John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 4. And the king of Assyria found conspiracy in Hoshea , etc.] That he was forming a scheme to rebel against him, and cast off his yoke; of this he had intelligence by spies he sent, and placed to observe him very probably: for he had sent messengers to So king of Egypt ; to treat with him, and enter into alliance with him, to help him against, and free him from, the king of Assyria. This king of Egypt is supposed to be Sabacon the Ethiopian, who reigned in Egypt ninety years; of whom Herodotus and Diodorus Siculus make mention; by Theodoret he is called Adramelech the Ethiopian, who dwelt in Egypt: and brought no presents to the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year ; did not pay him his yearly tribute: therefore the king of Assyria shut him up, and bound him in prison ; that is, after he took Samaria, the siege of which is next related; unless it can be thought that he met with him somewhere out of the capital, and seized him, and made him his prisoner, and after that besieged his city; which is not so likely.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-6 - When the measure of sin is filled up, the Lord will forbear no longer The inhabitants of Samaria must have endured great affliction. Some of the poor Israelites were left in the land. Those who were carrie captives to a great distance, were mostly lost among the nations.
Original Hebrew וימצא4672 מלך4428 אשׁור804 בהושׁע1954 קשׁר7195 אשׁר834 שׁלח7971 מלאכים4397 אל413 סוא5471 מלך4428 מצרים4714 ולא3808 העלה5927 מנחה4503 למלך4428 אשׁור804 כשׁנה8141 בשׁנה8141 ויעצרהו6113 מלך4428 אשׁור804 ויאסרהו631 בית1004 כלא׃3608
