Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Kings 17:4
And the king of Assyria found conspiracy in Hoshea: for he had sent messengers to So king of Egypt, and brought no present to the king of Assyria, as [he had done] year by year: therefore the king of Assyria shut him up, and bound him in prison.
4. found conspiracy in Hoshea ] No doubt the tributary princes were watched by Assyrian residents in their courts, and the news of negotiations with a foreign power would soon be sent from Samaria to Shalmaneser.
to So king of Egypt ] The LXX. writes the king’s name . The identification of this monarch is somewhat doubtful. The most probable supposition is that he is the same with either Shebek or Shebetek, the first and second kings of the Ethiopian twenty-fifth dynasty. By Manetho this king is named Sabachon, and in the Assyrian records (Smith, Assyrian Canon, p. 126) there appears an Egyptian general, whose name is represented as Sibakhi or Sibahe. He is represented as helping the king of Gaza against Assyria and being overthrown. This may be the person here spoken of. We can see at any rate that Egyptian influence extended as far as Palestine at this period, and therefore that Hoshea might very likely be tempted to seek aid in that quarter in the hope that he would find a less grasping superior lord than Shalmaneser.
and brought [R.V. offered ] no present ] As the word for ‘present’ here and in verse 3 is the usual one for the ‘meal-offering’ (see note above) so the verb employed here is that which is constant in the accounts of ‘offering’ sacrifices. Hence the change. The verb in its application to sacrifices is found Gen 8:20; Gen 22:2; Exo 24:5, et sacpe.
as he had done year by year ] The LXX. has ‘in that year’.
the king of Assyria shut him up ] The LXX. gives , i.e. ‘besieged him’, referring the shutting up to the effect of a siege. But this sense is not warranted by the use of the verb elsewhere. Cf. Jer 33:1; Jer 36:5; Jer 39:15, which all refer to imprisonment.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
So, king of Egypt, is generally identified with Shebek (730 B.C.), the Sabaco of Herodotus. Hosheas application to him was a return to a policy which had been successful in the reign of Jeroboam I (1Ki 12:20 note), but had not been resorted to by any other Israelite monarch. Egypt had for many years been weak, but Sabaco was a conqueror, who at the head of the swarthy hordes of Ethiopia had invaded Egypt and made himself master of the country. In the inscriptions of Shebek he boasts to have received tribute from the king of Shara (Syria), which is probably his mode of noticing Hosheas application. References to the Egyptian proclivities of Hoshea are frequent in the prophet Hosea Hos 7:11; Hos 11:1, Hos 11:5; Hos 12:4. King Hoshea, simultaneously with his reception as a vassal by Sabaco, ceased to pay tribute to Shalmaneser, thus openly rebelling, and provoking the chastisement which followed.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 4. Found conspiracy to Hoshea] He had endeavoured to shake off the Assyrian yoke, by entering into a treaty with So, King of Egypt; and having done so, he ceased to send the annual tribute to Assyria.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
So king of Egypt; by heathen writers called Sua or Sabachus; that by his assistance he might shake off the yoke of the king of Assyria; who now was, and for many years had been, the king of Egypts rival: see 2Ki 18:21; Jer 36:5. Shut him up, and bound him in prison, to wit, after he had come up against him, and taken him, with Samaria; the particular relation whereof here follows.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
4. found conspiracy in HosheaAfterhaving paid tribute for several years, Hoshea, determined on throwingoff the Assyrian yoke, withheld the stipulated tribute. Shalmaneser,incensed at this rebellion, proclaimed war against Israel. This wasin the sixth year of Hoshea’s reign.
