/sh.Nat) means "in year," and לְ/אָחָ֖ז (le./'a.Chaz) translates to "of Ahaz," establishing the regnal cross-reference. מָ֠לַךְ (Ma.lakh) literally renders "he became king," denoting the formal commencement of Hoshea’s rule.
The thread — The Hoshea-Ahaz synchronism appears alongside the chronology of Jotham in 2 Kings 15:30, which records Hoshea’s earlier conspiracy against Pekah. These overlapping dates create a unified timeline for the northern and southern kingdoms.
Why it lands — The text demands the reader track leadership changes as structural markers of covenant history. It asks the reader to recognize how political transitions signal impending judgment without adding theological commentary.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah began Hoshea the son of Elah to reign in Samaria over Israel nine years.
Cross-references
- 2 Kings 15:30 Then Hoshea son of Elah led a conspiracy against Pekah son of Remaliah. In the twentieth year of Jotham son of Uzziah, Hoshea attacked Pekah, killed him, and reigned in his place.