In the fourth year of King Hezekiah, which was the seventh year of King Hoshea son of Elah of Israel, King Shalmaneser of Assyria came up against Samaria and besieged it — the synchronism places the beginning of Samaria's final siege in Hezekiah's fourth year, when Hoshea ruled in Israel. Shalmaneser's siege of Samaria initiates the final phase of Israel's destruction. Hezekiah's early independent years coincide with Israel's beginning collapse. The theological contrast becomes evident: Hezekiah's trust in the LORD is rewarded with divine support and military success; Israel's apostasy invites Assyrian conquest.

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