he had sent messengers to So,king of Egyptthe Sabaco of the classic historians, a famousEthiopian who, for fifty years, occupied the Egyptian throne, andthrough whose aid Hoshea hoped to resist the threatened attack of theAssyrian conqueror. But Shalmaneser, marching against [Hoshea],scoured the whole country of Israel, besieged the capital Samaria,and carried the principal inhabitants into captivity in his own land,having taken the king himself, and imprisoned him for life. Thisancient policy of transplanting a conquered people into a foreignland, was founded on the idea that, among a mixed multitude,differing in language and religion, they would be kept in bettersubjection, and have less opportunity of combining together torecover their independence.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And the king of Assyria found conspiracy in Hoshea,…. That he was forming a scheme to rebel against him, and cast off his yoke; of this he had intelligence by spies he sent, and placed to observe him very probably:
for he had sent messengers to So king of Egypt; to treat with him, and enter into alliance with him, to help him against, and free him from, the king of Assyria. This king of Egypt is supposed to be Sabacon the Ethiopian, who reigned in Egypt ninety years; of whom Herodotus y and Diodorus Siculus z make mention; by Theodoret he is called Adramelech the Ethiopian, who dwelt in Egypt:
and brought no presents to the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year; did not pay him his yearly tribute:
therefore the king of Assyria shut him up, and bound him in prison; that is, after he took Samaria, the siege of which is next related; unless it can be thought that he met with him somewhere out of the capital, and seized him, and made him his prisoner, and after that besieged his city; which is not so likely.
y Euterpe, sive, l. 2. c. 137. z Bibliothec l. 1. p. 59.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
The king of Assyria found a conspiracy in Hoshea; for he had sent messengers to So the king of Egypt, and did not pay the tribute to the king of Assyria, as year by year. The Egyptian king , So, possibly to be pronounced , Seveh, is no doubt one of the two Shebeks of the twenty-fifth dynasty, belonging to the Ethiopian tribe; but whether he was the second king of this dynasty, Sbtk (Brugsch, hist. d’Egypte, i. p. 244), the Sevechus of Manetho, who is said to have ascended the throne, according to Wilkinson, in the year 728, as Vitringa (Isa. ii. p. 318), Gesenius, Ewald, and others suppose, or the first king of this Ethiopian dynasty, Sabako the father of Sevechus, which is the opinion of Usher and Marsham, whom M. v. Niebuhr ( Gesch. pp. 458ff. and 463) and M. Duncker (i. p. 693) have followed in recent times, cannot possibly be decided in the present state of Egyptological research.
(Note: It is true that M. Duncker says, “ Synchronism gives Sabakon, who reigned from 726 to 714; ” but he observes in the note at pp. 713ff. that the Egyptian chronology has only been firmly established as far back as the commencement of the reign of Psammetichus at the beginning of the year 664 b.c., that the length of the preceding dodekarchy is differently given by Diodorus Sic. and Manetho, and that the date at which Tarakos (Tirhaka), who succeeded Sevechus, ascended the throne is so very differently defined, that it is impossible for the present to come to any certain conclusion on the matter. Compare with this what M. v. Niebuhr (pp. 458ff.) adduces in proof of the difficulty of determining the commencement and length of the reign of Tirhaka, and the manner in which he proposes to solve the difficulties that arise from this in relation to the synchronism between the Egyptian and the Biblical chronology.)
– As soon as Salmanasar received intelligence of the conduct of Hoshea, which is called , conspiracy, as being rebellion against his acknowledged superior, he had him arrested and put into prison in chains, and then overran the whole land, advanced against Samaria and besieged that city for three years, and captured it in the ninth year of Hoshea. These words are not to be understood as signifying that Hoshea had been taken prisoner before the siege of Samaria and thrown into prison, because in that case it is impossible to see how Salmanasar could have obtained possession of his person.
(Note: The supposition of the older commentators, that Hoshea fought a battle with Salmanasar before the siege of Samaria, and was taken prisoner in that battle, is not only very improbable, because this would hardly be passed over in our account, but has very little probability in itself. For “ it is more probable that Hoshea betook himself to Samaria when threatened by the hostile army, and relied upon the help of the Egyptians, than that he went to meet Salmanasar and fought with him in the open field ” (Maurer). There is still less probability in Ewald ‘ s view ( Gesch. iii. p. 611), that “ Salmanasar marched with unexpected rapidity against Hoshea, summoned him before him that he might hear his defence, and then, when he came, took him prisoner, and threw him into prison in chains, probably into a prison on the border of the land; ” to which he adds this explanatory remark: “ there is no other way in which we can understand the brief words in 2Ki 17:4 as compared with 2Ki 18:9-11… For if Hoshea had defended himself to the utmost, Salmanasar would not have had him arrested and incarcerated afterwards, but would have put him to death at once, as was the case with the king of Damascus. ” But Hoshea would certainly not have been so infatuated, after breaking away from Assyria and forming an alliance with So of Egypt, as to go at a simple summons from Salmanasar and present himself before him, since he could certainly have expected nothing but death or imprisonment as the result.)
