Bible Strands
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.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The text records a chronological marker during Hezekiah’s reign, noting that his fourth year coincides with Hoshea’s seventh year over Israel, while Shalmaneser of Assyria advances on Samaria.
The words — The Hebrew chronology relies on רְבִיעִית (re.vi'it, "fourth") and שְׁבִיעִית (she.vi'it, "seventh") to synchronize the regnal years of Judah and Israel.
The thread — The siege timeline concludes in 2 Kings 18:10 when Samaria falls in Hezekiah’s sixth year, aligning with Shalman’s earlier tribute demands in 2 Kings 17:3 and his fortress destructions noted in Hosea 10:14.
Why it lands — The passage requires readers to track overlapping political reigns and military movements to understand the historical context of Israel’s siege and Judah’s subsequent isolation.
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
And it came to pass in the fourth year of king Hezekiah, which was the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, that Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against Samaria, and besieged it.
Cross-references
- Hosea 10:14 the roar of battle will rise against your people, so that all your fortresses will be demolished as Shalman devastated Beth-arbel in the day of battle, when mothers were dashed to pieces along with their children.
- 2 Kings 17:3 Shalmaneser king of Assyria attacked him, and Hoshea became his vassal and paid him tribute.
- 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.