Hoshea, a trusted advisor and companion to King Pekah of Israel, seized power during a time of great turmoil.

Despite paying tribute to the Assyrian Empire, Hoshea eventually stopped making payments, hoping to assert his independence.

[2] An undated inscription of Tiglath-Pileser III boasts of making Hoshea king after his predecessor had been overthrown: Israel (lit.

Winckler contends that in this anti-Assyrian movement, in which Tyre also had a share, a last effort was made on the part of the Arabic commercial states to shut out Assyria from the Arabo-Indian commerce, for which possession of the Mediterranean ports was of vital importance.

It is likely that Hoshea, disappointed by the lack of Egyptian support, endeavored to avert the calamity by resuming the payment of tribute, but that, distrusted, he was forced to fight and was taken prisoner in battle.

Shalmaneser V died shortly after the city fell, and the Assyrian army was recalled to assure the succession of Sargon II.

because he had removed the blockade which had stood for hundreds of years on the road to Jerusalem, finally giving the Israelites the choice of either serving G‑d in the Holy Temple or continuing to practice idolatry; Nevertheless, although the sentries were removed, the Jews continued in their idolatrous ways and did not go up to the Holy Temple in Jerusalem; this happened three years before Samaria fell.

The seal has been dated by André Lemaire to the second half of the 8th century BCE on paleographic grounds, and its inscription reads "Belonging to Abdi, servant of Hoshea".