We must rather assume, as many commentators have done, from R. Levi ben Gersom down to Maurer and Thenius, that it was not till the conquest of his capital Samaria that Hoshea fell into the hands of the Assyrians and was cast into a prison; so that the explanation to be given to the introduction of this circumstance before the siege and conquest of Samaria must be, that the historian first of all related the eventual result of Hoshea’s rebellion against Salmanasar so far as Hoshea himself was concerned, and then proceeded to describe in greater detail the course of the affair in relation to his kingdom and capital. This does not necessitate our giving to the word the meaning “he assigned him a limit” (Thenius); but we may adhere to the meaning which has been philologically established, namely, arrest or incarcerate (Jer 33:1; Jer 36:5, etc.). may be given thus: “he overran, that is to say, the entire land.” The three years of the siege of Samaria were not full years, for, according to 2Ki 18:9-10, it began in the seventh year of Hoshea, and the city was taken in the ninth year, although it is also given there as three years.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
(4) Conspiracyi.e., as is presently explained, a conspiracy with the king of Egypt against his suzerain. Shalmaneser regarded Hoshea, and probably the king of Egypt also, as his servant (2Ki. 17:3). (Comp. 2Ki. 12:20 and Jer. 11:9.) Thenius wishes to read falsehood, after the LXX., (comp. Deu. 19:18; Mic. 6:12), a change involving transposition of two Heb. letters (shqer for qsher); but the change is needless.
So.The Hebrew letters should be pointed differently, so as to be pronounced Sw, or Sw, as this name corresponds to the Assyrian Shabi, and the Egyptian Shabaka, the Greek Sabaco, the first king of the 25th, or Ethiopian dynasty, whom Sargon defeated at Raphia in 720 B.C. Sargon calls him prince, or ruler,; (shiltn), rather than king of Egypt; and it appears that at this time Lower Egypt was divided among a number of petty principalities, whose recognition of any central authority was very uncertaina fact which rendered an Egyptian alliance of little value to Israel. (See Isaiah 19, 20)
Brought.Rather, offered. The word elsewhere is always used of sacrifice.
As he had done.Omit. The Hebrew phrase (according to a year, in a year), which is not found elsewhere, denotes the regular payment of yearly dues. This Hoshea failed to discharge.
Therefore . . . shut him up.Comp. Jer. 33:1; Jer. 36:5; Jer. 32:2-3. This statement seems to imply that Shalmaneser took Hoshea prisoner before the siege of Samaria: a supposition which finds support in the fact that Sargon, who ended the siege, makes no mention of the capture or death of the Israelite king.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
4. Found conspiracy in Hoshea This, of course, was after the first invasion. Ewald thinks this conspiracy of Hoshea was prompted by the successful rebellion of Tyre. “It was now seen to be possible for the Assyrians to be beaten; and when a few years had passed, it was thought that a favourable opportunity had arrived for concluding an offensive and defensive alliance against the Assyrians with the Egyptian king Seveh; for the Ethiopic dynasty, which was then ruling in Egypt, appeared to be the only power which could successfully maintain a contest against them by land.”
So king of Egypt The Masoretic pointing would make So the correct pronunciation, but it would seem better to write the name, , as Ewald does, Seveh. It is settled that this king belonged to the twenty-fifth dynasty, but whether he was the first or second king of this dynasty is not clear. He was very probably the same king whom Herodotus (ii, 137) calls “Sabakon, king of the Ethiopians,” who, during the reign of a blind king, Anysis, “invaded Egypt with a large force, and reigned for fifty years.” He is called Shebek on the monuments. “The appearance of this great conqueror on the scene,” says Sumner, in Schaff’s Lange, “infused hope into the small nations of Western Asia that they might be able, at least, to change masters; that this new Egyptian power might form a counterpoise to the Assyrian; and that his power might be found to be milder.” Perhaps it was owing to some assistance rendered by this Egyptian sovereign that Samaria was enabled to sustain so long a siege. See on 2Ki 17:6.
