The answer is: King

2 Ki 17:6

Let's dive into the intriguing figure of Hoshea! He was the last king of Israel, reigning during a tumultuous period for the northern kingdom. Over in 2 Kings 17:6, his story is woven into the larger narrative of Israel's impending doom at the hands of the Assyrians. Here’s a little trivia: his name, Hoshea, means "salvation" – a fitting moniker for someone caught in such grave circumstances!

Now, even though he was king, the reality bucked the notion of kingship quite a bit. By the time Hoshea took the throne, Israel was already on the decline morally and spiritually. His reign lasted around nine years, ending in 722 BCE, and marked a crucial turning point. Because of Israel's unfaithfulness and idol worship, Assyria came to collect on its cultural and political debt to uproot Israel completely.

Interestingly, over a hundred years before Hoshea took the throne, a prophet named Hosea, who was very critical of Israeli kings and their idolatry, shares a similar name. While there’s no direct connection between them, it goes to show how Biblical stories are so intertwined; they're full of echoes that mirror one another!

Given this climate of unrest and moral decay, Hoshea's kingship stepping right into the pages of Israel's history showcases the complexities of leadership, loyalty to profound messages, and turning lessons that extend far beyond tax-collected narratives of the time.