Hoshea (Oshea)

Meaning: salvation.

This was the name of three biblical men:

1. The original name of the son of Nun, afterwards called Joshua (Num. 13:8, 16; Deut. 32:44).

2. The ruler of Ephraim in David's time. 1 Chr. 27:20.

3. The last king of Israel. He conspired against and slew his predecessor, Pekah (Isa. 7:16), but did not ascend the throne till after an interregnum of warfare of eight years (2 Kings 17:1, 2). Soon after this he submitted to Shalmaneser, the Assyrian king, 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 ten tribes away beyond the Euphrates, B.C. 720 (2 Kings 17:5, 6; 18:9-12). No more is heard of Hoshea. He disappeared like "foam upon the water" (Hos. 10:7; 13:11).