Bible Trivia Question
What's the Answer?
Which king of Israel became a servant to Shalmaneser, king of Assyria?
Shallum
Menahem
Hoshea
Find this question in our Kings of the Bible II Bible Quiz
Click to reveal the answerThe answer is: Hoshea
2 Kings 17:3
Alright, walking down the historic lanes of Israel's ancient kings, we encounter King Hoshea, a fascinating figure! Hoshea, who ruled from around 732 to 722 BCE, is notable because he was the last king of Israel before the Northern Kingdom fell to the Assyrians. What a wild time; powerful empires were on the march, and Israel faced some significant storms ahead.
King Hoshea initially tried to resist Assyrian dominance but ultimately found himself paying hefty tribute to Shalmaneser, the Assyrian king. When we think of tributary relationships today, we might not picture ancient resource dynamics: it often meant gods and their protection were swapped for silver and loyalty. Funny enough, paying tribute may have come coupled with promises of political stability, leaving the people clinging to hopes as reality unraveled.
Interestingly, Hoshea's reign marks a transition point—it symbolizes both leadership failure and the dire straits of Israel. His reliance on Assyria echoes a theme present throughout biblical history: unity in adversity, often looking outside when inside strife is tough, serving as a metaphorical reminder to seek unity or support.
In school, not everyone loves history, but it often teaches us profound truths. The downfall of Hoshea’s rule also reflected the fragility of alliances—what do the people truly want? Hoshea’s story continues to reverberate today, inviting reflections on political fidelity and the striving for communal strength amid external pressures.
Similar Bible Trivia Questions
Who was king of the southern kingdom when the northern kingdom of Israel fell to Assyria?
Hezekiah
Manasseh
Jehoram
Which king of Assyria attacked Hezekiah's kingdom?
Tiglathpileser III
Esarhaddon
Sennacherib
How old was Josiah when he became king of Israel?
Twelve
Fifteen
Eight
(Age of David when he became King of Israel) plus (number of years that David reigned)
For how long did David reign over Judah before he became king of Israel?
Twelve days
Six months
Seven and a half years
Who became weary and sat upon a stone while Amalek fought Israel?
Hur
Moses
Joshua
Tiglathpileser
Zedikiah
Uzziah
What was David's occupation before he became king?
Shepherd
Fisherman
Tentmaker
Who became king in Josiah's place after he died?
Jehoiachin
Jehoiakim
Jehoahaz
Philistia
Edom
Syria