Shut him up in prison The order of verses would indicate that this capture and imprisonment of Hoshea was before the siege of Samaria, and so many interpreters believe. Rawlinson thinks there was an interval of a year or two between the imprisonment of Hoshea and the expedition mentioned in the next verse. But it is very common with the Hebrew writers to record the result of an expedition before the details are told; and as 2Ki 17:6 implies that Hoshea was king when Samaria was taken, and 2Ki 17:1 declares that he reigned in Samaria nine years, we adopt the opinion that his imprisonment was subsequent to the capture of Samaria, and when he was no longer king.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
2Ki 17:4. So, king of Egypt This So seems to be the same as Sabachon, the AEthiopian king of Egypt, of whom Herodotus relates, that being warned in a dream, he departed of his own accord from Egypt, after he had reigned there fifteen years. In the beginning of Hezekiah’s reign he invaded Egypt, and having taken Boccharis the king thereof prisoner, with great cruelty burned him alive, and then seized on his kingdom.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
2Ki 17:4 And the king of Assyria found conspiracy in Hoshea: for he had sent messengers to So king of Egypt, and brought no present to the king of Assyria, as [he had done] year by year: therefore the king of Assyria shut him up, and bound him in prison.
Ver. 4. And the king of Assyria found conspiracy in Hoshea, ] sc., With So, king of Egypt, to whom he had sent ambassadors, and afterwards denied to pay his yearly tribute, as 2Ki 17:3 .
For he had sent messengers to So king of Egypt.
a African.
b In Johan., homil, xxx.
c Hist. Sac., lib. i.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
So. The Hebrew drops the embarrassing “k” of Sabako, his Ethiopian name. Afterward vanquished by Tir-hakah. See note on 2Ki 19:9.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
am 3279, bc 725
found conspiracy: 2Ki 24:1, 2Ki 24:20, Eze 17:13-19
king of Egypt: 2Ki 18:21, Isa 30:1-4, Isa 31:1-3, Eze 17:15
brought: 2Ki 18:14, 2Ki 18:15
bound him: 2Ki 25:7, 2Ch 32:11, Psa 149:7, Psa 149:8
Reciprocal: Deu 28:36 – bring thee Jos 6:1 – was straitly 1Ki 10:25 – a rate 2Ki 15:19 – Menahem 2Ki 15:20 – stayed not 2Ki 18:9 – the fourth year 2Ch 36:13 – stiffened Isa 30:2 – walk Isa 30:4 – his princes Isa 36:6 – General Isa 37:11 – General Hos 7:11 – they call Hos 10:4 – swearing Hos 10:7 – king Hos 12:1 – and they Hos 13:10 – I will be thy king
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2Ki 17:4. The king of Assyria found conspiracy in Hoshea If the king and people of Israel had applied themselves to God, made their peace with him, and addressed their prayers to him, they might, and no doubt would have recovered their liberty, ease, and honour; but they withheld their tribute, and trusted to the king of Egypt to assist them in their revolt, which, if it had been attended with success, would only have been to change their oppressors: but Egypt became to them the staff of a broken reed. This provoked the king of Assyria to proceed against them with the more severity. For he, Hoshea, sent messengers to So, king of Egypt By some heathen writers called Sua, or Sabacus, that, by his assistance, he might shake off the yoke of the king of Assyria, who now was, and for many years had been, the rival of the king of Egypt, 2Ki 18:21; Jer 37:5. This So, says Mr. Locke, seems to be Sabacon, the Ethiopian king of Egypt, of whom Herodotus relates, that, being warned in a dream, he departed of his own accord from Egypt, after he had reigned there fifteen years. It was in the beginning of Hezekiahs reign that he invaded Egypt, and having taken Boccharis the king thereof prisoner, with great cruelty he burned him alive, and then seized on his kingdom. Dodd.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
17:4 And the king of Assyria found conspiracy in Hoshea: for he had sent messengers to So king of Egypt, and brought no present to the king of Assyria, {b} as [he had done] year by year: therefore the king of Assyria shut him up, and bound him in prison.
(b) For he had paid tribute for eight years.