2 Kings 18:10
“At the end of three years they took it. In the sixth year of Hezekiah, which was the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel, Samaria was taken.”
What does 2 Kings 18:10 mean?
This verse marks the fall of the northern kingdom of Israel to the Assyrian Empire, a turning point in biblical history. After a three-year siege, Samaria (Israel's capital) finally fell, and its people were scattered throughout the Assyrian empire, effectively ending the ten tribes of the north as a distinct nation. The specific dating shows us this wasn't a quick military victory but a grinding siege that wore the city down over years. For those familiar with Israel's story, this is the moment the northern kingdom ceased to exist, leaving only Judah in the south to carry forward God's covenant promises, which gives weight to why so much of the Old Testament focuses on Judah's survival and kings like Hezekiah.