Bible Strands
2 Kings 18:1
In the third year of the reign of Hoshea son of Elah over Israel, Hezekiah son of Ahaz became king of Judah.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator records a chronological marker at the transition of royal dynasties, noting Hezekiah's accession to Judah's throne concurrent with Hoshea's third year over Israel.
The words — The Hebrew phrase בִּשְׁנַת שָׁלוֹשׁ (bi/sh.Nat sha.Losh) literally renders "in year three," anchoring the regnal synchronism. The term מֶלֶךְ (Me.lekh) denotes the formal office of king, establishing Hezekiah's legitimate succession.
The thread — This accession narrative intersects with the genealogical records in 1 Chronicles 3:13 and Matthew 1:9, which trace Hezekiah’s lineage through Ahaz. The royal chronology also aligns with the burial notice of his father Ahaz in 2 Chronicles 28:27.
Why it lands — The verse requires the reader to recognize the precise historical framing of Judah’s monarchy and to track the continuity of Davidic succession amid shifting political alliances.
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
Now it came to pass in the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, that Hezekiah the son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign.
Cross-references
- 2 Chronicles 28:27 And Ahaz rested with his fathers and was buried in the city of Jerusalem, but he was not placed in the tombs of the kings of Israel. And his son Hezekiah reigned in his place.
- 1 Chronicles 3:13 Ahaz his son, Hezekiah his son, Manasseh his son,
- Matthew 1:9 Uzziah was the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah.
- 2 Kings 16:20 And Ahaz rested with his fathers and was buried with them in the City of David, and his son Hezekiah reigned in his place.
- 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.
- 2 Kings 16:2 Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. And unlike David his father, he did not do what was right in the eyes of the LORD his God.
- 2 Kings 18:9 In the fourth year of Hezekiah’s reign, which was the seventh year of the reign of Hoshea son of Elah over Israel, Shalmaneser king of Assyria marched against Samaria and besieged it.