Hoshea

also known as: Hoshe'a, Oshea

Meaning: salvation.

This was the name of 3 biblical men.

  1. Hoshea or Oshea, also known as Joshua—the trusted minister and successor of Moses

    Hoshea was the original name of the son of Nun, afterwards called Joshua (Numbers 13:8, 16; Deuteronomy 32:44).

  2. Hoshea, the ruler of Ephraim in David’s time (1 Chronicles 27:20)

  3. King Hoshea, the last king of Israel

    He conspired against and assassinated his predecessor, King Pekah (Isaiah 7:16), but did not ascend the throne until after 8 years of warfare (2 Kings 17:1-2).

    He was put into power by Tilgath-Pileser III, king of Assyria, as recorded in his Annals, found in Calah (aka Kalḫu and Nimrud).

    Soon after this, he submitted to King Shalmaneser of Assyria, 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 10 tribes away beyond the Euphrates, B.C. 720 (2 Kings 17:5-6; 18:9-12).

    No more is heard of King Hoshea. He disappeared like “foam upon the water” (Hos. 10:7; 13:11).

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Article Version: October 24, 2024